Lawrence County, KY Roof Snow Load - 15 psf
Lawrence County, KY: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Lawrence County's roofs are built to hold 15 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. 10.5 psf is what the ground-load formula alone gives; Lawrence County's 15 psf low-slope minimum (§7.3.4) beats it, so that figure is the one that governs on flat and low-pitch roofs.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 33 inches of fresh, light snow, 12 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 3 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.
Lawrence County at a glance
- Design roof snow load15 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map15 psf
- National rank#1,501 of 2,758
- Kentucky rank#78 of 120
- Population15,798
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal3.4 in.
- FIPS21127
Lawrence County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,501 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 54%; within Kentucky alone, Lawrence County ranks #78 of 120. Kentucky counties average 15.7 psf; Lawrence County runs 0.7 psf lower than that.
Lawrence County, FIPS 21127, is home to 15,798 people near 38.0745°N 82.7383°W. Its 15 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 15 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Lawrence County's snowfall, most winters
3.4 in. a year: that's Lawrence County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at GRAYSON LAKE, KY US (18.3 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Lawrence County's number
Treat the Lawrence 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.