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Radon Levels in Richmond city, Virginia

EPA puts Richmond city in Zone 3, its lowest radon zone, and 27.7% of its 520 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

How to test this homeFind a certified tester

  • Share at 4+ pCi/L

    27.7%

    2.7 pts below VA

    Richmond city
    27.7%
    Virginia
    30.4%

    520 tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Median result

    2.1pCi/L

    Below action level

    Richmond city
    2.1 pCi/L
    EPA
    4.0 pCi/L

    Midpoint of the tests, 2008 to 2017

  • Tests reported

    520

    26th of 84 by tests

    Richmond city
    520
    Fairfax
    8,657

    Reported to CDC before any fix, 2008 to 2017

  • EPA radon zone

    Zone 3

    Lower potential

    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. Zone 3

    1 highest, 3 lowest

    EPA predicts under 2 pCi/L indoors

  • Rank in Virginia

    58 of 84

    Middle half

    Richmond city
    27.7%
    Russell
    67.3%

    By share, of 84 with 30+ tests

Read a result for Richmond city

Starts at Richmond city's median, 2.1 pCi/L

2.1pCi/L

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

EPA’s reading of 2.1 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. Richmond city's median reported result, 2008 to 2017.

Interpret this readingWhat a fix costs

The data

Richmond city, At a glance

Richmond city at a glance

Predicted: EPA radon zone

EPA Zone 3: lower predicted potential

is EPA's lowest class, and its forecast for Richmond city as a whole is an average indoor of less than 2 pCi/L (less than 75 Bq/m³). A low zone clears no address in it: homes above EPA's turn up in all three zones.

USGS geologic potential: Low across 71% of the county's area

Predicted: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Measured: tests reported to CDC

Radon tests reported for Richmond city, 2008 to 2017, laboratory

Reported results by concentration band, Richmond city, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
Under 2 pCi/L: 46%2 to 4 pCi/L: 26%4 pCi/L and above: 28%

Of 520 pre-mitigation tests reported to CDC, not homes in this area.

Reported results by concentration band, Richmond city, 2008 to 2017, laboratory: data table
Result bandTests MeasuredShare Measured
Under 2 pCi/L23845.8%
2 to 4 pCi/L13826.5%
4 pCi/L and above14427.7%
What these figures count

These are the 520 tests reported to CDC for Richmond city 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

Richmond city, Compared

Richmond city radon figures, compared

Calculated by Radon411

Richmond city's 520 reported tests over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals had a middle value of 2.1 pCi/L and a maximum of 44.9 pCi/L, and 27.7% reached 4 pCi/L. Virginia as a whole (131 Virginia counties, pooled) comes to 30.4%: 2.7 points higher than here.

Among its state's counties it ranks 58th 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, 238 tests (45.8%) came in under 2 pCi/L, against 44.7% statewide, and 138 tests (26.5%) fell between 2 and 4, against 24.9% statewide. CDC's ten-year totals for Richmond city went from 384 tests (2005 to 2014) to 520 (2008 to 2017), the share going from 29.2% to 27.7%.

EPA's 1993 zone map puts Richmond city in Zone 3, a predicted county average under 2 pCi/L. USGS geology rates 71% of the county's land low radon potential.

Next door, the shares run from 27.0% in Henrico County to 29.6% in Chesterfield County, with Henrico County below Richmond city.

CDC also counts 66 tests taken after mitigation in Richmond city for the same period: tests in homes where a fix was already in.

Richmond city against Virginia, the United States and nearby counties, 2008 to 2017, laboratory
AreaTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianDifference from Richmond city
Richmond city52027.7%2.1 pCi/LThis county
Virginia, pooled131 counties, pooled53,19930.4%Not pooled+2.7 points
United States, pooled2,661 counties, pooled2,013,54435.7%Not pooled+8.0 points
Russell Countyhighest in the state4967.3%6.7 pCi/L+39.6 points
Norfolk citylowest in the state732.7%0.5 pCi/L−25.0 points
Chesterfield County, VAborders it73329.6%2.2 pCi/L+1.9 points
Henrico County, VAborders it60727.0%2.1 pCi/L−0.7 points
Where Richmond city's reported results fell, 2008 to 2017, laboratory, beside Virginia and the United States
ResultRichmond city testsRichmond city shareVirginia shareU.S. shareAgainst Virginia
Under 2 pCi/L23845.8%44.7%39.6%+1.1 points
2 to 4 pCi/L13826.5%24.9%24.7%+1.6 points
4 pCi/L and above14427.7%30.4%35.7%−2.7 points
Richmond city 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
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
Loudoun County59 of 844,45727.4%1.8 pCi/L
Martinsville city60 of 843327.3%1.8 pCi/L
Henrico County61 of 8460727.0%2.1 pCi/L
Fredericksburg city62 of 8437526.1%2.3 pCi/L
Roanoke city63 of 841,01025.9%2.3 pCi/L
Richmond city ten-year laboratory totals, against Virginia's pooled share
PeriodTestsAt or above 4 pCi/LMedianHighestVirginia, pooledChange from the row before
2008 to 201752027.7%2.1 pCi/L44.9 pCi/L30.4%Level
2007 to 201648827.7%2.1 pCi/L44.9 pCi/L30.6%−0.3 points
2006 to 201544328.0%2.1 pCi/L42.3 pCi/L30.7%−1.2 points
2005 to 201438429.2%2.1 pCi/L42.3 pCi/L30.3%First on file

