Frost Line Depth in Putnam County, WV: West Virginia Codes Range 24

No official local value

No official frost line depth is published for Putnam County.

No verified code nearby; verified West Virginia codes range 24–30 in.

Source and how we checked

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

Climate: 101 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Winfield Locks, 1.3 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

24–30 inrange of verified West Virginia codes
101nights a year at or below 32 °F
86%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

Does Putnam County have an official frost line depth?

No adopted frost line depth found for Putnam County in its official documents (checked Oct 2026). No verified code lies near Putnam County; the West Virginia codes we verified range from 24 to 30 in. Ask the building department for Putnam County’s own number before you dig.

What frost line depth does Putnam County use for footings under Table R301.2(1)?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Putnam County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 30 in (the deepest verified state 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 Putnam County?

Drawn with the deepest West Virginia official value (30 in). Confirm Putnam County’s own depth before you dig.

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

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

Using the nearby official value of 30 in until Putnam County confirms its own
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 Putnam County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Dec to Feb. 101 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Jan is coldest, with an average low of 24 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Winfield Locks station, 1.3 mi away, elevation 621 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	24	26.1	32.3	41.6	51.4	60.2	64.6	63.4	56.7	44.6	34.3	28.6
High	43.6	47.5	56.3	69	76.3	84	87	86.4	80.7	69.5	57.7	47.3

Putnam County has fewer freezing nights than 9 of the 12 other West Virginia places we track. The West Virginia median is 108. Coldest: Raleigh County; mildest: Charleston.

How likely is the soil in Putnam County to heave?

Moderate 86%High 14%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Putnam County as 86% moderate, 14% high for frost action (main soils: Gilpin, Upshur, Melvin).

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

Putnam County at a glance

Frost line depth: No official local value
Population (2023 est.): 56,962
Mean annual temperature: 55.6 °F
ZIP codes (17): 25011 · 25033 · 25070 · 25082 · 25109 · 25123 · 25124 · 25143 · 25159 · 25168 · 25177 · 25213 · 25245 · 25510 · 25523 · 25526 · 25560