Fence Post Depth Code

That also means that you d need to use an 8 foot post.

Fence post depth code.

Building codes and ordinances in your area may stipulate a legal depth and diameter for fence post holes. Some cities say posts must be set in concrete. The maximum frost line depth is 100 inches as seen near the tip of minnesota north dakota and alaska all the way to zero inches in florida southern arizona and southern california. It s a lot harder to push over a post that s buried deeply so always keep that in mind.

Here are a four tips to help you find the correct fence post hole depth. The depth of the post hole needs to be 1 3 to 1 2 the height of your fence. If not conventional rules of thumb offer a reliable guide. For example if you are building a fence that s 6 feet tall you will need a hole that is at least 2 feet deep.

Check your frost line by zip code or address using this map from the national weather service. Keep the height of your fence in mind when digging your post holes. For example a 6 foot tall wood fence may need 4 x 4 or larger posts spaced no more than 6 feet apart and buried in the ground at least 2 feet deep. For example a 6 foot tall fence will need at least 2 feet of post in the ground.

If the map isn t accurate enough for you. Others leave that up to the builder. That is why there is a specified depth for building footings. Common construction requirements include post size spacing and depth.

For a fence a little heaving is not easy to notice and does not destroy the servicability of the fence. Frost line by zip code. If you re setting a post into soft ground or in an area that receives high winds it s always a good idea to bury your posts a little deeper and add more concrete. As a general rule of thumb you ll need to place at least 1 3 the height of the post in the ground.

The depth of your post hole plays a key role in the strength of your posts. The code frost depth is meaningless for a fence. For a structure it is important since any cracks caused by heaving will destroy the servicablity and appearance of the structure. For the width you need to make the hole three times the width of the post you intend to use.