Frost depth in New York
New York has two code depths: 48 inches in 60 inches — and which one applies depends on the county you build in. Add 6 inches of bearing and that becomes a dig depth of 54" / 66". The numbers below are the code values an inspector measures, not climate averages — the local building department always has the final word.
| Area / zone | Frost depth | Dig depth | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City & Long Island | 48" | 54" | NYC Building Code 1809.5 (4 ft) |
| Upstate, Catskills & Adirondacks | 60" | 66" | NYS Residential Code Table R301.2(1) |
Two rows, two numbers: the county you build in decides which one governs your permit. Never take the shallower value to a counter in a deeper zone.
Why New York's number looks the way it does
New York is really two codes: New York City and Long Island run their own building code at 48 inches — section 1809.5, four feet even — while upstate, the Catskills and the Adirondacks follow the state residential code at 60.
From frost depth to dig depth in New York
Footings bear on undisturbed soil below the frost line, so the hole goes 6 inches deeper than the code number. In New York that means:
| Code frost depth | Dig depth | Shortest Sonotube |
|---|---|---|
| 48" | 54" | 6 ft tube |
| 60" | 66" | 6 ft tube |
A 4-inch gravel base at the bottom of the hole is common practice for drainage, and if you use one, add it to the tube length rather than the dig depth — the footing still has to reach the full 48–60 inches below grade.
How much concrete a footing takes in New York
Bags of 80-lb mix per footing, for a solid pier with no post in the hole, at New York's code depth:
| Frost depth | 10" hole | 12" hole | 16" hole | 20" hole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48" (54" dig) | 5 bags | 6 bags | 11 bags | 17 bags |
| 60" (66" dig) | 5 bags | 8 bags | 13 bags | 20 bags |
The bags calculator converts any total into 80, 60, 50 or 40-pound bags, and the concrete calculator handles slab and footing volumes.
New York frost depth FAQ
How deep is the frost line in New York?
New York has two code depths, and the county you build in decides which one an inspector measures: 48 inches in New York City & Long Island, and 60 inches in Upstate, Catskills & Adirondacks. These are code values, not the average depth the ground actually froze last winter.
How deep do footings have to go in New York?
Bearing sits below the frost depth, so dig to the code depth plus 6 inches: 48 inches of frost means a 54-inch dig, and 60 inches of frost means a 66-inch dig in New York. The extra 6 inches is the bearing layer that keeps the footing from sitting on frost-susceptible soil, and it is what NYC Building Code 1809.5 (4 ft) expects to see on a permit drawing.
How do I know which New York zone my county is in?
The citation in the table above names the authority that drew the lines — NYC Building Code 1809.5 (4 ft); NYS Residential Code Table R301.2(1). Your county or city publishes its own amendment to IRC Table R301.2(1) (or its own zone map), and that local document, not a state table, is what a permit reviewer checks. One call to the building department settles it before you rent an auger.
Plan a pour in New York
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Last updated: 2026-11-02