Frost Line Depth in Gibson County, TN: Madison County Requires 13 in

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Gibson County.

Nearby official codes require 13 in (1 verified code).

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 90 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Milan Exp Stn, 12.3 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

13 in1 verified code within 27 mi
90nights a year at or below 32 °F
100%of nearby soil rated “none” for frost action (USDA)

Does Gibson County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Gibson County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 13 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Gibson County’s own number.

What frost line depth does Gibson County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 13 in, like Madison County?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Gibson County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 13 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 Gibson County?

Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (13 in). Confirm Gibson County’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Gibson County: dig at least 13 in (33 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 13 in until Gibson County confirms its own
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	13 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	13 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	19 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	13 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 Gibson County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 90 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 27.7 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Milan Exp Stn station, 12.3 mi away, elevation 415 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	27.7	31.1	38.7	47.4	57.8	66	69.6	66.9	59.3	47.2	37	30.9
High	48.1	52.6	61.8	72.1	80.1	87.4	90.2	90	84.2	73.7	61.1	51.2

Gibson County has more freezing nights than 39 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 Gibson County use?

One official code near Gibson County is verified.

Official frost line depths near Gibson County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Madison County	13 in	27 mi away

How likely is the soil in Gibson County to heave?

None 100%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Gibson County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Providence, Rosebloom, Loring).

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

Gibson County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 51,045
Mean annual temperature: 59.7 °F
ZIP codes (13): 38059 · 38220 · 38233 · 38259 · 38316 · 38330 · 38338 · 38343 · 38355 · 38358 · 38369 · 38382 · 38389