Radon levels in San Diego County, California

LowEPA Zone 3

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.4 pCi/L (model estimate) across 98 ZIP codes - about 20% below the US average of 1.8, close to the California average of 1.5. Ranked #44 of 58 California counties.

Test San Diego 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)

0.8 ± 0.09

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.1-2.1

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the county

What this means for San Diego

The typical San Diego 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 1.1 to 2.1 pCi/L.

The 1993 EPA zone (3) and the 2001-2021 model agree for San Diego. County figures weight each ZIP by its 2010 Census population, so they describe where people live rather than empty land.

Comparable California counties: Orange County (1.4), Santa Clara County (1.4), San Mateo County (1.4), Imperial County (1.5). The state's highest is Mono County at 2.7 pCi/L.

ZIP codes in San Diego County

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

ZIPBasementUpstairsGrade
919111.3 ± 0.060.7Low
921541.4 ± 0.060.8Low
919101.3 ± 0.070.7Low
921261.4 ± 0.070.7Low
921051.2 ± 0.070.7Low
921141.3 ± 0.060.8Low
920211.6 ± 0.060.8Low
919501.2 ± 0.050.6Low
921151.3 ± 0.060.8Low
919771.4 ± 0.060.7Low
920201.5 ± 0.060.7Low
921131.2 ± 0.060.6Low
920571.7 ± 0.070.9Low
920271.8 ± 0.060.9Low
920711.4 ± 0.060.7Low
920561.5 ± 0.060.9Low
921291.5 ± 0.070.6Low
921171.4 ± 0.060.8Low
920251.5 ± 0.060.8Low
920241.5 ± 0.060.8Low
921301.5 ± 0.070.8Low
920261.8 ± 0.061.0Low
920641.5 ± 0.070.9Low
920841.6 ± 0.051.0Low
921281.5 ± 0.060.8Low
920371.4 ± 0.070.9Low
920691.6 ± 0.061.0Low
920281.8 ± 0.060.8Low
921091.2 ± 0.060.7Low
921111.4 ± 0.060.8Low
921041.2 ± 0.070.7Low
921221.3 ± 0.060.8Low
921021.2 ± 0.080.5Low
920781.5 ± 0.060.8Low
920191.7 ± 0.050.8Low
920581.5 ± 0.060.9Low
920401.5 ± 0.060.8Low
919131.4 ± 0.060.8Low
920091.5 ± 0.060.9Low
920541.5 ± 0.060.8Low
921271.4 ± 0.060.8Low
919421.3 ± 0.070.8Low
921011.1 ± 0.070.6Low
920831.5 ± 0.060.9Low
920651.8 ± 0.051.0Low
921391.4 ± 0.060.8Low
926721.5 ± 0.060.7Low
921311.6 ± 0.060.9Low
919411.5 ± 0.060.8Low
921161.2 ± 0.060.7Low
921031.2 ± 0.070.7Low
921241.5 ± 0.060.8Low
921731.3 ± 0.060.7Low
921071.2 ± 0.060.6Low
920081.6 ± 0.060.9Low
920811.4 ± 0.060.9Low
921231.4 ± 0.060.8Low
921201.5 ± 0.060.8Low
919321.2 ± 0.060.6Low
919451.4 ± 0.060.8Low
921101.2 ± 0.060.7Low
919151.6 ± 0.060.8Low
921181.3 ± 0.060.5Low
921191.6 ± 0.070.9Low
920111.7 ± 0.071.0Low
921061.3 ± 0.070.7Low
920821.9 ± 0.061.1Low
920291.8 ± 0.060.8Low
921081.3 ± 0.060.7Low
919021.4 ± 0.060.9Low
919011.7 ± 0.060.9Low
919141.5 ± 0.060.9Low
920101.6 ± 0.070.8Low
920141.6 ± 0.060.8Low
920751.5 ± 0.070.8Low
920071.5 ± 0.060.8Low
920671.6 ± 0.060.9Low
919781.6 ± 0.060.8Low
919351.8 ± 0.060.9Low
920031.7 ± 0.060.8Low
921211.5 ± 0.060.9Low
920041.5 ± 0.070.8Low
919062.1 ± 0.061.1Moderate
920362.0 ± 0.071.1Moderate
920611.9 ± 0.070.8Low
919051.9 ± 0.060.9Low
919621.9 ± 0.061.1Low
919161.9 ± 0.061.0Low
920591.8 ± 0.070.9Low
920862.0 ± 0.071.1Moderate
921451.6 ± 0.060.9Low
920701.9 ± 0.071.1Low
919631.9 ± 0.060.9Low
920911.4 ± 0.060.7Low
919171.8 ± 0.070.9Low
919341.7 ± 0.070.8Low
920662.1 ± 0.061.2Moderate
919801.6 ± 0.070.9Low

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.

San Diego County radon questions

Is radon high in San Diego County, California?
Low. The model predicts a long-term basement average of 1.4 pCi/L in San Diego County (about 20% 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 44 of 58 California counties.
Should I test for radon in San Diego County?
Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area, and the model's ZIP-level predictions in San Diego County already range from 1.1 to 2.1 pCi/L. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house.
What does EPA Radon Zone 3 mean for San Diego County?
Zone 3 - low potential (< 2 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and classifies whole counties. The 2001-2021 model agrees with the zone here. Neither replaces a test of your own home.
How much does radon mitigation cost in San Diego 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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