Radon levels in Contra Costa County, California

LowEPA Zone 2

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.4 pCi/L (model estimate) across 39 ZIP codes - about 24% below the US average of 1.8, close to the California average of 1.5. Ranked #55 of 58 California counties.

Test Contra Costa County, CA once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.4 pCi/L, below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold. That's good news for the area - but the EPA still recommends every home be tested, because foundation cracks, soil pockets and ventilation make one house very different from its neighbor. One inexpensive kit settles it.

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Predicted (model estimate). The pCi/L figures on this page are long-term area averages from a peer-reviewed national model built on millions of real radon tests (2001-2021). They describe the typical home in this area - not your home, which can be several times higher or lower. The EPA radon zone is a separate, 1993 county-level classification. How the numbers work.

1.4 ± 0.06

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.7 ± 0.08

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.2-1.6

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the county

What this means for Contra Costa

The typical Contra Costa County home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That is the best case an area can show - but it describes the average house, and the ZIP-level predictions within the county still span 1.2 to 1.6 pCi/L.

Note that the EPA classifies Contra Costa County as Zone 2 while the newer model predicts 1.4 pCi/L. The zone map predates two decades of test data; where they disagree, we grade on the model but show both. County figures weight each ZIP by its 2010 Census population, so they describe where people live rather than empty land.

Comparable California counties: Del Norte County (1.4), Marin County (1.4), San Joaquin County (1.4), Solano County (1.4). The state's highest is Mono County at 2.7 pCi/L.

ZIP codes in Contra Costa County

Predicted basement and upstairs means by ZIP (model estimate). ZIPs whose land is mostly in this county.

ZIPBasementUpstairsGrade
945651.3 ± 0.070.7Low
945091.4 ± 0.060.7Low
948061.4 ± 0.060.8Low
945131.5 ± 0.060.8Low
945531.4 ± 0.060.7Low
945211.4 ± 0.060.7Low
945311.3 ± 0.060.7Low
948041.4 ± 0.060.7Low
945821.5 ± 0.060.8Low
945201.3 ± 0.060.6Low
945611.4 ± 0.060.7Low
945831.4 ± 0.060.8Low
945231.4 ± 0.060.7Low
945261.5 ± 0.060.8Low
948011.4 ± 0.070.7Low
945491.3 ± 0.060.8Low
945181.3 ± 0.060.7Low
945981.4 ± 0.060.7Low
948031.4 ± 0.060.8Low
945471.3 ± 0.060.7Low
945301.2 ± 0.070.6Low
945061.5 ± 0.060.9Low
945971.3 ± 0.070.7Low
945961.3 ± 0.060.8Low
945191.4 ± 0.060.8Low
945641.4 ± 0.060.7Low
945631.3 ± 0.060.8Low
945951.3 ± 0.060.7Low
945561.5 ± 0.060.8Low
945071.4 ± 0.060.8Low
948051.3 ± 0.060.7Low
945051.6 ± 0.060.8Low
945171.3 ± 0.050.8Low
947081.4 ± 0.060.8Low
945721.4 ± 0.070.7Low
945251.4 ± 0.070.8Low
945141.6 ± 0.060.9Low
945281.4 ± 0.070.9Low
945481.6 ± 0.060.7Low

If your test comes back at 4 pCi/L or higher

Mitigation is a routine job: a fan-driven pipe that vents soil gas from under the slab to above the roofline, typically $800-$2,500 installed (typical range; local quotes vary). Use certified professionals: EPA find-a-professional. Read the full mitigation guide.

Contra Costa County radon questions

Is radon high in Contra Costa County, California?
Low. The model predicts a long-term basement average of 1.4 pCi/L in Contra Costa County (about 24% below the US average of 1.8 and close to the California average of 1.5). That is below the EPA's 2 pCi/L "consider fixing" threshold, though individual homes still vary. Ranked 55 of 58 California counties.
Should I test for radon in Contra Costa County?
Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area, and the model's ZIP-level predictions in Contra Costa County already range from 1.2 to 1.6 pCi/L. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house.
What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for Contra Costa County?
Zone 2 - moderate potential (2-4 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and classifies whole counties. The newer model's predicted average of 1.4 pCi/L does not line up with Zone 2, which is common - the EPA itself says high-radon homes exist in every zone. Neither replaces a test of your own home.
How much does radon mitigation cost in Contra Costa County?
A standard active sub-slab depressurization system typically runs $800-$2,500 installed nationally; California quotes vary with foundation type (slab, crawlspace, basement), home size and local labor. Get two or three bids from certified mitigators listed by your state radon program or the EPA's find-a-professional page.

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