Frost Line Depth in McMinn County, TN: Nearby Codes Require 12 in

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for McMinn County.

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: 85 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Athens, 2.1 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

12 in2 verified codes within 27 mi
85nights a year at or below 32 °F
100%of nearby soil rated “none” for frost action (USDA)

Does McMinn County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for McMinn County 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 McMinn County’s own number.

What frost line depth does McMinn County 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 McMinn County 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 McMinn County?

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in McMinn County: 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 McMinn County 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 McMinn County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 85 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 28.2 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Athens station, 2.1 mi away, elevation 940 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	28.2	30.9	37.3	45.3	54.8	63.4	67.5	66.3	59.9	47.2	36.2	31.3
High	48.6	53	61.7	71.3	78.8	85.4	88.4	88.1	83.1	72.6	60.9	51.6

McMinn County has more freezing nights than 32 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 McMinn County use?

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

Official frost line depths near McMinn County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Bradley County	12 in	23 mi away
Loudon County	12 in	27 mi away

How likely is the soil in McMinn County to heave?

None 100%

USDA rates the sampled soil around McMinn County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Fullerton, Urban land, Bodine).

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

McMinn County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 55,678
Mean annual temperature: 58.8 °F
ZIP codes (12): 37303 · 37309 · 37322 · 37325 · 37329 · 37331 · 37354 · 37370 · 37826 · 37846 · 37874 · 37880