SnowLoadCheck

Lunenburg County, VA Roof Snow Load - 20 psf

Lunenburg County, VA: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English

Moderate
20 psf

Lunenburg County's roofs are built to hold 20 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. The physics-based figure alone would be 14 psf, but ASCE 7's own low-slope minimum (§7.3.4) sets a floor of 20 psf for flat and low-pitch roofs here, which is the number that actually governs.

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.

Lunenburg County, VA: quick facts

Lunenburg County by the numbers

Nationally that's #1,070 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 39%; within Virginia alone, Lunenburg County ranks #70 of 110. Virginia counties average 18.3 psf; Lunenburg County runs 1.7 psf higher than that.

Lunenburg County, FIPS 51111, is home to 12,060 people near 36.9456°N 78.2405°W. Its 20 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 20 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.

Lunenburg County's snowfall, most winters

5 in. a year: that's Lunenburg County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at CHASE CITY, VA US (17.4 mi away). See the density guide.

Before you rely on Lunenburg County's number

Treat the Lunenburg 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.