Frost Line Depth in Rockingham County, Virginia
- Rockingham County’s adopted code
- Checked Oct 2026
- Sources
Verified
24in
61 cm · 2 ft
Set in the building code Rockingham County has adopted.
Source and how we checked
Document: rockinghamcountyva.gov
Climate: 123 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Dale Enterprise, 4.5 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
How deep is the frost line in Rockingham County?
Rockingham County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 24 in (61 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 Rockingham County?
Virginia leaves the frost line depth to each city or county, and Rockingham County fills it in when it adopts the residential code. The value above comes from Rockingham County’s own document on rockinghamcountyva.gov. See how Virginia sets frost line depth.
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Rockingham County?
House or garage footing in Rockingham County: dig at least 24 in (61 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| Project | Depth | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or garage footing | 24 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4) |
| Deck footing (attached) | 24 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3) |
| Water service line | 30 in | 6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5) |
| Fence post bottom | 24 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 Rockingham County?
- J
- F
- M
- A
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- J
- J
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- N
- D
Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Mar. 123 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 22.7 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Dale Enterprise station, 4.5 mi away, elevation 1,358 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 22.7 | 23.6 | 30.4 | 39.6 | 50.3 | 59.7 | 63.7 | 62.1 | 54.8 | 43 | 32.5 | 26 |
| High | 42.1 | 46.1 | 53.6 | 64.7 | 73.5 | 82 | 86 | 84.3 | 77.8 | 66.8 | 55.7 | 46 |
Rockingham County has more freezing nights than 21 of the 22 other Virginia places we track. The Virginia median is 94. Coldest: Shenandoah County; mildest: Norfolk.
What frost line depth do towns near Rockingham County use?
3 official codes near Rockingham County are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta County | 24 in | 27 mi away |
| Shenandoah County | 24 in | 29 mi away |
| Spotsylvania County | 18 in | 70 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Rockingham County to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Rockingham County as 100% moderate for frost action (main soils: Chilhowie, Edom, Frederick).
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 Rockingham County?
Rockingham County at a glance
- Frost line depth
- 24 in
- Population (2023 est.)
- 86,568
- Mean annual temperature
- 53.6 °F
- ZIP codes (22)
- 22801 · 22802 · 22811 · 22812 · 22815 · 22820 · 22821 · 22827 · 22830 · 22831 · 22832 · 22834 · 22840 · 22841 · 22844 · 22846 · 22849 · 22850 · 22853 · 24441 · 24471 · 24486