Jackson County, MI Roof Snow Load - 20 psf
Jackson County, MI: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Jackson County's roofs are built to hold 20 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. Flat and low-pitch roofs in Jackson County are actually governed by ASCE 7's §7.3.4 minimum of 20 psf, not the 17.5 psf the ground-load formula alone would produce.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 44 inches of fresh, light snow, 16 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 4 inches of solid ice - snow that heavy is rare here but ice from a freeze-thaw cycle adds up far faster than the depth suggests. Modern-code homes carry a load like this without issue; an older addition, a carport, or any flat-roofed section is where it is worth checking first.
Got real snow on a Jackson County roof right now?
Jackson County, MI: quick facts
- Design roof snow load20 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map25 psf
- National rank#613 of 2,758
- Michigan rank#63 of 70
- Population160,233
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal40.4 in.
- FIPS26075
Jackson County by the numbers
Nationally that's #613 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 22%; within Michigan alone, Jackson County ranks #63 of 70. That's 11.7 psf below Michigan's own county-average design load of 31.7 psf.
Jackson County, FIPS 26075, is home to 160,233 people near 42.2485°N 84.4209°W. Its 25 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 20 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Jackson County's snowfall, most winters
40.4 in. a year: that's Jackson County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at ALBION, MI US (18 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Jackson County's number
Treat the Jackson County figure as a starting point, not a final answer: it assumes standard occupancy, a heated structure and a moderately sheltered site, per ASCE 7-22's own defaults. Exposed terrain, an unheated building or a steeper roof all shift the real number.
For a real application, skip the county number and go straight to the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool - enter your coordinates and it returns a site-specific figure a plan reviewer will recognize. See the methodology guide.