Orleans County, NY Roof Snow Load - 28 psf
Orleans County, NY: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Orleans County's roofs are built to hold 28 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 61.6 inches of fresh, light snow, 22.4 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 5.6 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.
Orleans County, NY: quick facts
- Design roof snow load28 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map40 psf
- National rank#240 of 2,758
- New York rank#12 of 28
- Population39,686
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal67 in.
- FIPS36073
Orleans County by the numbers
Nationally that's #240 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 9%; within New York alone, Orleans County ranks #12 of 28. That's 2.6 psf above New York's own county-average design load of 25.4 psf.
Orleans County, FIPS 36073, is home to 39,686 people near 43.3399°N 78.207°W. Its 40 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 28 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Orleans County's snowfall, most winters
67 in. a year: that's Orleans County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at ALBION, NY US (5.3 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Orleans County's number
Treat the Orleans 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.