Radon Mitigation in Cincinnati
Ohio licenses radon work in three separate ways, and the license has to match the job. Here's how to make sure the company fixing your Cincinnati home is legal and doing it right.
What Ohio's health department says
ODH says any radon level carries some health risk and that it isn't possible to reduce radon to zero. At the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L or higher, ODH says installing a mitigation system is "highly recommended."1 It also notes radon is the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.1
Ohio's three radon licenses
Ohio Revised Code § 3723.02 separates radon work into different license types:2
Company
Radon mitigation contractor
A business may not perform radon mitigation, or advertise that it does, without a valid mitigation contractor license.
Person on site
Radon mitigation specialist
Only a licensed mitigation specialist may supervise mitigation on-site or give professional advice on mitigation or radon entry routes.
Testing
Radon tester
Testing, and expert advice on testing or radon health risks, requires a tester or mitigation specialist license.
That last point matters for homeowners. In Ohio, advice about how to fix your house is supposed to come from a licensed specialist who has seen it. Guides like this one, which summarize public sources, are no substitute.2
Who doesn't need a license
- Owners or tenants working on a building they own or lease.2
- Builders using radon-reducing techniques during new construction.2
- Professionals working under another state's license as allowed by ORC § 3723.03.2
Two more groups don't need their own contractor license: employees of a licensed mitigation contractor, and general contractors who subcontract the radon work to a licensed mitigation contractor.2
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Get my free referralTakes under a minuteWhat to ask for in writing
EPA's consumer guide lists what a contractor's proposal should include:3
- Proof of state certification or licensing. In Ohio, that's the ODH license.
- Proof of liability insurance, bonding and any licenses local requirements call for.
- Diagnostic testing before the system is designed and installed.
- A warning device that alerts you if the system isn't working correctly.
- Testing after installation.
- A guarantee to reduce radon to 4 pCi/L or below, and how long it lasts.
EPA also suggests asking whether the contractor reviewed the quality of your radon test and whether proper testing procedures were followed.3
After the system is in
National Radon Program Services says to retest no sooner than 24 hours and no later than 30 days after the system starts running, and suggests an independent tester to avoid a conflict of interest. It recommends retesting at least every two years after that.4
Northern Kentucky homes
Across the river, the Kentucky Board of Radon Safety enforces KRS 309.430 to 309.454, so Ohio's ODH license doesn't govern work there.5 EPA places Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties in Zone 2 rather than Zone 1, but EPA's zones describe county averages. Only a test tells you about a specific house.6
Areas we serve
We match homeowners across the Cincinnati area, including these communities and ZIP codes:
- Cincinnati45202 · 45203 · 45204 · 45205 · 45206 · 45207 · 45208 · 45209 · 45211 · 45213 · 45214 · 45216 · 45217 · 45219 · 45220 · 45223 · 45224 · 45225 · 45226 · 45227 · 45229 · 45230 · 45232 · 45237 · 45238 · 45267
- Norwood45212
- Blue Ash45242
- Sharonville45241
- Montgomery45242 · 45249
- Loveland45140
- Mason45040
- Fairfield45014
- West Chester Township45069
- Anderson Township45230 · 45244 · 45255
- Colerain Township45239 · 45247 · 45251 · 45252
- Covington, KY41011 · 41014 · 41015 · 41017
- Florence, KY41042
- Fort Thomas, KY41075
- Independence, KY41051
ZIP codes are 2020 Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which closely approximate USPS ZIP codes. We list ZIPs that make up a substantial share of each community, so edge ZIPs that barely touch a town are left out, and some ZIPs span two towns.7 Not on the list? Send the form anyway, and we'll tell you if we can help.
Common questions
Does a radon mitigation company need a license in Ohio?
Yes. Under Ohio Revised Code § 3723.02, a business may not perform radon mitigation without a radon mitigation contractor license, and on-site supervision requires a licensed radon mitigation specialist.
Can a general contractor install my radon system in Ohio?
A general contractor may subcontract the radon work to a licensed radon mitigation contractor. Ask who holds the Ohio mitigation contractor license for the job.
Do I need a license to fix radon in my own Cincinnati home?
No. Ohio's licensing law doesn't apply to people testing or mitigating a building they own or lease.
At what level does Ohio recommend mitigation?
ODH says that at the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L or higher, installing a radon mitigation system is highly recommended.
When should I retest after installation?
National Radon Program Services says no sooner than 24 hours and no later than 30 days after the system is activated, then at least every two years.
Who regulates radon contractors in Northern Kentucky?
The Kentucky Board of Radon Safety, under KRS 309.430 to 309.454.
Please note: Ohio requires a license to give professional or expert advice on radon testing, exposure or mitigation. This page is general information summarized from public agencies, not professional advice. For advice about your home, talk with an ODH-licensed professional.
Sources
- Ohio Department of Health (ODH), "About Radon"
- Ohio Revised Code § 3723.02 (radon license required)
- U.S. EPA, "Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction: How to Fix Your Home" (2010)
- National Radon Program Services (Kansas State University, EPA-funded), "Installing Mitigation"
- Kentucky Board of Radon Safety
- U.S. EPA, "EPA Map of Radon Zones"
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA-to-place and ZCTA-to-county-subdivision relationship files