Box Elder County, UT Frost Line Depth: 30 in

Verified

30in

76 cm · 2 ft 6 in

Set in the building code Box Elder County has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: boxeldercountyut.gov

Climate: 175 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Rosette, 22.7 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

1 of 1nearby verified codes use the same depth
175nights a year at or below 32 °F
100%of nearby soil rated “high” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Box Elder County?

Box Elder County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 30 in (76 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 Box Elder County?

Utah leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Box Elder County fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Box Elder County’s own document on boxeldercountyut.gov. See how Utah sets frost line depth.

How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Box Elder County?

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Box Elder County: dig at least 30 in (76 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Box Elder County with a 30 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	30 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	30 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	36 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	30 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 Box Elder County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Mar. 175 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 15.7 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Rosette station, 22.7 mi away, elevation 5,685 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	15.7	19.3	27	32.9	41.4	49.6	58.9	57.3	47.6	35.4	24.5	16.8
High	34.6	39	47.9	55	64.8	75.2	85.7	84.6	74.4	60.3	45.3	34.7

Box Elder County has more freezing nights than 22 of the 25 other Utah places we track. The Utah median is 118. Coldest: Summit County; mildest: St. George.

What frost line depth do towns near Box Elder County use?

One official code near Box Elder County is verified.

Official frost line depths near Box Elder County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Ogden	30 in	63 mi away

How likely is the soil in Box Elder County to heave?

High 100%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Box Elder County as 100% high for frost action (main soils: Playas, Saltair).

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 Box Elder County?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Box Elder County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 30 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Box Elder County at a glance

Frost line depth: 30 in
Population (2023 est.): 62,684
Mean annual temperature: 47 °F
ZIP codes (20): 83342 · 84029 · 84301 · 84302 · 84306 · 84307 · 84309 · 84311 · 84312 · 84313 · 84314 · 84316 · 84324 · 84329 · 84330 · 84331 · 84334 · 84336 · 84337 · 84340