GuidelineRecommended
Ground snow load for Virginia: 25 psf eastern, up to 40 psf western mountains
HUD RSDG §3.7Description
Ground snow load (psf) varies by elevation + latitude. Eastern Virginia and Tidewater: 20-25 psf. Northern Virginia / Piedmont (Alexandria area): 25-30 psf. Blue Ridge / Shenandoah: 30-40 psf. Roof snow load = 0.7 × ground snow × exposure factor × thermal factor.
Why this exists
Snow loads drive roof framing + truss design. The 0.7 reduction factor accounts for typical sloped-roof shedding behavior.
Categories
Structure
Source
HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development)no manifest entry
Residential Structural Design Guide, Second Edition (2nd ed)
Section: Chapter 3, §3.7
Published 2000-01-01 · last verified 2026-05-10
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Continuous load path from roof to foundation · HUD RSDG §2.4
- Residential structural reliability targets 1-in-100 to 1-in-1000 annual probability of failure · HUD RSDG §2.5
- Residential floor live load: 40 psf minimum (30 psf sleeping rooms) · HUD RSDG §3.4
- Wind load design uses ASCE 7 basic wind speed for the locality · HUD RSDG §3.6
- Footing depth must extend below frost line: 18-24 inches in Virginia · HUD RSDG §4.4
Last reviewed 2026-05-10.