Lucas County, OH Frost Depth & Snow Load: Ground Snow Load (2026)
Key Facts
- Ground snow load
- 20 pounds per square foot
- Ice shield underlayment
- Required
- Air freezing index
- 1,500 degree days below 32°F
- Frost line depth
- 36 inches minimum
- How it compares
- Same as Toledo, Columbus and Dublin; well below Cleveland's 30 psf
Summary
Lucas County establishes a ground snow load of 20 pounds per square foot, matching the City of Toledo and the rest of northwest and central Ohio.
LUCAS COUNTY BUILDING REGULATIONS — Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria. GROUND SNOW LOAD: 20 pounds per square foot. SUBJECT TO DAMAGE FROM WEATHERING: Severe. FROST LINE DEPTH: Thirty-six inches (36") minimum depth of footing below finish grade. SUBJECT TO DAMAGE FROM TERMITES: Moderate to heavy. WINTER DESIGN TEMPERATURE: 6,494 heating degree days per year; 1° F. ICE SHIELD UNDERLAYMENT REQUIRED: Yes. AIR FREEZING INDEX: 1,500 degree days below 32°F.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
The Residential Code of Ohio leaves the ground snow load column blank for the jurisdiction to fill in, and Lucas County Building Regulations supplies 20 pounds per square foot on its Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria sheet. That is the same figure Toledo, Columbus and Dublin adopt, so the value is consistent across northwest and central Ohio: in contrast to Cleveland's 30 psf on the Lake Erie snow belt. The sheet also requires ice shield underlayment, records an air freezing index of 1,500 degree days below 32°F, and gives a winter design temperature expressed both as 6,494 heating degree days per year and as 1°F. The air freezing index matters chiefly if a frost-protected shallow foundation is being considered as an alternative to digging to the full 36 inches.
Violations & Fines
Ground snow load is a design input checked at plan review rather than a citable offence. Structural drawings must show the design based on the county's adopted 20 psf, with the roof value derived from it under the normal code provisions. Ice shield underlayment is separately required and inspected with the roofing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ground snow load in Lucas County?
Why is Cleveland higher?
Is ice shield underlayment required?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lucas County
Compare Lucas County to another location·View the Ohio frost depth & snow load overview
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