Updated November 2026 · Data: EPA Map of Radon Zones · Sources
Radon is a widespread concern in Minnesota: 68 of its 87 counties are in EPA Zone 1, the group with the highest predicted indoor radon levels. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) estimates that about 40% of homes in much of the state have high radon, and as many as 70% in southwest Minnesota. Find your county 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 in Minnesota
The table lists the EPA radon zone for each of the 87 counties in Minnesota. The zone shows the predicted average indoor radon screening level for homes in that county.
| County | EPA zone | Predicted average indoor level |
|---|---|---|
| Aitkin | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Anoka | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Becker | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Beltrami | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Benton | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Big Stone | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Blue Earth | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Brown | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Carlton | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Carver | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Cass | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Chippewa | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Chisago | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Clay | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Clearwater | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Cook | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Cottonwood | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Crow Wing | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Dakota | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Dodge | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Douglas | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Faribault | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Fillmore | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Freeborn | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Goodhue | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Grant | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Hennepin | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Houston | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Hubbard | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Isanti | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Itasca | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Jackson | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Kanabec | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Kandiyohi | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Kittson | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Koochiching | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Lac qui Parle | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Lake | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Lake of the Woods | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Le Sueur | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Lincoln | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Lyon | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| McLeod | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Mahnomen | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Marshall | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Martin | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Meeker | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Mille Lacs | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Morrison | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Mower | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Murray | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Nicollet | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Nobles | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Norman | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Olmsted | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Otter Tail | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Pennington | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Pine | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Pipestone | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Polk | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Pope | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Ramsey | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Red Lake | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Redwood | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Renville | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Rice | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Rock | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Roseau | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| St. Louis | Zone 2 | 2 to 4 pCi/L |
| Scott | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Sherburne | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Sibley | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Stearns | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Steele | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Stevens | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Swift | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Todd | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Traverse | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Wabasha | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Wadena | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Waseca | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Washington | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Watonwan | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Wilkin | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Winona | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Wright | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Yellow Medicine | 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 Minnesota: 68 counties (78%).
- Zone 2 (moderate potential): predicted average between 2 and 4 pCi/L. In Minnesota: 19 counties (22%).
- Zone 3 (low potential): predicted average below 2 pCi/L. In Minnesota: 0 counties (0%).
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.
Minnesota counties with the highest radon potential
68 counties in Minnesota are in Zone 1: Becker, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, Meeker, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine.
How to test for radon in Minnesota
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 Minnesota Department of Health, Radon in Homes. 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 Minnesota requires a state license.
- Buying or selling a home: ask for a radon test as part of the home inspection.
In January, many Minnesota local public health offices provide test kits at low or no cost. MDH also points residents to kits sold at hardware stores and online.
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.
Minnesota radon program
Radon rules and programs in Minnesota
- Licensing: MDH began licensing the radon industry in 2019; MDH publishes lists of radon testing and mitigation professionals.
- Health impact: the state fact sheet estimates 500 to 700 radon-related lung cancer deaths each year in Minnesota.
Contact
The Minnesota Department of Health, Radon in Homes answers questions from residents about radon testing, results and certified professionals.
- Phone: 651-201-4601 · 1-888-345-0823
- Website: www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/radon/index.html
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 Minnesota?
68 of Minnesota’s 87 counties are in EPA Zone 1, where the predicted average indoor radon level is above 4 pCi/L, and 19 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 Minnesota counties have the highest radon potential?
The 68 counties 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 Minnesota?
The Minnesota Department of Health, Radon in Homes answers questions about testing, results and certified professionals. Phone: 651-201-4601; 1-888-345-0823.
Sources
- Minnesota Department of Health: news release on radon testing (January 7, 2025)
- SOSRadon.org (CRCPD/EPA): Minnesota state radon program fact sheet (2022)
- 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)
- Minnesota Department of Health, Radon in Homes (checked November 2026)
- SOSRadon.org (CRCPD): State radon contacts (checked November 2026)