Provo, UT Frost Line Depth: 30 in

Verified

30in

76 cm · 2 ft 6 in

Set in the building code Provo has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: provo.gov

Climate: 111 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Provo Byu, 0.3 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

3 of 3nearby verified codes use the same depth
111nights a year at or below 32 °F
49%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Provo?

Provo'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 Provo?

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

How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Provo?

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

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

Minimum depths in Provo 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 Provo?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Feb. 111 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 23.8 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Provo Byu station, 0.3 mi away, elevation 4,570 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	23.8	27.5	34.6	39.7	47.4	55	62.3	61	52	40.9	31.6	24.4
High	41.2	47.6	58.4	65.6	75.7	87.2	95.2	92.9	83.1	68.5	53.2	41.4

Provo has fewer freezing nights than 20 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 Provo use?

3 official codes near Provo are verified; each links to its document.

Official frost line depths near Provo
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Eagle Mountain	30 in	20 mi away
Riverton	30 in	25 mi away
Herriman	30 in	26 mi away

How likely is the soil in Provo to heave?

Moderate 49%High 41%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Provo as 11% low, 49% moderate, 41% high for frost action (main soils: McBeth, Bingham, Provo).

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 Provo?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Provo 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.

Provo at a glance

Frost line depth: 30 in
County: Utah County
Population (2023 est.): 113,343
Mean annual temperature: 54.6 °F
ZIP codes (7): 84058 · 84097 · 84601 · 84602 · 84604 · 84606 · 84663