Is radon high in Sacramento, California?

Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Sacramento (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.3 pCi/L - about 27% 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. Sacramento ranks 196 of 207 California cities on this site.

Which Sacramento ZIP codes have the highest radon?

Predictions for the 21 modeled ZIP codes in Sacramento range from 1.1 to 1.4 pCi/L in the basement. 0% of them are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L and 0% at or above 2. The city is fairly uniform, so the city-wide number is a reasonable guide for any neighborhood.

Should I test for radon in Sacramento?

Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; Sacramento's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.

What does EPA Radon Zone 3 mean for Sacramento?

Sacramento sits mainly in Sacramento County, which the EPA classifies as Zone 3 - low potential (< 2 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and covers whole counties. The 2001-2021 model agrees with the zone for the city. Neither replaces a test of your own home.

Radon levels in Sacramento, California

LowEPA Zone 3

Predicted long-term basement average of 1.3 pCi/L (model estimate) across the 21 modeled ZIP codes in Sacramento - about 27% below the US average of 1.8, close to the California average of 1.5. Ranked #196 of 207 California cities on this site. Most of the city lies in Sacramento County.

Test Sacramento, CA once anyway - radon varies house to house

The predicted basement average here is 1.3 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

We may earn a commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you.

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.

1.3 ± 0.06

pCi/L predicted basement mean (model SD)

0.7 ± 0.08

pCi/L predicted upstairs (above-ground) mean

1.1-1.4

range of ZIP-level basement predictions in the city

of Sacramento ZIPs predicted ≥ 4 pCi/L (0% ≥ 2)

What this means for Sacramento

The typical Sacramento home is predicted below 2 pCi/L, the lowest band. That describes the average house; the ZIP-level predictions inside the city still span 1.1 to 1.4 pCi/L.

The city figure is not a separate estimate: it is the mean of the model's ZIP-code predictions, weighted by the share of the city's land in each ZIP (Census 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship file). The 1993 EPA zone (3) for Sacramento and the 2001-2021 model agree here.

Comparable California cities: Berkeley (1.3), Pittsburg (1.3), Alameda (1.3), Paramount (1.3).

ZIP codes in Sacramento

ZIPs that overlap the city, largest share of its land first. Predicted basement and upstairs means are model estimates; ZIPs the model does not cover show a dash.

ZIP	Share of city	Basement	Upstairs	Grade
95838	9%	1.3 ± 0.07	0.7	Low
95822	9%	1.3 ± 0.07	0.7	Low
95835	8%	1.4 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
95815	8%	1.2 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
95831	7%	1.4 ± 0.07	0.7	Low
95823	7%	1.3 ± 0.06	0.8	Low
95834	7%	1.4 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
95833	6%	1.4 ± 0.07	0.7	Low
95826	6%	1.4 ± 0.06	0.8	Low
95820	5%	1.2 ± 0.06	0.6	Low
95818	4%	1.3 ± 0.07	0.6	Low
95819	4%	1.2 ± 0.07	0.6	Low
95828	4%	1.4 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
95832	4%	1.4 ± 0.06	0.9	Low
95816	3%	1.2 ± 0.07	0.6	Low
95811	2%	1.3 ± 0.06	0.6	Low
95824	2%	1.3 ± 0.06	0.8	Low
95817	2%	1.2 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
95814	1%	1.2 ± 0.07	0.6	Low
95758	1%	1.4 ± 0.06	0.7	Low
95821	1%	1.2 ± 0.06	0.8	Low

Testing help in California

California's radon program page is at www.cdph.ca.gov; it lists testing and certified-mitigator guidance. EPA state radon contacts page. If a test comes back at 4 pCi/L or higher, mitigation typically costs $800-$2,500 installed; use EPA find-a-professional and read the mitigation guide.

Sacramento radon questions

Is radon high in Sacramento, California?: Low. Averaging the model's ZIP-code predictions across Sacramento (weighted by how much of the city each ZIP covers) gives a long-term basement mean of 1.3 pCi/L - about 27% 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. Sacramento ranks 196 of 207 California cities on this site.
Which Sacramento ZIP codes have the highest radon?: Predictions for the 21 modeled ZIP codes in Sacramento range from 1.1 to 1.4 pCi/L in the basement. 0% of them are predicted at or above 4 pCi/L and 0% at or above 2. The city is fairly uniform, so the city-wide number is a reasonable guide for any neighborhood.
Should I test for radon in Sacramento?: Yes, once. The EPA recommends testing every home regardless of area. A short-term kit costs little and settles the question for your house; Sacramento's low predicted average describes the typical home, not yours.
What does EPA Radon Zone 3 mean for Sacramento?: Sacramento sits mainly in Sacramento County, which the EPA classifies as Zone 3 - low potential (< 2 pCi/L). The zone map dates from 1993 and covers whole counties. The 2001-2021 model agrees with the zone for the city. Neither replaces a test of your own home.

← All California counties and cities · Sacramento County · How to test · Methodology