Frost Line Depth in Schertz, Texas

  • Schertz’s adopted code
  • Checked Oct 2026
  • Sources

Verified

12in

30 cm · 1 ft

Set in the building code Schertz has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: library.municode.com

Climate: 12 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Randolph Afb, 1.9 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

How deep is the frost line in Schertz?

Schertz'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 Schertz?

Texas leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Schertz fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Schertz’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 Schertz?

Project
House or garage footing in Schertz: dig at least 12 in. grade 0 in 122436486072 12 in code minimum frost line 12 in dig 12 in

House or garage footing in Schertz: dig at least 12 in (30 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Schertz with a 12 in frost line
ProjectDepthRule
House or garage footing12 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)12 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line18 in6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom12 inNo 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 Schertz?

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D
0°32°100° J F M A M J J A S O N D 32 °F

Schertz never averages a low below freezing. 12 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 41.1 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Randolph Afb station, 1.9 mi away, elevation 760 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table
°FJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Low41.145.15158.265.571.473.373.468.459.44941.7
High63.168.17380.186.992.195.796.390.183.671.964.2
0117 nightsSchertz 12

Schertz has fewer freezing nights than 129 of the 168 other Texas places we track. The Texas median is 32. Coldest: Amarillo; mildest: Brownsville.

What frost line depth do towns near Schertz use?

4 official codes near Schertz are verified; each links to its document.

0″12″24″36″48″74 mi0 miKyle: 6 in, 37 miAustin: 12 in, 59 miCedar Park: 6 in, 70 miLeander: 6 in, 74 mi
Official frost line depths near Schertz
PlaceVerified frost lineDistance
Kyle 6 in 37 mi away
Austin 12 in 59 mi away
Cedar Park 6 in 70 mi away
Leander 6 in 74 mi away

How likely is the soil in Schertz to heave?

USDA rates the sampled soil around Schertz as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Barbarosa, Branyon, Houston Black).

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 Schertz?

Schertz at a glance

Frost line depth
12 in
County
Guadalupe County
Population (2023 est.)
43,239
Mean annual temperature
69.3 °F
ZIP codes (5)
78108 · 78124 · 78132 · 78148 · 78154