Frost Line Depth in Denton, Texas
- Denton’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
6in
15 cm · 6 in
Set in the building code Denton has adopted.
Footings still go at least 12 in (30 cm) below undisturbed ground (IRC R403.1.4).
Source and how we checked
Document: library.municode.com
Climate: 38 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Denton 2 Se, 2.5 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Denton?
Denton's building authority sets the frost line depth at 6 in (15 cm). Footings, piers and other permanent supports still go at least 12 in below undisturbed ground (IRC R403.1.4).
Who sets the frost line depth in Denton?
Texas leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Denton fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Denton’s own document on library.municode.com. See how Texas sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Denton?
House or garage footing in Denton: 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 | 12 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 Denton?
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Denton never averages a low below freezing. 38 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 34.1 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Denton 2 Se station, 2.5 mi away, elevation 630 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 34.1 | 37.4 | 44.8 | 52.8 | 62.7 | 71.1 | 74.9 | 74.2 | 66.8 | 55.3 | 44.1 | 36.1 |
| High | 55.8 | 59.6 | 67.7 | 75.6 | 82.9 | 91.1 | 95.9 | 95.8 | 88.5 | 78.1 | 66.2 | 57.4 |
Denton has more freezing nights than 101 of the 168 other Texas places we track. The Texas median is 32. Coldest: Amarillo; mildest: Brownsville.
What frost line depth do towns near Denton use?
5 official codes near Denton are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lewisville | 6 in | 15 mi away |
| Frisco | 6 in | 19 mi away |
| Keller | 6 in | 20 mi away |
| Allen | 6 in | 28 mi away |
| Richardson | 6 in | 30 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Denton to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Denton as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Wilson, Crockett, Birome).
USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.
How do you confirm the frost line before you dig in Denton?
Denton at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 6 in
- County
- Denton County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 158,349
- Mean annual temperature
- 65.4 °F
- ZIP codes (13)
- 76201 · 76203 · 76205 · 76207 · 76208 · 76209 · 76210 · 76226 · 76227 · 76249 · 76258 · 76259 · 76266