Washington County, IN Roof Snow Load - 20 psf
Washington County, IN: your roof's ASCE 7 snow number, in plain English
Washington 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.
Washington County at a glance
- Design roof snow load20 psf
- Ground snow load, ASCE 7 map20 psf
- National rank#878 of 2,758
- Indiana rank#47 of 89
- Population28,345
- Annual snowfall, NOAA normal14.1 in.
- FIPS18175
Washington County by the numbers
Nationally that's #878 out of 2,758 rated counties, the top 32%; within Indiana alone, Washington County ranks #47 of 89. Indiana counties average 19.3 psf; Washington County runs 0.7 psf higher than that.
Washington County, FIPS 18175, is home to 28,345 people near 38.601°N 86.1055°W. Its 20 psf ground snow load figure is the map value; 20 psf is what a roof is actually designed for.
Washington County's snowfall, most winters
14.1 in. a year: that's Washington County's NOAA 1991-2020 snowfall normal, measured at SALEM, IN US (1.5 mi away). See the density guide.
Before you rely on Washington County's number
Treat the Washington 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.