Updated November 2026 · Data: EPA Map of Radon Zones · Sources
Radon is a statewide concern in North Dakota: all 53 counties are in EPA Zone 1, the group with the highest predicted indoor radon levels. 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.
Map of EPA radon zones by county
Radon zones by county in North Dakota
The table lists the EPA radon zone for each of the 53 counties in North Dakota. The zone shows the predicted average indoor radon screening level for homes in that county.
| County | EPA zone | Predicted average indoor level |
|---|---|---|
| Adams | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Barnes | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Benson | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Billings | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Bottineau | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Bowman | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Burke | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Burleigh | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Cass | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Cavalier | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Dickey | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Divide | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Dunn | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Eddy | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Emmons | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Foster | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Golden Valley | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Grand Forks | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Grant | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Griggs | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Hettinger | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Kidder | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| LaMoure | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Logan | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| McHenry | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| McIntosh | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| McKenzie | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| McLean | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Mercer | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Morton | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Mountrail | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Nelson | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Oliver | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Pembina | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Pierce | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Ramsey | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Ransom | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Renville | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Richland | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Rolette | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Sargent | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Sheridan | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Sioux | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Slope | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Stark | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Steele | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Stutsman | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Towner | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Traill | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Walsh | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Ward | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Wells | Zone 1 | Above 4 pCi/L |
| Williams | 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 North Dakota: 53 counties (100%).
- Zone 2 (moderate potential): predicted average between 2 and 4 pCi/L. In North Dakota: 0 counties (0%).
- Zone 3 (low potential): predicted average below 2 pCi/L. In North Dakota: 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.
North Dakota counties with the highest radon potential
Every county in North Dakota is in Zone 1: Adams, Barnes, Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells, Williams.
How to test for radon in North Dakota
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 North Dakota DEQ 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 North Dakota 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.
Learn more: safe radon levels · how to test · test kits compared · radon and home sales · radon in well water
North Dakota radon program
The North Dakota DEQ Radon Program answers questions from residents about radon testing, results and certified professionals.
- Phone: 701-328-5166
- Website: deq.nd.gov/wm/radon
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 North Dakota?
53 of North Dakota’s 53 counties are in EPA Zone 1, where the predicted average indoor radon level is above 4 pCi/L, and 0 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 North Dakota counties have the highest radon potential?
The 53 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 North Dakota?
The North Dakota DEQ Radon Program answers questions about testing, results and certified professionals. Phone: 701-328-5166.
Sources
- U.S. EPA: EPA Map of Radon Zones (county data file, June 2024)
- U.S. EPA: A Citizen’s Guide to Radon (PDF, 2016)
- U.S. EPA: How much can a radon mitigation system cost? (updated September 16, 2026)
- North Dakota DEQ Radon Program (checked November 2026)
- SOSRadon.org (CRCPD): State radon contacts (checked November 2026)