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Radon Levels in Chesterfield County, Virginia

EPA puts Chesterfield County in Zone 1, its highest radon zone, and 29.6% of its 733 reported radon tests (2008 to 2017, laboratory totals) were 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

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  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    29.6%

    0.8 pts below VA

    Chesterfield
    29.6%
    Virginia
    30.4%

    733 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    2.2pCi/L

    Below action level

    Chesterfield
    2.2 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    733

    19th of 84 by tests

    Chesterfield
    733
    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

    53 of 84

    Middle half

    Chesterfield
    29.6%
    Russell
    67.3%

    By share, of 84 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Chesterfield County

Starts at Chesterfield County's median, 2.2 pCi/L

2.2pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 2.2 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. Chesterfield County's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Chesterfield County, At a glance

Chesterfield County at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 1: highest predicted potential

EPA puts all of Chesterfield 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: Low across 39% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

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

Reported results by concentration band, Chesterfield County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 46%2 to 4 pCi/L: 24%4 pCi/L and above: 30%

Of 733 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Chesterfield County, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L34146.5%
2 to 4 pCi/L17523.9%
4 pCi/L and above21729.6%
What these figures count

These are the 733 tests reported to CDC for Chesterfield 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

Chesterfield County, Compared

Chesterfield County radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Chesterfield County's 733 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals had a middle value of 2.2 pCi/L and a maximum of 106.4 pCi/L, and 29.6% reached 4 pCi/L. Virginia as a whole (131 Virginia counties, pooled) comes to 30.4%: 0.8 points higher than here.

Among its state's counties it ranks 53rd of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period. Statewide for the same period, Russell County reported the highest share (67.3%) and Norfolk city the lowest (2.7%).

Below the action level, 341 tests (46.5%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 44.7% statewide, and 175 tests (23.9%) fell between 2 and 4, against 24.9% statewide. CDC's ten-year totals for Chesterfield County went from 572 tests (2005 to 2014) to 733 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 29.7% to 29.6%.

EPA's 1993 zone map puts Chesterfield County in Zone 1, a predicted county average above 4 pCi/L. USGS geology rates 39% of the county's land low radon potential.

Next door, the shares run from 27.0% in Henrico County to 30.7% in Goochland County, with Powhatan County, Richmond city and Henrico County below Chesterfield County.

CDC also counts 188 tests taken after mitigation in Chesterfield County for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Chesterfield County against Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Chesterfield County
Chesterfield County73329.6%2.2 pCi/LThis county
Virginia, pooled131 counties, pooled53,19930.4%Not pooled+0.8 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+6.1 points
Russell Countyhighest in the state4967.3%6.7 pCi/L+37.7 points
Norfolk citylowest in the state732.7%0.5 pCi/L−26.9 points
Dinwiddie County, VAborders it2035.0%1.9 pCi/L+5.4 points
Goochland County, VAborders it11430.7%2.4 pCi/L+1.1 points
Colonial Heights city, VAborders it1030.0%1.1 pCi/L+0.4 points
Powhatan County, VAborders it5028.0%1.7 pCi/L−1.6 points
Richmond city, VAborders it52027.7%2.1 pCi/L−1.9 points
Amelia County, VAborders it1127.3%2.0 pCi/L−2.3 points
Henrico County, VAborders it60727.0%2.1 pCi/L−2.6 points
Hopewell city, VAborders it1625.0%2.4 pCi/L−4.6 points
Prince George County, VAborders it1118.2%1.7 pCi/L−11.4 points
Petersburg city, VAborders it70.0%0.5 pCi/L−29.6 points
Charles City County, VAborders it20.0%1.1 pCi/L−29.6 points
Where Chesterfield County's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Virginia and the United States
ResultChesterfield County testsChesterfield County shareVirginia shareU.S. shareAgainst Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L34146.5%44.7%39.6%+1.8 points
2 to 4 pCi/L17523.9%24.9%24.7%−1.0 points
4 pCi/L and above21729.6%30.4%35.7%−0.8 points
Chesterfield 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
Caroline County48 of 8419932.7%2.5 pCi/L
Prince William County49 of 844,44131.7%2.3 pCi/L
Stafford County50 of 842,75831.4%2.5 pCi/L
Goochland County51 of 8411430.7%2.4 pCi/L
Fauquier County52 of 841,19930.2%2.5 pCi/L
Chesterfield County53 of 8473329.6%2.2 pCi/L
Nelson County54 of 8412228.7%2.6 pCi/L
Wise County55 of 845328.3%1.3 pCi/L
Fluvanna County56 of 8438828.1%2.5 pCi/L
Powhatan County57 of 845028.0%1.7 pCi/L
Richmond city58 of 8452027.7%2.1 pCi/L
Chesterfield County ten-year laboratory totals, against Virginia's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestVirginia, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201773329.6%2.2 pCi/L106.4 pCi/L30.4%+1.3 points
2007 to 201669628.3%2.1 pCi/L106.4 pCi/L30.6%−2.2 points
2006 to 201564530.5%2.2 pCi/L106.4 pCi/L30.7%+0.8 points
2005 to 201457229.7%2.1 pCi/L106.4 pCi/L30.3%First on file

