Knox County, OH Roof Snow Load - 20 psf
Knox County, OH: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Knox 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. 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.
Knox County at a glance
- Design roof snow load20 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map20 psf
- National rank#702 of 2,758
- Ohio rank#38 of 86
- Population63,848
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal41.6 in.
- FIPS39083
Knox County by the numbers
Nationally that's #702 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 25%; within Ohio alone, Knox County ranks #38 of 86. Knox County's figure lands almost exactly on Ohio's own county-average of 20 psf.
Knox County, FIPS 39083, is home to 63,848 people near 40.4036°N 82.4224°W. Its 20 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 20 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Knox County's snowfall, most winters
41.6 in. a year: that's Knox County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at DANVILLE 2 W, OH US (6.7 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Knox County's number
Treat the Knox 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.