Frost Line Depth in Galveston County, Texas
- 2 verified codes nearby
- Checked Oct 2026
No official local value
Frost rarely reaches the ground in Galveston County.
Nearby official codes require 6–12 in (2 verified codes).
Footings still go at least 12 in (30 cm) below undisturbed ground (IRC R403.1.4).
Source and how we checked
We searched this place’s own code and website and found no published frost line depth.
Climate: 2 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Galveston Scholes Fld, 3.2 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
Does Galveston County have an official frost line depth?
No adopted frost line depth found for Galveston County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 6 to 12 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Galveston County’s own number.
What frost line depth does Galveston County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 12 in, like Missouri City?
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Galveston County?
Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (12 in). Confirm Galveston County’s own depth before you dig.
House or garage footing in Galveston 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 Galveston County?
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Galveston County never averages a low below freezing. 2 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 48.9 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Galveston Scholes Fld station, 3.2 mi away, elevation 5 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 48.9 | 52.3 | 58.4 | 65 | 72.4 | 78.1 | 79.7 | 79.8 | 76.1 | 68.6 | 58.7 | 51.6 |
| High | 63.2 | 66.4 | 72 | 78 | 84 | 89.5 | 91.3 | 92 | 88.7 | 82.1 | 72.4 | 65.5 |
Galveston County has fewer freezing nights than 157 of the 168 other Texas places we track. The Texas median is 32. Coldest: Amarillo; mildest: Brownsville.
What frost line depth do towns near Galveston County use?
2 official codes near Galveston County are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri City | 12 in | 45 mi away |
| Houston | 6 in | 49 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Galveston County to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Galveston County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Galveston, Hoeckers, Mentzel).
USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.
Galveston County at a glance
- Frost line depth
- No official local value
- Population (2023 est.)
- 361,744
- Mean annual temperature
- 72.3 °F
- ZIP codes (19)
- 77510 · 77511 · 77517 · 77518 · 77539 · 77546 · 77550 · 77551 · 77554 · 77555 · 77563 · 77565 · 77568 · 77573 · 77590 · 77591 · 77617 · 77623 · 77650