Is radon high in Santa Cruz County, California?

Low. The model predicts a long-term basement average of 1.5 pCi/L in Santa Cruz County (about 16% 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 33 of 58 California counties.

Should I test for radon in Santa Cruz County?

Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area, and the model's ZIP-level predictions in Santa Cruz County already range from 1.4 to 1.8 pCi/L. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house.

What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for Santa Cruz 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 1.5 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 Santa Cruz 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.

Radon levels in Santa Cruz County, California

LowEPA Zone 2

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.5 pCi/L (model estimate) across 15 ZIP codes - about 16% below the US average of 1.8, close to the California average of 1.5. Ranked #33 of 58 California counties.

Test Santa Cruz County, CA once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.5 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.

Get a short-term test kit →Or track it with a continuous monitor

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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.

1.5 ± 0.06

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.8 ± 0.08

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.4-1.8

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the county

What this means for Santa Cruz

The typical Santa Cruz 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 1.4 to 1.8 pCi/L.

Note that the EPA classifies Santa Cruz County as Zone 2 while the newer model predicts 1.5 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: Kings County (1.5), Glenn County (1.5), Merced County (1.5), Sutter County (1.5). The state's highest is Mono County at 2.7 pCi/L.

ZIP codes in Santa Cruz County

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

ZIP	Basement	Upstairs	Grade
95076	1.6 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
95060	1.5 ± 0.07	0.8	Low
95062	1.4 ± 0.07	0.7	Low
95003	1.5 ± 0.06	0.8	Low
95066	1.6 ± 0.06	1.0	Low
95073	1.6 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
95033	1.8 ± 0.07	1.4	Low
95010	1.3 ± 0.07	0.7	Low
95006	1.6 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
95065	1.6 ± 0.06	0.8	Low
95018	1.4 ± 0.07	0.8	Low
95019	1.5 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
95064	1.5 ± 0.07	0.9	Low
95005	1.5 ± 0.06	1.3	Low
95017	1.4 ± 0.07	0.9	Low

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.

Santa Cruz County radon questions

Is radon high in Santa Cruz County, California?: Low. The model predicts a long-term basement average of 1.5 pCi/L in Santa Cruz County (about 16% 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 33 of 58 California counties.
Should I test for radon in Santa Cruz County?: Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area, and the model's ZIP-level predictions in Santa Cruz County already range from 1.4 to 1.8 pCi/L. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house.
What does EPA Radon Zone 2 mean for Santa Cruz 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 1.5 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 Santa Cruz 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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