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Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Section 1608 — SNOW LOADS

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

1608.1 General.

Design snow loads shall be determined in accordance with Chapter 7 of ASCE 7, but the design roof load shall be not less than that determined by Section 1607.

Exception: Temporary structures complying with Section 3103.6.1.1.

1608.2 Ground snow loads.

The ground snow loads to be used in determining the design snow loads for roofs shall be determined in accordance with the reliability-targeted (strength based) ground snow load values in Chapter 7 of ASCE 7 or Figures 1608.2(1) through 1608.2(4) for the contiguous United States and Table 1608.2 for Alaska. Site-specific case studies shall be determined in accordance with Chapter 7 of ASCE 7 and shall be approved by the building official. Snow loads are zero for Hawaii, except in mountainous regions as approved by the building official.

TABLE 1608.2—GROUND SNOW LOADS, p, FOR ALASKAN LOCATIONS
g

CITY/TOWN ELEVATION (ft) GROUND SNOW LOAD,****pg
a, b, c (lb/ft2)		 GROUND SNOW LOAD,****pg
a, b, c (lb/ft2)		 GROUND SNOW LOAD,****pg
a, b, c (lb/ft2)		 GROUND SNOW LOAD,****pg
a, b, c (lb/ft2)
CITY/TOWN ELEVATION (ft) RISK CATEGORY RISK CATEGORY RISK CATEGORY RISK CATEGORY
CITY/TOWN ELEVATION (ft) I II III IV
Adek 100 32 40 46 50
Anchorage/Eagle Riverc 500 64 80 92 100
Arctic Village 2,100 38 48 55 60
Bethel 100 51 64 74 80
Bettles 700 102 128 147 160
Cantwell 2,100 109 136 156 170
Cold Bay 100 45 56 64 70
Cordova 100 128 160 184 200
Deadhorse 100 32 40 46 50
Delta Junction 400 51 64 74 80
Dillingham 100 141 176 202 220
Emmonak 100 128 160 184 200
Fairbanks 1,200 77 96 110 120
Fort Yukon 400 64 80 92 100
Galena 200 77 96 110 120
Girdwood 200 179 224 258 280
Glennallen 1,400 58 72 83 90
Haines 100 237 296 340 370
Holy Cross 100 154 192 221 240
Homerc 500 58 72 83 90
Iliamna 200 102 128 147 160
Juneau 100 90 112 129 140
Kaktovik 100 58 72 83 90
Kenai/Soldotna 200 83 104 120 130
Ketchikan 100 38 48 55 60
Kobuk 200 115 144 166 180
Kodiak 100 45 56 64 70
Kotzebue 100 77 96 110 120
McGrath 400 83 104 120 130
Nenana 400 96 120 138 150
Nikiski 200 102 128 147 160

16-18 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

TABLE 1608.2—GROUND SNOW LOADS, p, FOR ALASKAN LOCATIONS-continued
g

CITY/TOWN ELEVATION (ft) GROUND SNOW LOAD,****pg
a, b, c (lb/ft2)		 GROUND SNOW LOAD,****pg
a, b, c (lb/ft2)		 GROUND SNOW LOAD,****pg
a, b, c (lb/ft2)		 GROUND SNOW LOAD,****pg
a, b, c (lb/ft2)
CITY/TOWN ELEVATION (ft) RISK CATEGORY RISK CATEGORY RISK CATEGORY RISK CATEGORY
CITY/TOWN ELEVATION (ft) I II III IV
Nome 100 90 112 129 140
Palmer/Wasilla 500 64 80 92 100
Petersburg 100 122 152 175 190
Point Hope 100 58 72 83 90
Saint Lawrence Island 100 122 152 175 190
Saint Paul Islands 100 51 64 74 80
Seward 100 77 96 110 120
Sitka 100 64 80 92 100
Talkeetna 400 154 192 221 240
Tok 1,700 45 56 64 70
Umiat 300 38 48 55 60
Unalakleet 100 45 56 64 70
Unalaska 100 96 120 138 150
Utqiagvik (Barrow) 100 32 40 46 50
Valdez 100 205 256 294 320
Wainwright 100 32 40 46 50
Whittier 100 346 432 497 540
Willow 300 102 128 147 160
Yakutat 100 179 224 258 280
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot = 0.0479 kN/m2.
a. Statutory requirements of the building official are not included in this state ground snow load table.
b. For locations where there is substantial change in altitude over the city/town, the load applies at and below the cited elevation within the jurisdiction and up to 100 feet
above the cited elevation unless otherwise noted.
c. For locations in Anchorage/Eagle River and Homer above the cited elevation, the ground snow load shall be increased by 15 percent for every 100 feet above the cited
elevation.

1608.2.1 Ground snow conversion. Where required, the ground snow loads, p g, of Figures 1608.2(1) through 1608.2(4) and Table 1608.2 shall be converted to allowable stress design ground snow loads, p g(asd), using Equation 16-17. Equation 16-17 p g(asd) = 0.7 p g

where:

p g(asd) = Allowable stress design ground snow load. p g = Ground snow load determined from Figures 1608.2(1) through 1608.2(4) and Table 1608.2.

1608.3 Ponding instability.

Ponding instability on roofs shall be evaluated in accordance with ASCE 7.

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

16-20 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

16-22 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  4. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  5. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  6. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR W…
  9. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  10. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  11. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  12. Chapter 11 — RESERVED
  13. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  14. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  15. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  16. Chapter 13 — ENERGY EFFICIENCY
  17. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  18. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  19. ▸ Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
    Overview
    1. Section 1601 — GENERAL
    2. Section 1602 — NOTATIONS
    3. Section 1603 — CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
    4. Section 1604 — GENERAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
    5. Section 1605 — LOAD COMBINATIONS
    6. Section 1606 — DEAD LOADS
    7. Section 1607 — LIVE LOADS
    8. Section 1608 — SNOW LOADS
    9. Section 1609 — WIND LOADS
    10. Section 1610 — SOIL LOADS AND HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
    11. Section 1611 — RAIN LOADS
    12. Section 1612 — FLOOD LOADS
    13. Section 1613 — EARTHQUAKE LOADS
    14. Section 1614 — ATMOSPHERIC ICE LOADS
    15. Section 1615 — TSUNAMI LOADS
    16. Section 1616 — STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY
    17. Section 1617 — ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES …
  20. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  22. Chapter 17A — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 18A — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  25. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  26. Chapter 19A — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 21A — MASONRY
  30. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  31. Chapter 22A — STEEL
  32. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  33. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  34. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  35. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  36. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  37. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  38. Chapter 29 — PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  39. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  40. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  41. Chapter 31A — SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW CLEANING OR EXTERIOR BUILDING…
  42. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  43. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  44. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  45. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  46. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  47. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  48. Chapter 34 — RESERVED
  49. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  50. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  51. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  52. Appendix C — GROUP U—AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  54. Appendix E — RESERVED
  55. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  56. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
  57. Appendix H — SIGNS
  58. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  59. Appendix J — GRADING
  60. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES PROTECTED B…
  61. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING INSTRUMENTATION
  62. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED FLOOD HAZARDS
  63. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  64. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED APPLICATION
  65. Appendix P — SLEEPING LOFTS
  66. Appendix Q — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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