Frost Line Depth in Cleveland, TN: Nearby Codes Require 12 in

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Cleveland.

Nearby official codes require 12 in (2 verified codes).

Source and how we checked

We searched this place’s own code and website and found no published frost line depth.

Climate: 80 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Cleveland Fltr Plt, 5.2 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

12 in2 verified codes within 50 mi
80nights a year at or below 32 °F
80%of nearby soil rated “none” for frost action (USDA)

Does Cleveland have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Cleveland in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 12 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Cleveland’s own number.

What frost line depth does Cleveland use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 12 in, like Bradley County?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Cleveland building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 12 in (the deepest nearby value) unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Cleveland?

Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (12 in). Confirm Cleveland’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Cleveland: dig at least 12 in (30 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 12 in until Cleveland confirms its own
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 Cleveland?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Jan. 80 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 29.4 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Cleveland Fltr Plt station, 5.2 mi away, elevation 842 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	29.4	32.6	38.8	46.7	55.6	64	67.8	66.8	60.1	47.6	36.7	32.2
High	50	54.6	62.7	72.4	79.5	86.1	89	88.4	83	73	61.3	52.6

Cleveland has fewer freezing nights than 36 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 Cleveland use?

2 official codes near Cleveland are verified; each links to its document.

Official frost line depths near Cleveland
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Bradley County	12 in	2 mi away
Loudon County	12 in	50 mi away

How likely is the soil in Cleveland to heave?

None 80%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Cleveland as 80% none, 10% moderate, 10% high for frost action (main soils: Clarksville, Montevallo, Sequoia).

USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.

Cleveland at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
County: Bradley County
Population (2023 est.): 49,086
Mean annual temperature: 59.6 °F
ZIP codes (4): 37311 · 37312 · 37323 · 37353