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The Daily Insight

How deep do footings need to be in Minnesota

Author

Sarah Silva

Updated on April 11, 2026

The Minnesota State Building Code requires footings to be a minimum of 42” deep in the southern part of the state, and a minimum of 60” deep in the northern part of the state. The diagram below shows the dividing line.

How deep is the frost line in Minnesota?

StateFrost Lines (Inches)Minnesota80North Dakota75Maine74Wisconsin65

How deep do I need my deck footings?

By code, the bottom of a footing must be at least 12 inches deep and below the local frostline—whichever is deeper—and bear on stable, undisturbed soil that is free of organic matter. And the code requires a minimum compressive strength of 2,500 psi for the concrete.

What is the minimum footing depth?

Depth of Footings Footings should extend to a minimum depth of 12 inches below previously undisturbed soil. Footings also must extend at least 12 inches below the frost line (the depth to which the ground freezes in winter) or must be frost-protected.

How deep are deck footings in MN?

The Minnesota State Building Code requires footings to be a minimum of 42” deep in the southern part of the state, and a minimum of 60” deep in the northern part of the state.

How deep should a wall footing be?

Start digging at the lowest part and go down until firm ground is found. For a light garden wall, a trench 30 cm (12 inch) deep should be sufficient if the soil is firm and well drained. But on unstable or weak ground, make it 46 cm (18 inch) deep.

How deep do fence posts need to be in Minnesota?

Dig holes Posts need to be set below the frost line to prevent heaving. For regular privacy fences, holes need to be at least 36 inches deep or half the fence height, whichever is greater, plus six inches for base gravel.

Is code for depth of footing?

Minimum depth of foundation as per IS code Minimum depth of foundation as per IS 1080-1982 is 50cm from Ground Level.

How the depth of footing is decided?

Many factors affects the depth of foundation. such as type of soil, ground water table, loads from structure, bearing capacity and density of soil and other factors. The minimum depth of foundation is calculated by Rankine’s formula when the bearing capacity of soil is known by soil investigation report.

What is the code for deck footings?

Footings need to be at least 12 inches below settled soil to prevent lateral movement. In addition, they need to be dug below the frost line, which varies according to climactic zone.

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How deep do you need to dig to get below the frost line?

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.

What kind of concrete is used for footings?

A concrete mix of 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 4 parts coarse aggregate (by volume) should be used for footings. Concrete must be placed within half an hour of mixing.

How often do you need deck footings?

For most situations, you will want to place footings and posts less than 8′ apart. If you are planning on installing a hot tub or porch on top of your deck, you will usually need more footings and posts to support the additional loads.

Do I need a building permit for a deck in Minnesota?

A building permit is required for any deck attached to a dwelling or garage. Decks not attached to a structure that are 30 inches or less above grade do not require a permit. Decks exempt from a permit still need to meet setback and building code requirements.

What is a frost footing?

What are Frost-Protected Shallow Footings and Why Are They Used? … An FPSF incorporates strategically placed insulation to raise the frost depth around a building, thereby allowing foundation depths as shallow as 16 inches, even in the most severe climates.

How much concrete do I need for post holes?

A: Finding the right amount of concrete depends on the size of the hole and the size of the post. The diameter of the hole should equal about three times the diameter of the post and the depth of the hole should be about ⅓ to ½ the total length of the pole.

How much concrete do I need for a post hole?

Calculate the volume of the hole in cubic metres (using V = πr2h)* and subtract the volume of your post (This will give you the volume of concrete required). Simply multiply the volume figure by 108 (108 bags per cubic metre) to give the amount of 20kg bags needed to fill the void.

How deep should a 8 foot fence post be?

In general, holes should be at least 3 feet deep for posts that extend 8 feet or more above ground level. Posts that extend 6 feet above ground level should have holes at least 2 1/2 feet deep.

How deep should footings be for a 4 foot wall?

All footings should be a minimum of 150mm (6″) in depth, with the bottom 350 – 400mm (14-16″) below ground level on most soils. For clay soil however, thicker and deeper footings should be used.

How deep do foundations need to be for a retaining wall?

Type of wallWall heightDepth of concreteSingle-skinUp to 1m300mmDouble-skinUp to 1m150mmDouble-skinOver 1m, up to 2m375-450mmRetaining wallUp to 1m150mm-300mm

Does a 2 foot retaining wall need drainage?

These walls need a drainage system regardless of the wall height. If there are poor draining soils such as clay behind the wall, there needs to be drainage incorporated the wall system. Clay when wet is very weak, so it is essential to provide a way for water to escape from behind the wall.

What is embedment depth of foundation?

Abstract. The embedment depth of footings is an essential factor affecting the bearing capacity of base material. In most bearing capacity determination methods, the effect of the embedment depth was considered by applying an equivalent vertical stress to the ground surface.

What is minimum depth of deep foundation?

The words shallow and deep refer to the depth of soil in which the foundation is made. Shallow foundations can be made in depths of as little as 3ft (1m), while deep foundations can be made at depths of 60 – 200ft (20 – 65m).

How many footings do I need for a 12x12 deck?

For an attached 12 x 12′ deck, you’ll need at least 3 footings, plus at least 2 more if you’re planning on building stairs with it. If your deck will be a different size, it’s easy to figure out how many you’ll need.

Can I use 4x4 posts for my deck?

In the past, many decks were built with 4×4 support posts (also called structural posts). But these can bow seriously, even if a deck is only 3 feet off the ground. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you use 6x6s instead, even if your building department does not demand them.

Can I use deck pier blocks instead of footings?

Pier blocks can be used instead of footings for a ground-level deck not requiring permits. … Any decks higher than 24” require concrete piles 10” in diameter and 48” below grade. These footing size requirements are to ensure enough soil bearing to prevent the joist from sinking in the ground.

What happens if footings are not below frost line?

If the footing does not extend below the frost line, the footing will heave as the ground freezes and thaws.

What are individual footings?

Individual or isolated spread footings are typically square, rectangular, or even a geometric frustum block of concrete that carries the load of a single column or pillar. The width of individual footings depends on the weight that will be carried and the bearable capacity of the soil.

What size footings do I need for a 6x6 post?

FOOTINGS: – Poured concrete footings should be a minimum of 8” wider than the posts (4×4 post – 12” min. width, 6×6 post – 14” min. width), a two level deck or deck with roof – 24”x24”. – The bottom of the footings must be a minimum of 36” below finish grade level.

How thick should footings be?

Eight inches is the minimum thickness for a footing. Ten inches is better and twelve inches is highly desirable. The depth of the footing in the ground depends on: the local frost depth.

Do footings need rebar?

Footings, that sit on undisturbed soil or sand or multiple combination of this and that natural material, don’t require rebar. Vertical walls and posts that do require rebar, the steel rods provide both remarkable lateral ductile strength while over many decades become the weakest link.