Updated November 2026 · Data: Health Canada Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes (2012), 2024 Cross-Canada Survey · Sources
In Health Canada’s national radon survey, 7.9% of homes tested in British Columbia were above the Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m³, and 1.2% were above 600 Bq/m³. Weighted by population, Health Canada estimated that 3.9% of people in British Columbia lived in homes above 200 Bq/m³ (national figure: 6.9%). The 2024 Cross-Canada survey, which found radon levels rising across the country, estimates high radon in the Pacific Interior (about one in three homes) and the Pacific Coast (about one in 75 homes).
Regional results are not your home’s level. Neighbouring homes can have very different radon levels. The only way to know yours is a long-term test.
Radon by health region in British Columbia
| Health region | Homes tested | Above 200 Bq/m³ | Above 600 Bq/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Kootenay Health Service Delivery Area | 105 | 19.0% | 2.8% |
| Kootenay-Boundary Health Service Delivery Area | 109 | 29.3% | 7.3% |
| Okanagan Health Service Delivery Area | 109 | 17.4% | 2.7% |
| Thompson/Cariboo Health Service Delivery Area | 109 | 6.4% | 0.0% |
| Fraser East Health Service Delivery Area | 100 | 3.0% | 0.0% |
| Fraser North Health Service Delivery Area | 109 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Fraser South Health Service Delivery Area | 69 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Richmond Health Service Delivery Area | 54 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Vancouver Health Service Delivery Area | 83 | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| North Shore/Coast Garibaldi Health Service Delivery Area | 81 | 2.5% | 0.0% |
| South Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area | 55 | 1.8% | 0.0% |
| Central Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area | 109 | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| North Vancouver Island Health Service Delivery Area | 106 | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| Northwest Health Service Delivery Area | 211 | 5.2% | 1.4% |
| Northern Interior Health Service Delivery Area | 208 | 12.0% | 1.9% |
| Northeast Health Service Delivery Area | 200 | 10.0% | 0.5% |
Highest shares above 200 Bq/m³: Kootenay-Boundary Health Service Delivery Area (29.3%), East Kootenay Health Service Delivery Area (19.0%), Okanagan Health Service Delivery Area (17.4%).
Radon test results by community in British Columbia
The 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge, run by Take Action on Radon (a Health Canada-funded initiative), gives communities long-term 91-day alpha track tests and publishes a report for each one. These are recent results, mostly from 2019 to 2026, and are a useful local snapshot, but each is based on a limited number of volunteer homes.
| Community | Homes tested | Above 200 Bq/m³ | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford | 82 | 1% | |
| Atlin | 39 | 8% | |
| Barrier | 40 | 63% | |
| Burns Lake | 43 | 12% | |
| Clearwater | 54 | 57% | |
| Coquitlam | 113 | 2% | |
| Creston | 86 | 19% | |
| Enderby | 92 | 34% | |
| Fort St. James | 61 | 13% | |
| Golden | 81 | 20% | |
| Grand Forks | 35 | 48% | |
| Invermere | 35 | 34% | |
| Kaslo | 60 | 60% | |
| Keremeos | 51 | 31% | |
| Kimberley | 159 | 49% | |
| Lillooet | 42 | 11% | |
| Lumby | 42 | 36% | |
| McBride | 41 | 17% | |
| Mission | 78 | 0% | |
| Nakusp | 34 | 12% | |
| Osoyoos | 88 | 23% | |
| Radium Hot Springs | 39 | 46% | |
| Revelstoke | 120 | 46% | |
| Rossland | 142 | 10% | |
| Salmon Arm & Shuswap | n/a | 16% | |
| Salt Spring Island | 66 | 4% | |
| Sicamous | 46 | 11% | |
| Sidney | 60 | 0% | |
| Strathcona | 112 | 2% | |
| Summerland | 94 | 38% | |
| Valemount | 62 | 10% | |
| Vanderhoof | 72 | 29% | |
| Vernon | 181 | 37% | |
| Victoria | 64 | 0% |
Highest shares above the guideline (40+ homes tested): Barrier (63%), Kaslo (60%), Clearwater (57%).
How to test your home
- Health Canada recommends a long-term test of at least 91 days, with at least 91 days during the heating season (fall and winter), when radon levels are usually highest.
- Test the lowest level of the home where someone spends at least four hours a day.
- Long-term test kits are sold by hardware stores, online and by some health units and lung associations.
If your level is above 200 Bq/m³
The Canadian guideline is 200 Bq/m³ (about 5.4 pCi/L; the U.S. EPA action level of 4 pCi/L is about 148 Bq/m³). If your result is above 200 Bq/m³, Health Canada recommends taking corrective action to lower the level within one year, and hiring a professional certified by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP). The most common fix is sub-slab depressurization: a pipe and fan draw radon from under the foundation and vent it outside.
Frequently asked questions
Is radon a problem in British Columbia?
Yes. In Health Canada’s survey, 7.9% of homes tested in British Columbia were above 200 Bq/m³, and the 2024 Cross-Canada survey found radon levels rising nationally. Any home can have high radon, so testing is the only way to know.
What is the radon guideline in Canada?
200 Bq/m³ in the normal occupancy area of a home. If a long-term test is above that, Health Canada recommends fixing the home within one year.
How do I test for radon in British Columbia?
Use a long-term test kit for at least 91 days during the heating season, placed in the lowest lived-in level. If the result is above 200 Bq/m³, hire a C-NRPP certified professional.
Compare all provinces and territories: Radon in Canada.
Sources
- Take Action on Radon: 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge community reports (retrieved November 2026)
- Health Canada: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Concentrations in Homes, Final Report (2012), Tables 1, 2, 3 and 5
- University of Calgary: 2024 Cross-Canada radon survey news release (October 23, 2024)
- Health Canada: Government of Canada Radon Guideline
- Health Canada: Guide for Radon Measurements in Residential Dwellings
- C-NRPP