Johnson County, MO Roof Snow Load - 20 psf
Johnson County, MO: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Johnson County's roofs are built to hold 20 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. §7.3.4's low-slope minimum of 20 psf is what actually governs on a flat or low-pitch roof here - higher than the 14 psf the base ground-load formula gives.
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. A meaningful design load. Most homes built to modern code handle it, but additions, carports, and flat-roofed sections are worth a second look.
Johnson County at a glance
- Design roof snow load20 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map20 psf
- National rank#715 of 2,758
- Missouri rank#15 of 115
- Population55,880
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal14.6 in.
- FIPS29101
Johnson County by the numbers
Nationally that's #715 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 26%; within Missouri alone, Johnson County ranks #15 of 115. 18.6 psf is Missouri's typical county figure - Johnson County beats it by 1.4 psf.
Johnson County, FIPS 29101, is home to 55,880 people near 38.7415°N 93.8119°W. Its 20 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 20 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Johnson County's snowfall, most winters
14.6 in. a year: that's Johnson County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at KINGSVILLE, MO US (14.1 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Johnson County's number
Treat the Johnson 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. Details: the calculation guide.