Ground Snow Load by State: A Reference Map
Planning ranges for ground snow load across all 50 states, with the mountainous case-study states flagged. Always confirm the exact value with your AHJ.
Ground snow load is a local number, but it helps to know the ballpark for your state before you look up the exact site value. We publish a planning range for the populated parts of every state, read from the ASCE 7 ground snow load map and common code amendments.
The big picture
The Gulf Coast and Southwest deserts are effectively zero. The mid-Atlantic and lower Midwest run 15–30 psf. The upper Midwest and New England run 30–70 psf, and the northern tier of New England and the mountain West can exceed 100 psf at elevation.
Watch the case-study states
In mountainous states (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and others) elevation drives the value, not the state. A valley town might be 35 psf while a resort a few miles away at altitude is 150+. Those states are flagged as case-study, meaning you must get the site value from the Hazard Tool or your AHJ.
Pick your state from the RoofHelm state directory for its range, a pre-loaded calculator and the local guidance, then confirm the exact ground snow load for your address before you build.
Get your design roof snow load in seconds with the free ASCE 7-22 calculator.
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