Frost Line Depth in Suffolk, Virginia
- 2 verified codes nearby
- Checked Oct 2026
No official local value
No official frost line depth is published for Suffolk.
Nearby official codes require 12–18 in (2 verified codes).
Source and how we checked
We searched this place’s own code and website and found no published frost line depth.
Climate: 56 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Suffolk Lake Kilby, 2.9 mi).
Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction
Does Suffolk have an official frost line depth?
No adopted frost line depth found for Suffolk in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 12 to 18 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Suffolk’s own number.
What frost line depth does Suffolk use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 12 in, like Hampton?
How deep do footings, decks and water lines need to be in Suffolk?
Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (18 in). Confirm Suffolk’s own depth before you dig.
House or garage footing in Suffolk: dig at least 18 in (46 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).
| Project | Depth | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| House or garage footing | 18 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4) |
| Deck footing (attached) | 18 in | Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3) |
| Water service line | 24 in | 6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5) |
| Fence post bottom | 18 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 Suffolk?
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Average lows are at or below freezing from Jan. 56 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 31.1 °F.
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Suffolk Lake Kilby station, 2.9 mi away, elevation 22 ft.
Monthly temperatures as a table
| °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 31.1 | 32.9 | 38.9 | 48 | 56.7 | 65.1 | 69.7 | 68.6 | 63 | 51.5 | 40.8 | 34.8 |
| High | 49.3 | 52.4 | 59.4 | 69.2 | 76.1 | 83.4 | 86.8 | 85.1 | 79.6 | 70.5 | 60.5 | 52.7 |
Suffolk has fewer freezing nights than 18 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 Suffolk use?
2 official codes near Suffolk are verified; each links to its document.
| Place | Verified frost line | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hampton | 12 in | 31 mi away |
| Henrico County | 18 in | 63 mi away |
How likely is the soil in Suffolk to heave?
USDA rates the sampled soil around Suffolk as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Myatt).
USDA NRCS soil survey, 27 sample points within 8 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.
Suffolk at a glance
- Frost line depth
- No official local value
- County
- Suffolk city
- Population (2023 est.)
- 100,659
- Mean annual temperature
- 59.4 °F
- ZIP codes (8)
- 23321 · 23432 · 23433 · 23434 · 23435 · 23436 · 23437 · 23438