Frost Line Depth in Putnam County, Tennessee
- 3 verified codes nearby
- Checked Oct 2026
No official local value
No official frost line depth is published for Putnam County.
Nearby official codes require 12 in (3 verified codes).
Source and how we checked
We searched this place’s own code and website and found no published frost line depth.
Climate: 97 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Cookeville, 2.3 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
Does Putnam County have an official frost line depth?
No adopted frost line depth found for Putnam 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 Putnam County’s own number.
What frost line depth does Putnam County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 12 in, like Murfreesboro?
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Putnam County?
Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (12 in). Confirm Putnam County’s own depth before you dig.
House or garage footing in Putnam 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 Putnam County?
- J
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- M
- A
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- J
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- D
Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 97 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 27 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Cookeville station, 2.3 mi away, elevation 1,090 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 27 | 29 | 35.4 | 43.2 | 53.3 | 61.9 | 66.1 | 64.2 | 57.4 | 45 | 35.1 | 30.3 |
| High | 47.1 | 51.4 | 60 | 69.8 | 77.5 | 84.3 | 87.3 | 86.9 | 81.9 | 71.9 | 60.4 | 50.9 |
Putnam County has more freezing nights than 50 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 Putnam County use?
3 official codes near Putnam County are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro | 12 in | 55 mi away |
| Hendersonville | 12 in | 63 mi away |
| Loudon County | 12 in | 72 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Putnam County to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Putnam County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Waynesboro, Mountview, Dickson).
USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.
Putnam County at a glance
- Frost line depth
- No official local value
- Population (2023 est.)
- 83,844
- Mean annual temperature
- 57.4 °F
- ZIP codes (11)
- 38501 · 38503 · 38505 · 38506 · 38544 · 38545 · 38548 · 38564 · 38574 · 38582 · 38583