New York State has significant radon risk across much of its interior — away from the coastal metropolitan areas, New York’s geology of granite, gneiss, and shale creates elevated radon potential. The New York State Department of Health estimates that approximately 35% of New York homes outside New York City have radon levels above 4.0 pCi/L. New York has enacted radon contractor certification requirements and requires radon testing disclosure in real estate transactions.
EPA Radon Zone Designation
New York State counties range from Zone 1 in portions of the Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and Southern Tier to Zone 2 in Long Island and Zone 3 in parts of New York City. The highest-radon areas include: Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Fulton, and Warren counties in the Adirondack region overlying granitic bedrock; Columbia, Greene, Ulster, and Sullivan counties in the Hudson Valley/Catskills region; and Tompkins, Chemung, Steuben, and Allegany counties in the Southern Tier.
Radon Contractor Licensing in New York
New York requires radon contractors to hold a New York State radon contractor certification issued by the New York State Department of Health. New York’s certification program requires demonstrating NRPP or NRSB certification and meeting state-specific requirements. The NYSDOH maintains a list of certified radon contractors. Performing radon measurement or mitigation in New York without state certification is a violation of New York Public Health Law.
Radon Disclosure Requirements in New York
New York’s Property Condition Disclosure Act requires sellers to complete a Property Condition Disclosure Statement. The New York PCDS includes questions about environmental conditions — sellers must disclose whether they have knowledge of elevated radon levels or whether a radon mitigation system is present. Sellers who have received elevated radon test results must disclose them. New York buyers should independently test during the inspection period regardless of seller disclosure status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New York require radon contractor certification?
Yes. New York requires state radon contractor certification from the NYSDOH. Verify certification status through the New York State Department of Health before hiring any radon professional.
What parts of New York State have the highest radon?
The Adirondack region (Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Fulton, Warren counties), Hudson Valley and Catskills (Columbia, Greene, Ulster, Sullivan counties), and Southern Tier (Tompkins, Chemung, Steuben, Allegany counties) have the state’s highest radon potential. New York City and Long Island generally have lower levels.
Does New York require radon disclosure in real estate?
Yes. The New York Property Condition Disclosure Statement requires sellers to disclose known elevated radon conditions and the presence of any mitigation system.
New York City and Long Island Radon Context
New York City (all five boroughs) is predominantly Zone 3 with the lowest radon potential in the state — largely due to the dense urban construction, higher air exchange rates in multifamily buildings, and the specific geology beneath the city. Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties) is Zone 2. This does not mean radon is absent in NYC or Long Island, but average concentrations are substantially lower than upstate New York. Ground-floor and basement apartments in older building types throughout the metro area can still have elevated levels.
Capital Region and Hudson Valley Radon
The Albany-Schenectady-Troy metropolitan area (Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer counties) overlies a mix of shale, limestone, and glacial geology and shows Zone 1 to Zone 2 radon levels. Ulster County (Kingston area), Greene County (Catskill Mountains), and Columbia County in the Hudson Valley are Zone 1, with elevated radon driven by the region’s granitic and metamorphic geology. The Southern Tier cities — Binghamton (Broome County), Elmira (Chemung County), and Corning (Steuben County) — are in high-radon Zone 1 areas.
New York State Testing Resources
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Radiation Protection Bureau administers the state radon program. NYSDOH maintains a searchable database of certified radon service providers, county-level radon data from state testing surveys, and educational resources. New York State participates in EPA’s SIRG program, which funds testing assistance and contractor certification support. Contact NYSDOH directly for the current certified contractor list and any available test kit programs.
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