Frost Line Depth in Lincoln County, South Dakota
- Lincoln County’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
42in
107 cm · 3 ft 6 in
Set in the building code Lincoln County has adopted.
Source and how we checked
Document: lincolncountysd.gov
Climate: 160 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Canton, 7.1 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 42 in (107 cm). Footings, piers and other permanent supports must reach at least this depth (IRC R403.1.4.1).
Who sets the frost line depth in Lincoln County?
South Dakota has no statewide residential code, so Lincoln County adopts its own and fills in the frost line depth. The value above comes from Lincoln County’s own document on lincolncountysd.gov. See how South Dakota sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Lincoln County?
House or garage footing in Lincoln County: dig at least 42 in (107 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| Project | Depth | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or garage footing | 42 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4) |
| Deck footing (attached) | 42 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3) |
| Water service line | 48 in | 6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5) |
| Fence post bottom | 42 in | No code rule; common practice is below the frost line |
Work out posts, concrete and footing sizes with the fence post depth calculator or the deck footing calculator.
How cold does it get in Lincoln County?
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Mar. 160 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 5.8 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Canton station, 7.1 mi away, elevation 1,316 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 5.8 | 10.5 | 22 | 34.3 | 46.7 | 58.2 | 61.8 | 59 | 50.3 | 36.4 | 23 | 11.3 |
| High | 25.3 | 30.6 | 43.7 | 57.8 | 69.8 | 79.8 | 83.3 | 80.2 | 73.6 | 60 | 43.5 | 29.4 |
How likely is the soil in Lincoln County to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Lincoln County as 22% moderate, 78% high for frost action (main soils: Wentworth, Chancellor, Tetonka).
USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.
How do you confirm the frost line before you dig in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 42 in
- Population (2023 est.)
- 73,238
- Mean annual temperature
- 45.7 °F
- ZIP codes (12)
- 57001 · 57004 · 57013 · 57014 · 57027 · 57032 · 57034 · 57039 · 57064 · 57077 · 57106 · 57108