Connecticut Ground Snow Load by Town

Connecticut is one of the few states that publishes a ground snow load for every municipality rather than leaving the figure to local officials. The amended Table R301.2 sends the ground snow load and wind speed entries to Appendix AY, which lists all 169 towns with an ultimate design wind speed, a nominal design wind speed, a ground snow load in pounds per square foot, and a hurricane-prone-region flag. Three snow values are used: 30 psf covers 107 towns, including Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Bridgeport; 35 psf covers 44, including Waterbury and Litchfield; and 40 psf covers 18, concentrated in the higher northwestern towns such as Torrington. Crucially, Connecticut deletes the national ground snow load figures from the model code without substitution, so these are the state's own tabulated numbers rather than a reprint of a national map.

Ground snow load is a design input checked at plan review rather than an offence you can be cited for. Structural drawings submitted with a permit application must show the roof designed for the value listed for that town, and a plan reviewer will reject drawings using a lower figure. The appendix also flags hurricane-prone towns, which triggers separate wind requirements on the same drawings.