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Radon Levels in Botetourt County, Virginia

EPA puts Botetourt County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and high results are common there: 42.1% of the 575 radon tests reported to CDC (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) came back at or above 4 pCi/L. Homes with elevated levels occur in all three zones, so only a test measures yours.

Data checked By Radon411Methodology

How to test this homeFind a certified tester

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    42.1%

    11.7 pts above VA

    Botetourt
    42.1%
    Virginia
    30.4%

    575 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    3.3pCi/L

    Below action level

    Botetourt
    3.3 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    575

    23rd of 84 by tests

    Botetourt
    575
    Fairfax
    8,657

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 1

    Highest potential

    1. Zone 1
    2. 2
    3. 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts over 4 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in Virginia

    23 of 84

    Middle half

    Botetourt
    42.1%
    Russell
    67.3%

    By share, of 84 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Botetourt County

Starts at Botetourt County's median, 3.3 pCi/L

3.3pCi/L

EPA’s own thresholds; the figures are the area’s, never this home’s.

EPA’s reading of 3.3 pCi/L

Between 2 and 4 pCi/L

  1. Under 20 to 1.9 pCi/L
  2. 2 to 4consider a fix
  3. 4 and aboveEPA says fix it

This result is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. EPA recommends considering a fix when the level is between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Botetourt County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Botetourt County, At a glance

Botetourt County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Botetourt County in and predicts an average indoor of greater than 4 pCi/L (greater than 150 Bq/m³) across the county. That is one forecast for the whole county, not a reading of any address in it; homes above EPA's turn up in all three zones.

USGS geologic potential: High across 93% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Botetourt County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Botetourt County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 29%2 to 4 pCi/L: 29%4 pCi/L and above: 42%

Of 575 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Botetourt County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L16528.7%
2 to 4 pCi/L16829.2%
4 pCi/L and above24242.1%
What these figures count

These are the 575 tests reported to CDC for Botetourt County over 2008 to 2017 (laboratory totals), many from homes being sold or already suspected of a problem: they describe the county's reported tests, not this house.

Measured: CDC tracking data. Figure above: 2008 to 2017, laboratory. Measured data period: 2005 to 2017 (every CDC figure on file).

How to read these figures

Botetourt County, Compared

Botetourt County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

In Botetourt County, about 4 in 10 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals (242 of 575) were at or above EPA's action level. Against the national pool of 35.7%, the gap is 6.4 points higher. Across 131 Virginia counties pooled together, 30.4% of tests reached that level, so Botetourt County runs 11.7 points above its state.

Of 4 neighbours with a figure, 1 reported a larger share at or above 4 pCi/L and 3 a smaller one; the spread is 22.1% (Roanoke County) to 50.9% (Rockbridge County). By share, Botetourt County is 23rd of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period.

Half the tests came in under 3.3 pCi/L and half over it; the single highest reached 32.9 pCi/L. Below the action level, 165 tests (28.7%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 44.7% statewide, and 168 tests (29.2%) fell between 2 and 4, against 24.9% statewide.

Zone 1 on EPA's map (predicted average above 4 pCi/L) and a 42.1% share point the same way here. USGS geology rates 93% of the county's land high radon potential. CDC also counts 46 tests taken after mitigation in Botetourt County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

CDC's ten-year totals for Botetourt County went from 596 tests (2005 to 2014) to 575 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 40.8% to 42.1%.

Botetourt County against Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Botetourt County
Botetourt County57542.1%3.3 pCi/LThis county
Virginia, pooled131 counties, pooled53,19930.4%Not pooled−11.7 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled−6.4 points
Russell Countyhighest in the state4967.3%6.7 pCi/L+25.2 points
Norfolk citylowest in the state732.7%0.5 pCi/L−39.4 points
Rockbridge County, VAborders it11450.9%4.0 pCi/L+8.8 points
Craig County, VAborders it1346.2%2.8 pCi/L+4.1 points
Alleghany County, VAborders it5040.0%3.0 pCi/L−2.1 points
Bedford County, VAborders it74923.5%2.1 pCi/L−18.6 points
Roanoke County, VAborders it1,54122.1%1.9 pCi/L−20.0 points
Where Botetourt County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Virginia and the United States
ResultBotetourt County testsBotetourt County shareVirginia shareU.S. shareAgainst Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L16528.7%44.7%39.6%−16.0 points
2 to 4 pCi/L16829.2%24.9%24.7%+4.3 points
4 pCi/L and above24242.1%30.4%35.7%+11.7 points
Botetourt County ranked among the 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests, by share at or above 4 pCi/L, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
CountyRankTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedian
Grayson County18 of 844744.7%3.8 pCi/L
Frederick County19 of 842,45144.1%3.3 pCi/L
Madison County20 of 8418444.0%3.5 pCi/L
Rockingham County21 of 841,71443.9%3.3 pCi/L
Floyd County22 of 845442.6%3.3 pCi/L
Botetourt County23 of 8457542.1%3.3 pCi/L
Radford city24 of 849841.8%3.2 pCi/L
Rappahannock County25 of 8413741.6%3.3 pCi/L
Tazewell County26 of 8437240.3%2.8 pCi/L
Culpeper County27 of 8489140.1%3.2 pCi/L
Alleghany County28 of 845040.0%3.0 pCi/L
Botetourt County ten-year laboratory totals, against Virginia's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestVirginia, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201757542.1%3.3 pCi/L32.9 pCi/L30.4%+1.0 points
2007 to 201658441.1%3.3 pCi/L32.9 pCi/L30.6%+0.9 points
2006 to 201563540.2%3.2 pCi/L64.5 pCi/L30.7%−0.6 points
2005 to 201459640.8%3.3 pCi/L64.5 pCi/L30.3%First on file

