Updated November 2026 · Data: EPA Map of Radon Zones · Sources
Virginia has a mix of radon risk: 64 counties and independent cities are in EPA Zone 1 (highest potential), 28 in Zone 2 and 44 in Zone 3. Find your county or city below, then learn how to test your home and what to do if the result is high.
Your county’s zone is not your home’s radon level. Homes with high radon are found in every zone. The EPA recommends testing every home, whatever its zone.
Radon zones by county or city in Virginia
The table lists the EPA radon zone for each of the 136 counties and independent cities in Virginia. The zone shows the predicted average indoor radon screening level for homes in that county or city.
| County or city | EPA zone | Predicted average indoor level |
|---|---|---|
| Accomack | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Albemarle | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Alleghany | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Amelia | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Amherst | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Appomattox | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Arlington | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Augusta | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Bath | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Bedford | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Bland | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Botetourt | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Brunswick | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Buchanan | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Buckingham | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Campbell | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Caroline | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Carroll | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Charles City | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Charlotte | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Chesterfield | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Clarke | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Craig | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Culpeper | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Cumberland | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Dickenson | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Dinwiddie | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Essex | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Fairfax | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Fauquier | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Floyd | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Fluvanna | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Franklin | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Frederick | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Giles | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Gloucester | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Goochland | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Grayson | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Greene | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Greensville | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Halifax | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Hanover | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Henrico | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Henry | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Highland | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Isle of Wight | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| James City | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| King and Queen | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| King George | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| King William | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Lancaster | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Lee | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Loudoun | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Louisa | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Lunenburg | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Madison | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Mathews | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Mecklenburg | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Middlesex | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Montgomery | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Nelson | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| New Kent | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Northampton | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Northumberland | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Nottoway | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Orange | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Page | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Patrick | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Pittsylvania | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Powhatan | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Prince Edward | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Prince George | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Prince William | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Pulaski | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Rappahannock | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Richmond | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Roanoke | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Rockbridge | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Rockingham | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Russell | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Scott | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Shenandoah | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Smyth | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Southampton | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Spotsylvania | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Stafford | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Surry | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Sussex | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Tazewell | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Warren | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Washington | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Westmoreland | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Wise | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Wythe | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| York | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Alexandria city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Bedford city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Bristol city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Buena Vista city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Charlottesville city | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Chesapeake city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Clifton Forge city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Colonial Heights city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Covington city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Danville city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Emporia city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Fairfax city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Falls Church city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Franklin city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Fredericksburg city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Galax city | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Hampton city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Harrisonburg city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Hopewell city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Lexington city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Lynchburg city | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Manassas city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Manassas Park city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Martinsville city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Newport News city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Norfolk city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Norton city | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Petersburg city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Poquoson city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Portsmouth city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Radford city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Richmond city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Roanoke city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Salem city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| South Boston city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Staunton city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Suffolk city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Virginia Beach city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Waynesboro city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Williamsburg city | Zone 3 | Below 2 pCi/L |
| Winchester city | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
What the EPA radon zones mean
- Zone 1 (highest potential): predicted average indoor screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. In Virginia: 64 counties and independent cities (47%).
- Zone 2 (moderate potential): predicted average between 2 and 4 pCi/L. In Virginia: 28 counties and independent cities (21%).
- Zone 3 (low potential): predicted average below 2 pCi/L. In Virginia: 44 counties and independent cities (32%).
The EPA built the map from indoor radon measurements, geology, soil permeability and type of house foundation. It was made to help governments and builders target resources, not to decide whether a single home needs testing.
Virginia counties and independent cities with the highest radon potential
64 counties and independent cities in Virginia are in Zone 1: Alleghany, Amelia, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Fairfax, Fluvanna, Frederick, Giles, Goochland, Henry, Highland, Lee, Louisa, Montgomery, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Tazewell, Warren, Washington, Wythe, Bedford city, Bristol city, Buena Vista city, Clifton Forge city, Covington city, Danville city, Fairfax city, Falls Church city, Harrisonburg city, Lexington city, Manassas city, Manassas Park city, Petersburg city, Radford city, Roanoke city, Salem city, Staunton city, Waynesboro city, Winchester city.
How to test for radon in Virginia
Testing is the only way to know your home’s radon level. Short-term test kits (2 to 90 days) are sold at hardware stores and online, and some state programs offer kits at low cost; check with the Virginia Department of Health, Indoor Radon Program. Test in the lowest lived-in level of the home, with windows and doors closed, and follow the kit instructions.
- Do-it-yourself kits: a simple, low-cost first step for your own home.
- Long-term tests (more than 90 days): give a better picture of your home’s year-round average.
- Certified professionals: look for certification from the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB), and ask the state program whether Virginia requires a state license.
- Buying or selling a home: ask for a radon test as part of the home inspection.
If your radon level is high
The EPA recommends fixing your home if the radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher, and considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. The most common fix is a radon mitigation system (sub-slab depressurization), which pulls radon from under the foundation and vents it outside, above the roof line.
- The EPA says most homes can be fixed for about the same cost as other common home repairs; the price depends on the size and design of the home.
- Get estimates from more than one qualified, certified mitigation contractor. See our radon mitigation cost guide for typical prices.
- Test again after the system is installed, and retest every few years.
Virginia radon program
Radon rules and programs in Virginia
- Certification: Virginia law requires radon professionals to be certified by the NRSB or NRPP and to follow EPA and ASTM standards (Va. Code 32.1-229 and 229.01).
- Schools: since July 1, 1994, Virginia has required radon testing in school buildings (Va. Code 22.1-138).
Contact
The Virginia Department of Health, Indoor Radon Program answers questions from residents about radon testing, results and certified professionals.
- Phone: 804-864-8161
- Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov/radiological-health/indoor-radon-program
Contact details as listed by the state radon program directory. Please confirm on the program’s website before calling.
Frequently asked questions
Is radon a problem in Virginia?
64 of Virginia’s 136 counties and independent cities are in EPA Zone 1, where the predicted average indoor radon level is above 4 pCi/L, and 28 are in Zone 2 (2 to 4 pCi/L). High levels can be found in any home, so testing is the only way to know.
Which Virginia counties and independent cities have the highest radon potential?
The 64 counties and independent cities in EPA Zone 1 have the highest predicted average levels. You can find them in the table above and in the Zone 1 list.
What radon level is safe?
There is no known safe level of radon. The EPA recommends fixing your home at 4 pCi/L or higher and considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L.
Who can I contact about radon in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Health, Indoor Radon Program answers questions about testing, results and certified professionals. Phone: 804-864-8161.
Sources
- SOSRadon.org (CRCPD/EPA): Virginia state radon program fact sheet (2023)
- U.S. EPA: EPA Map of Radon Zones (county data file, June 2024)
- U.S. EPA: A Citizen’s Guide to Radon (checked November 2026)
- U.S. EPA: How much can a radon mitigation system cost? (updated September 16, 2026)
- Virginia Department of Health, Indoor Radon Program (checked November 2026)
- SOSRadon.org (CRCPD): State radon contacts (checked November 2026)