Transylvania County, NC Roof Snow Load - 15 psf
Transylvania County, NC: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Transylvania 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. A meaningful design load. Most homes built to modern code handle it, but additions, carports, and flat-roofed sections are worth a second look.
Transylvania County, NC: quick facts
- Design roof snow load15 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map15 psf
- National rank#1,416 of 2,758
- North Carolina rank#43 of 100
- Population34,103
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal7.1 in.
- FIPS37175
Transylvania County by the numbers
Nationally that's #1,416 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 51%; within North Carolina alone, Transylvania County ranks #43 of 100. That's 2.1 psf above North Carolina's own county-average design load of 12.9 psf.
Transylvania County, FIPS 37175, is home to 34,103 people near 35.2101°N 82.8167°W. Its 15 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 15 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Transylvania County's snowfall, most winters
7.1 in. a year: that's Transylvania County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at BREVARD, NC US (4.7 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Transylvania County's number
Treat the Transylvania 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.