Frost Line Depth in Cheatham County, Tennessee
- Cheatham County’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
12in
30 cm · 1 ft
Set in the building code Cheatham County has adopted.
Source and how we checked
Document: cheathamcountytn.gov
Climate: 92 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Charlotte, 7.3 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Cheatham County?
Cheatham County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 12 in (30 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 Cheatham County?
Tennessee leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Cheatham County fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Cheatham County’s own document on cheathamcountytn.gov. See how Tennessee sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Cheatham County?
House or garage footing in Cheatham County: dig at least 12 in (30 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| Project | Depth | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or garage footing | 12 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4) |
| Deck footing (attached) | 12 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3) |
| Water service line | 18 in | 6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5) |
| Fence post bottom | 12 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 Cheatham County?
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
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- S
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- N
- D
Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 92 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 26.8 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Charlotte station, 7.3 mi away, elevation 694 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 26.8 | 29.2 | 36.9 | 45.3 | 54.1 | 62.8 | 66.3 | 64.9 | 57.5 | 45.9 | 36 | 29.3 |
| High | 46.9 | 50.9 | 59.6 | 69.7 | 77 | 84.4 | 87.6 | 87.3 | 81.2 | 71.9 | 58.9 | 49.2 |
Cheatham County has more freezing nights than 43 of the 59 other Tennessee places we track. The Tennessee median is 84. Coldest: Greene County; mildest: Memphis.
What frost line depth do towns near Cheatham County use?
3 official codes near Cheatham County are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hendersonville | 12 in | 28 mi away |
| Maury County | 10 in | 44 mi away |
| Murfreesboro | 12 in | 47 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Cheatham County to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Cheatham County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Hawthorne, Sulphura, Sengtown).
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 Cheatham County?
Cheatham County at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 12 in
- Population (2023 est.)
- 42,254
- Mean annual temperature
- 57.5 °F
- ZIP codes (12)
- 37015 · 37032 · 37035 · 37036 · 37043 · 37062 · 37080 · 37082 · 37143 · 37146 · 37187 · 37209