Frost Line Depth in Friendswood, Texas
- Friendswood’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
12in
30 cm · 1 ft
Set in the building code Friendswood has adopted.
Source and how we checked
Document: ci.friendswood.tx.us
Climate: 6 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Houston Clover Fld, 2.6 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Friendswood?
Friendswood's building authority sets the frost line depth at 12 in (30 cm). Footings, piers and other permanent supports must reach at least this depth (IRC R403.1.4.1).
Who sets the frost line depth in Friendswood?
Texas leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Friendswood fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Friendswood’s own document on ci.friendswood.tx.us. See how Texas sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Friendswood?
House or garage footing in Friendswood: 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 Friendswood?
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Friendswood never averages a low below freezing. 6 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 46 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Houston Clover Fld station, 2.6 mi away, elevation 44 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 46 | 50.1 | 55.4 | 61.5 | 69.5 | 75.3 | 76.2 | 76.2 | 72.3 | 63.3 | 53.7 | 47.9 |
| High | 64.6 | 68.3 | 74 | 79.5 | 86 | 91.4 | 93.3 | 94 | 89.9 | 82.9 | 73.3 | 66.4 |
Friendswood has fewer freezing nights than 148 of the 168 other Texas places we track. The Texas median is 32. Coldest: Amarillo; mildest: Brownsville.
What frost line depth do towns near Friendswood use?
2 official codes near Friendswood are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri City | 12 in | 21 mi away |
| Houston | 6 in | 22 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Friendswood to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Friendswood as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Bernard, Lake Charles, Leton).
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 Friendswood?
Friendswood at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 12 in
- County
- Galveston County
- Population (2023 est.)
- 40,826
- Mean annual temperature
- 71.3 °F
- ZIP codes (3)
- 77089 · 77546 · 77598