Frost Line Depth in Island County, Washington

  • 5 verified codes nearby
  • Checked Oct 2026

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Island County.

Nearby official codes require 12–18 in (5 verified codes).

Source and how we checked

We searched this place’s own code and website and found no published frost line depth.

Climate: 32 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Coupeville 1 S, 3.5 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Does Island County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Island County 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 Island County’s own number.

What frost line depth does Island County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 18 in, like Marysville?

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

Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (18 in). Confirm Island County’s own depth before you dig.

Project
House or garage footing in Island County: dig at least 18 in. grade 0 in 122436486072 12 in code minimum nearby codes 18 in, confirm locally dig 18 in

House or garage footing in Island County: dig at least 18 in (46 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 18 in until Island County confirms its own
ProjectDepthRule
House or garage footing18 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)18 inBelow the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line24 in6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom18 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 Island County?

  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

Island County never averages a low below freezing. 32 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Feb is coldest, with an average low of 36.2 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Coupeville 1 S station, 3.5 mi away, elevation 50 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table
°FJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Low36.636.238.441.746.650.252.752.749.444.539.636.2
High44.246.750.956.561.765.270.170.565.856.448.643.6
21177 nightsIsland County 32

Island County has fewer freezing nights than 37 of the 47 other Washington places we track. The Washington median is 54. Coldest: Chelan County; mildest: Lakewood.

What frost line depth do towns near Island County use?

5 official codes near Island County are verified; each links to its document.

0″12″24″36″48″42 mi0 miMarysville: 18 in, 24 miEverett: 18 in, 26 miLynnwood: 18 in, 28 miLake Stevens: 12 in, 29 miRedmond: 12 in, 42 mi
Official frost line depths near Island County
PlaceVerified frost lineDistance
Marysville 18 in 24 mi away
Everett 18 in 26 mi away
Lynnwood 18 in 28 mi away
Lake Stevens 12 in 29 mi away
Redmond 12 in 42 mi away

How likely is the soil in Island County to heave?

USDA rates the sampled soil around Island County as 100% none for frost action (main soils: Mitchellbay, Snakelum, Endoaquents).

USDA NRCS soil survey, 9 sample points within 2 mi. Higher frost action means more risk of heave; see frost heave.

Island County at a glance

Frost line depth
No official local value
Population (2023 est.)
86,267
Mean annual temperature
50.2 °F
ZIP codes (8)
98236 · 98239 · 98249 · 98253 · 98260 · 98277 · 98278 · 98282

Sources

  • Climate: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00451783.
  • Soil: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO) frost action ratings.
  • Code rules: International Residential Code R403.1.4, R507.3, P2603.5.

Checked Oct 2026. How we verify · Report a correction