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

Chesterfield County, Geology

The ground under Chesterfield County

Predicted

No class of ground holds half of Chesterfield County on USGS's geologic map: 38.9% of its land is low radon potential, 33.8% high and 27.0% moderate. The map puts 38.9% of Chesterfield County in the area it calls Tertiary Coastal Plain Sediments and 33.8% in Goochland Terrane, with one smaller area beside them. USGS gives the first a radon index of 8, in the low band (5 to 8), and the second 13, in the high band (12 to 17).

USGS's geologic areas under Chesterfield County
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Tertiary Coastal Plain SedimentsTertiary Coastal Plain sand, silt, clayLow838.9%
Goochland TerraneGranite, pegmatites, granitic gneiss, schist and gneiss, slate, and phyllite.High1333.8%
Mesozoic BasinsSandstone, siltstone and lacustrine black shale.Moderate1127.0%

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

Chesterfield County beside the ground around it

Virginia as a whole has more high-potential ground than Chesterfield County: 47.9% of its land, against 33.8% here. Of the 11 counties that border it, 4 have more high-potential ground, Amelia County the most at 92.8%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Chesterfield County, the 11 counties bordering it and Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Chesterfield CountyZone 138.9%27.0%33.8%
Richmond cityZone 371.4%None28.6%
Colonial Heights cityZone 3100%NoneNone
Powhatan CountyZone 1None21.2%78.8%
Petersburg cityZone 1100%NoneNone
Henrico CountyZone 374.0%0.9%25.2%
Hopewell cityZone 397.9%NoneNone
Amelia CountyZone 1None7.2%92.8%
Dinwiddie CountyZone 132.6%None67.4%
Prince George CountyZone 395.4%NoneNone
Goochland CountyZone 1None10.1%89.9%
Charles City CountyZone 392.5%NoneNone
Virginia133 counties, pooled by land areaVaries20.6%30.0%47.9%

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

Local help

Chesterfield County, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Chesterfield 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

Chesterfield County, Questions

Questions about radon in Chesterfield County

Are radon levels high in Chesterfield County?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 29.6% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Chesterfield County, Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 2.2 pCi/L. Of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 52 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 30.4%.

Which counties border Chesterfield County?

Chesterfield County borders 11 counties: Richmond city, Colonial Heights city, Powhatan County, Petersburg city, Henrico County, Hopewell city, Amelia County, Dinwiddie County, Prince George County, Goochland County and Charles City County.

Products

Chesterfield County, Products

Testing a home in Chesterfield County

In Chesterfield County, 29.6% of 733 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 Chesterfield 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

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

Explore

Chesterfield County, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Chesterfield County

Calculated by Radon411

Chesterfield County, Residents

Who lives in Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County is growing: the Census Bureau puts it at 397,148 residents on July 1, 2025, up 8.7% from 365,330 in 2020. That works out to 938 people per square mile of land. Reported testing is thin here: 733 tests over 2008 to 2017, or 1.8 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), where Virginia as a whole comes to 6.0.

Census lists no incorporated place in Chesterfield County: every home in it reads the county's figures.

Residents: U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 1, 2025 (Vintage 2025).

Chesterfield County, Homes

Homes in Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County is a place of houses on their own lots: 79% of its 142,572 homes are detached single-family houses, against 61% across Virginia. Half of its homes were built before 1989, close to Virginia's 1984: 6% date from before 1960 and 33% from 2000 or later. Owners live in 77% of the occupied homes (Virginia: 67%), so for most households a test and a fix are their own to order.

Homes in Chesterfield County, Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesChesterfield CountyVirginia
Housing units142,5723,654,784
Detached houses79%61%
In buildings of 5 or more12%19%
Mobile homes1%4%
Built before 19606%19%
Built since 200033%25%
Middle year built19891984
Owner-occupied77%67%

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