Lincoln County, KY Roof Snow Load - 15 psf
Lincoln County, KY: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Lincoln County's roofs are built to hold 15 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. The physics-based figure alone would be 10.5 psf, but ASCE 7's own low-slope minimum (§7.3.4) sets a floor of 15 psf for flat and low-pitch roofs here, which is the number that actually governs.
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. A meaningful design load. Most homes built to modern code handle it, but additions, carports, and flat-roofed sections are worth a second look.
Already snow on the roof in Lincoln County?
Lincoln County, KY: quick facts
- Design roof snow load15 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map15 psf
- National rank#1,441 of 2,758
- Kentucky rank#53 of 120
- Population24,910
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal7.4 in.
- FIPS21137
Lincoln County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,441 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 52%; within Kentucky alone, Lincoln County ranks #53 of 120. Kentucky counties average 15.7 psf; Lincoln County runs 0.7 psf lower than that.
Lincoln County, FIPS 21137, is home to 24,910 people near 37.4572°N 84.6583°W. Its 15 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 15 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Lincoln County's snowfall, most winters
7.4 in. a year: that's Lincoln County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at CRAB ORCHARD 6 N, KY US (12.3 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Lincoln County's number
Treat the Lincoln 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. (How this figure is calculated.)