Pooled shares: Radon411's sum of CDC's county counts for one period.

Botetourt County, Geology

The ground under Botetourt County

Predicted

Most of the ground under Botetourt County is one class on USGS's geologic map: 93.5% of its land is high radon potential, with 6.5% moderate. The map puts 93.5% of Botetourt County in the area it calls Valley and Ridge and 6.5% in Blue Ridge. USGS gives the first a radon index of 15, in the high band (12 to 17), and the second 10, in the moderate band (9 to 11).

USGS's geologic areas under Botetourt County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Valley and RidgeCambrian dolomite, limestone, shale, and sandstone, Silurian-Ordovician limestone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone, Mississippian-Devonian sandstone, shale, limestone, gypsum, and coal.High1593.5%
Blue RidgeGranite, pegmatite, monazite, schist, and gneiss.Moderate106.5%

Names, descriptions and indexes: U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Radon Potential Map (2025). Shares: Radon411, from the map cut to the boundary.

Botetourt County beside the ground around it

Botetourt County has more high-potential ground than Virginia as a whole: 93.5% of its land against 47.9%. Of the 5 counties that border it, 3 have more high-potential ground, Craig County the most at 100%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Botetourt County, the 5 counties bordering it and Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Botetourt CountyZone 1None6.5%93.5%
Bedford CountyZone 2None84.9%15.1%
Rockbridge CountyZone 1None6.2%93.8%
Craig CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Alleghany CountyZone 1NoneNone100%
Roanoke CountyZone 1None34.6%65.4%
Virginia133 counties, pooled by land areaVaries20.6%30.0%47.9%

The map rates the ground, not the air in any home.

Local help

Botetourt County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Botetourt County

What Virginia's program says
Phone
(804) 864-8161
Email
Radon@vdh.virginia.gov
Licensing of radon professionals
The Code of Virginia requires that Radon testers and mitigators be currently certified by either the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB).

What it means

Botetourt County, Questions

Questions about radon in Botetourt County

Are radon levels high in Botetourt County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 42.1% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Botetourt County, Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 3.3 pCi/L. Of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 22 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 30.4%.

Which counties border Botetourt County?

Botetourt County borders 5 counties: Bedford County, Rockbridge County, Craig County, Alleghany County and Roanoke County.

Products

Botetourt County, Products

Testing a home in Botetourt County

In Botetourt County, 42.1% of 575 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 30.4% pooled across Virginia. In Zone 1 the year-round level in Botetourt County is the one to know: a long-term test (more than 90 days) or a monitor, with a short-term kit for a first answer.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Botetourt County is in EPA Zone 1, the highest predicted radon potential. Best radon monitors for Zone 1 counties like Botetourt County

Explore

Botetourt County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Botetourt County

Calculated by Radon411

Botetourt County, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Botetourt County

The Census Bureau estimates 34,144 residents in Botetourt County for July 1, 2025, 508 more than in 2020 (+1.5%). That works out to 63 people per square mile of land. No town dominates: Buchanan, the largest, has 1,212 residents, 3.5% of the total. Together its 3 incorporated places hold 7.3% of those residents; the other 92.7% live outside any of them. Testing is reported here more often than across the state: CDC's 575 reported tests for 2008 to 2017 come to 16.8 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), against 6.0 for Virginia.

From Buchanan to Troutville, CDC publishes no figure by town: each reads Botetourt County's.

The cities and towns in Botetourt County by residents, July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Buchanan1,212+1.3%3.5%
Fincastle825+1.0%2.4%
Troutville468+1.5%1.4%

3 incorporated places, as listed in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 place reference files. Residents: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025).

Botetourt County, Homes

Homes in Botetourt County

Botetourt County is a place of houses on their own lots: 84% of its 15,010 homes are detached single-family houses, against 61% across Virginia. Half of its homes were built before 1984, close to Virginia's 1984: 19% date from before 1960 and 25% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 86% of the occupied homes (Virginia: 67%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Botetourt County, Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesBotetourt CountyVirginia
Housing units15,0103,654,784
Detached houses84%61%
In buildings of 5 or more4%19%
Mobile homes8%4%
Built before 196019%19%
Built since 200025%25%
Middle year built19841984
Owner-occupied86%67%

Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2019 to 2023: estimates from a sample of homes, looser for a small place. Shares by Radon411.