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

Richmond city, Geology

The ground under Richmond city

Predicted

USGS's geologic map splits Richmond city: 71.4% of its land is low radon potential and 28.6% high. The map puts 71.4% of Richmond city in the area it calls Tertiary Coastal Plain Sediments and 28.6% in Goochland Terrane. 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 Richmond city
AreaThe rock, in USGS's wordsPotentialRadon indexShare of land
Tertiary Coastal Plain SedimentsTertiary Coastal Plain sand, silt, clayLow871.4%
Goochland TerraneGranite, pegmatites, granitic gneiss, schist and gneiss, slate, and phyllite.High1328.6%

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

Richmond city beside the ground around it

Virginia as a whole has more high-potential ground than Richmond city: 47.9% of its land, against 28.6% here. Of the 2 counties that border it, 1 has more high-potential ground, Chesterfield County the most at 33.8%.

Share of land by USGS radon potential: Richmond city, the 2 counties bordering it and Virginia
AreaEPA zoneLow potentialModerate potentialHigh potential
Richmond cityZone 371.4%None28.6%
Henrico CountyZone 374.0%0.9%25.2%
Chesterfield CountyZone 138.9%27.0%33.8%
Virginia133 counties, pooled by land areaVaries20.6%30.0%47.9%

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

Local help

Richmond city, Local resources

Radon testing and mitigation in Richmond city

Listed radon professionals by town: Richmond

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

Richmond city, Questions

Questions about radon in Richmond city

Are radon levels high in Richmond city?

Over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals, 27.7% of the radon tests reported to CDC for Richmond city, Virginia were at or above 4 pCi/L, and the median reported pre-mitigation result was 2.1 pCi/L. Of 84 Virginia counties with 30 or more tests for the same period, 57 reported a higher share; pooled, the state comes to 30.4%.

Which counties border Richmond city?

Richmond city borders 2 counties: Henrico County and Chesterfield County.

Products

Richmond city, Products

Testing a home in Richmond city

In Richmond city, 27.7% of 520 tests reported to CDC over the 2008 to 2017 laboratory totals reached 4 pCi/L, against 30.4% pooled across Virginia. Zone 3 is the lowest label, yet homes at or above 4 pCi/L occur in every zone: a short-term kit (2 to 90 days) is the quick first check in Richmond city.

Test kits and monitors3

See every kit and monitor

Best radon monitors for Richmond city homes, compared

Explore

Richmond city, Bordering counties

Counties bordering Richmond city

Calculated by Radon411

Richmond city, Cities and towns

Cities and towns in Richmond city

The Census Bureau estimates 237,257 residents in Richmond city for July 1, 2025, 10,330 more than in 2020 (+4.6%). Packed into its land, that is 3,959 people per square mile. Richmond, its one incorporated place, has 237,257 residents, 100.0% of the total. Reported testing is thin here: 520 tests over 2008 to 2017, or 2.2 for every 1,000 residents (2025 estimate), where Virginia as a whole comes to 6.0.

Richmond is the one incorporated place here; CDC publishes no figure by town, so it reads Richmond city's.

Richmond, Richmond city: residents on July 1, 2025
PlaceResidentsSince 2020Share of residents
Richmond237,257+4.6%100.0%

One incorporated place, 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).

Richmond city, Homes

Homes in Richmond city

Richmond city has 112,848 homes, and many share a building: 35% are in buildings of five or more, 45% are detached houses, against 61% across Virginia. The homes are older than Virginia's as a whole: half were built before 1959 (1984 for Virginia), and 52% date from before 1960. Most occupied homes here are rented: owners live in 43% (Virginia: 67%). A tenant can run a test; a fix is the landlord's to make.

Homes in Richmond city, Virginia, 2019 to 2023
HomesRichmond cityVirginia
Housing units112,8483,654,784
Detached houses45%61%
In buildings of 5 or more35%19%
Mobile homes1%4%
Built before 196052%19%
Built since 200016%25%
Middle year built19591984
Owner-occupied43%67%

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