Frost Line Depth in Yakima, WA: Pasco Requires 24 in

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Yakima.

Nearby official codes require 24 in (1 verified code).

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 109 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Yakima #2, 0.9 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

24 in1 verified code within 72 mi
109nights a year at or below 32 °F
89%of nearby soil rated “high” for frost action (USDA)

Does Yakima have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Yakima in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). The nearest official values, from codes we verified, are 24 in. Use the deepest of them until the building department confirms Yakima’s own number.

What frost line depth does Yakima use for footings under Table R301.2(1)? Is it 24 in, like Pasco?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Yakima building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 24 in (the deepest nearby value) unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

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

Drawn with the deepest nearby official value (24 in). Confirm Yakima’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Yakima: dig at least 24 in (61 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Using the nearby official value of 24 in until Yakima confirms its own
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 Yakima?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Nov to Feb. 109 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Dec is coldest, with an average low of 25.7 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Yakima #2 station, 0.9 mi away, elevation 1,142 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	26.8	30.4	34.2	40	47.9	53.8	59.7	58.7	51.4	40.2	32	25.7
High	39.6	47.9	57.3	65	73.5	79.6	88.3	87.9	79.4	64.4	48.6	37.8

Yakima has more freezing nights than 35 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 Yakima use?

One official code near Yakima is verified.

Official frost line depths near Yakima
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Pasco	24 in	72 mi away

How likely is the soil in Yakima to heave?

High 89%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Yakima as 11% low, 89% high for frost action (main soils: Ritzville, Esquatzel, Naches).

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

Yakima at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
County: Yakima County
Population (2023 est.): 96,750
Mean annual temperature: 52.9 °F
ZIP codes (5): 98901 · 98902 · 98903 · 98908 · 98942