Frost Depth & Snow Load in Lakewood, CO (2026)

3 verified frost depth & snow load rules for Lakewood, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Frost Line Depth

Lakewood sets a frost depth of 36 inches in the Codes and Loads handout its Public Works permit office publishes, matching neighbouring Denver.

Lakewood CO Frost Depth: 36 Inches

Some Restrictions

City of Lakewood, Codes and Loads (Permit Process Assistance Handout), Design Loads

CITY OF LAKEWOOD — CODES AND LOADS, PERMIT PROCESS ASSISTANCE HANDOUT. CITY OF LAKEWOOD DESIGN LOADS — Frost Depth: 36 inches. Ground Snow Load: 30 psf non-reducible. Minimum Roof Snow/Live Load: 30 psf (Minimum). Winter Design Temp: 1°F. Air Freezing Index: 532. Mean Annual Temperature: 51°F. Seismic Design Category: Residential: B.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Ground Snow Load

Lakewood sets a ground snow load of 30 pounds per square foot and marks it non-reducible, so the usual code reductions cannot be applied to bring it down.

Lakewood CO Ground Snow Load: 30 psf Non-Reducible

Light Restrictions

City of Lakewood, Codes and Loads (Permit Process Assistance Handout), Design Loads

CITY OF LAKEWOOD DESIGN LOADS — Ground Snow Load: 30 psf non-reducible. Minimum Roof Snow/Live Load: 30 psf (Minimum). Frost Depth: 36 inches. Winter Design Temp: 1°F.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Building Design Criteria

Lakewood's design loads set residential seismic category B, Exposure C, and a wind speed that changes at a street boundary, the 10,000 West block of Kipling, rather than by elevation.

Lakewood CO Building Design Criteria

Some Restrictions

City of Lakewood, Codes and Loads (Permit Process Assistance Handout), Adopted Building Codes and Design Loads

CITY OF LAKEWOOD ADOPTED BUILDING CODES — 2021 International Building Code; 2021 International Residential Code; 2021 International Plumbing Code; 2021 International Mechanical Code; 2021 International Fuel Gas Code; 2021 International Energy Conservation Code; 2021 International Existing Building Code; 2021 International Fire Code; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code; 2023 National E...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Jefferson County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lakewood city rules.

Frost Depth & Snow Load in Jefferson County →