Frost Line Depth in Rutherford County, Tennessee
- 4 verified codes nearby
- Checked Oct 2026
No official local value
No official frost line depth is published for Rutherford County.
Nearby official codes require 10–12 in (4 verified codes).
Source and how we checked
We searched this place’s own code and website and found no published frost line depth.
Climate: 89 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Murfreesboro 5 N, 5.9 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
Does Rutherford County have an official frost line depth?
No adopted frost line depth found for Rutherford County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 10 to 12 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Rutherford County’s own number.
What frost line depth does Rutherford 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 Rutherford County?
Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (12 in). Confirm Rutherford County’s own depth before you dig.
House or garage footing in Rutherford 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 Rutherford County?
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Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 89 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 27.5 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Murfreesboro 5 N station, 5.9 mi away, elevation 535 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 27.5 | 30.4 | 37.2 | 45.7 | 55.3 | 64.4 | 68.4 | 66.6 | 59.3 | 46.7 | 36.8 | 31 |
| High | 47.9 | 52.5 | 61.1 | 70.9 | 79 | 86.2 | 89.2 | 89 | 83.8 | 73.1 | 60.9 | 51.3 |
Rutherford County has more freezing nights than 37 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 Rutherford County use?
4 official codes near Rutherford County are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro | 12 in | 1 mi away |
| Hendersonville | 12 in | 34 mi away |
| Maury County | 10 in | 40 mi away |
| Cheatham County | 12 in | 48 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Rutherford County to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Rutherford County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Cumberland, Lomond, Harpeth).
USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.
Rutherford County at a glance
- Frost line depth
- No official local value
- Population (2023 est.)
- 367,101
- Mean annual temperature
- 58.9 °F
- ZIP codes (20)
- 37014 · 37020 · 37037 · 37046 · 37060 · 37085 · 37086 · 37090 · 37118 · 37122 · 37127 · 37128 · 37129 · 37130 · 37132 · 37135 · 37149 · 37153 · 37167 · 37180