Nelson County, KY Roof Snow Load - 15 psf
Nelson County, KY: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Nelson County's roofs are built to hold 15 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first. §7.3.4's low-slope minimum of 15 psf is what actually governs on a flat or low-pitch roof here - higher than the 10.5 psf the base ground-load formula gives.
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. This is a meaningful design load - most modern-code homes handle it fine, though an addition, a carport or a flat-roofed section can be a weak spot.
Nelson County at a glance
- Design roof snow load15 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map15 psf
- National rank#1,381 of 2,758
- Kentucky rank#33 of 120
- Population48,706
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal11.9 in.
- FIPS21179
Nelson County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,381 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 50%; within Kentucky alone, Nelson County ranks #33 of 120. 15.7 psf is Kentucky's typical county figure - Nelson County comes in 0.7 psf under it.
Nelson County, FIPS 21179, is home to 48,706 people near 37.8031°N 85.4659°W. Its 15 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 15 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Nelson County's snowfall, most winters
11.9 in. a year: that's Nelson County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at BARDSTOWN 5E, KY US (4.6 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Nelson County's number
Treat the Nelson 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.