Iowa Radon Testing & Mitigation Requirements

A plain-English guide to where Iowa requires radon testing, mitigation planning, disclosure or radon-resistant construction — and where it does not.

Important distinction: Iowa does not currently require radon testing or mitigation in every residential real-estate transaction. Specific mandates apply to public schools, licensed childcare centers and certain new construction, while residential sellers have radon disclosure/fact-sheet obligations.

Public K–12 schools

Each attendance center must be tested at least once by July 1, 2027.
Testing repeats at least once every five years.
Results must be posted on the district website in a timely manner.
Testing must be performed by an Iowa-certified Radon Measurement Specialist or properly trained district staff.
A short-term result at or above 4 pCi/L requires a second short-term test in the affected spaces within 60 days.
If testing indicates levels above 4 pCi/L, the district must employ an Iowa credentialed Radon Mitigation Specialist to develop a mitigation plan; the plan must be completed within two years of the first test.

School testing services

Licensed childcare centers

Licensed childcare centers must test for radon within one year of opening.
Centers must mitigate if radon levels are above 4.0 pCi/L.
Testing protocols specify rooms, floors and device counts based on occupied program space.

Childcare testing

Residential real estate

Iowa HHS states there are currently no statewide rules requiring radon testing or mitigation during a real-estate transaction. Sellers must disclose known radon tests/results and acknowledge providing the Iowa radon home-buyers and sellers fact sheet; buyers acknowledge receiving it.

Real-estate testing

New single- & two-family construction

Beginning July 1, 2026, Iowa's state building code requires applicable new one- and two-family residential construction to include a passive radon-control method from Appendix AF of the 2021 IRC. The requirement applies to construction commenced after adoption of the requirement.

Builder resources

Professional testing and mitigation credentials

Compensated professional radon measurement and radon mitigation are separately regulated in Iowa. RadonStead maintains the applicable credential for any regulated service it performs and does not perform mitigation installations until the separate mitigation eligibility and credential requirements are satisfied.