Richland County, ND Roof Snow Load - 35 psf
Richland County, ND: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Richland County's roofs are built to hold 35 psf of snow, the ASCE 7-22 figure a permit reviewer checks first.
In depth, not weight: that's roughly 77 inches of fresh, light snow, 28 inches of old, settled snow, or as little as 7 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 load this size is a serious structural matter; pre-modern-code homes and low-slope or flat-roofed sections are the ones most worth an inspection.
Richland County, ND: quick facts
- Design roof snow load35 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map50 psf
- National rank#162 of 2,758
- North Dakota rank#7 of 49
- Population16,658
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal49.3 in.
- FIPS38077
Richland County by the numbers
Nationally that's #162 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 6%; within North Dakota alone, Richland County ranks #7 of 49. That's 5.6 psf above North Dakota's own county-average design load of 29.4 psf.
Richland County, FIPS 38077, is home to 16,658 people near 46.2652°N 96.938°W. Its 50 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 35 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Richland County's snowfall, most winters
49.3 in. a year: that's Richland County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at VICTOR 4 N, SD US (24.4 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Richland County's number
Treat the Richland 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.