Laramie County, WY Frost Line Depth: 36 in

Verified

36in

91 cm · 3 ft

Set in the building code Laramie County has adopted.

Source and how we checked

Document: laramiecountywy.gov

Climate: 196 nights a year at or below 32 °F (NOAA 1991–2020, Archer, 9.8 mi).

Checked Oct 2026. Report a correction

Footings Deck Water line Fence post

1 of 1nearby verified codes use the same depth
196nights a year at or below 32 °F
75%of nearby soil rated “moderate” for frost action (USDA)

How deep is the frost line in Laramie County?

Laramie County's building authority sets the frost line depth at 36 in (91 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 Laramie County?

Wyoming has no statewide residential code, so Laramie County adopts its own and fills in the frost line depth. The value above comes from Laramie County’s own document on laramiecountywy.gov. See how Wyoming sets frost line depth.

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

House or garage footing Deck footing Water service line Fence post

House or garage footing in Laramie County: dig at least 36 in (91 cm). Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4).

Minimum depths in Laramie County with a 36 in frost line
Project	Depth	Rule
House or garage footing	36 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R403.1.4)
Deck footing (attached)	36 in	Below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC R507.3)
Water service line	42 in	6 in below the frost line and at least 12 in deep (IRC P2603.5)
Fence post bottom	36 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 Laramie County?

Average lows are at or below freezing from Oct to Apr. 196 nights a year reach 32 °F or colder; Dec is coldest, with an average low of 14 °F.

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Archer station, 9.8 mi away, elevation 6,010 ft.

Monthly temperatures as a table

°F	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low	14.5	15.4	22.2	28	37.8	45.8	52.4	49.8	42	30.4	20.8	14
High	42.2	43.4	51.8	58.2	67.1	79.4	87.6	85.4	77.1	62.9	50.9	42.2

What frost line depth do towns near Laramie County use?

One official code near Laramie County is verified.

Official frost line depths near Laramie County
Place	Verified frost line	Distance
Cheyenne	36 in	13 mi away

How likely is the soil in Laramie County to heave?

Low 25%Moderate 75%

USDA rates the sampled soil around Laramie County as 25% low, 75% moderate for frost action (main soils: Treon, Altvan, Ascalon).

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 Laramie County?

Call 811 at least a few working days before you dig, so buried lines are marked.
Confirm the frost line depth with the Laramie County building department.
Ask whether your project needs a permit (decks, larger sheds and footings usually do).
Dig below 36 in unless the building department tells you otherwise.
Book the footing inspection before you pour concrete.

Laramie County at a glance

Frost line depth: 36 in
Population (2023 est.): 100,984
Mean annual temperature: 46.7 °F
ZIP codes (13): 82001 · 82005 · 82007 · 82009 · 82050 · 82053 · 82054 · 82059 · 82060 · 82061 · 82081 · 82082 · 82221