Minot Radon Guide: North Dakota Rules (2026)

Updated October 23, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What applies in Minot and Ward County
How common	About 63% of ND homes above 4.0 pCi/L; every ND county in EPA Zone 1 (ND DEQ)
When to act	EPA recommends fixing a home at 4.0 pCi/L or higher
Free state kits	DEQ's radon page says it is currently out of free kits
Who may install	A homeowner, or an installer they hire (ND DEQ); no state radon license
Contractor license	ND Secretary of State license required for jobs over $4,000; Classes A to D
Checking a license	Secretary of State FirstStop contractor search
Retest after a system	At least 24 hours after start-up and within 30 days; then every two years (EPA)
State contact	DEQ Radon Control Program, 701-328-5166

How much radon is there in North Dakota?

ND DEQ says about 63 percent of North Dakota homes have radon above the EPA's action level of 4.0 pCi/L. Its fact sheet notes the state is one of only two where every county is in EPA Zone 1, the highest-potential category, so Ward County is included. For comparison, DEQ gives the average outdoor level as about 0.4 pCi/L and the national average indoor level as 1.3 pCi/L.

What is the health risk?

The EPA estimates about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the U.S. are related to indoor radon, and DEQ calls it a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. DEQ says lung cancer is the only health effect definitively linked to radon, that it typically develops 5 to 25 years after exposure, and that smokers face a higher risk. DEQ also notes there's no evidence linking radon to asthma or other respiratory diseases.

How does radon get into a house?

DEQ lists the common entry points: cracks in concrete slabs, pores and cracks in block or poured walls, floor-wall joints, exposed soil such as in a sump, drain tile that drains to an open sump, mortar joints, loose-fitting pipe penetrations, open tops of block walls, and spaces behind brick veneer on uncapped hollow-brick foundations. Some building materials and water from some wells can also contribute.

How should I test?

The EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor. DEQ says kits are sold at hardware and big box stores and online, and suggests buying one labeled EPA approved. DEQ gave away a limited number of free kits in its January 2026 Radon Action Month campaign; its radon page now says it is out of free kits.

DEQ's Guidelines for Radon Testing in Residences say to:

Test in the lowest livable area (required for real estate tests), or in the room above a crawl space.
Place the device at least 20 inches above the floor, 4 inches from other objects, and away from walls, preferably 3 feet.
Stay 3 feet from exterior doors and windows and at least 10 feet from an unsealed sump.
Avoid kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, heat sources and drafts.
Close exterior windows and doors 12 hours before and during the test, run heating on auto, and turn off fans, dehumidifiers and air filters.

How is a high level fixed?

DEQ says sealing slab cracks, holes and sump covers can lower radon, but the seals need continual maintenance, and a radon reduction system is the most effective permanent solution. The EPA's Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction describes the main methods: soil suction under a slab, with a sump that can be capped and used as a suction point, and submembrane depressurization, which it calls the most effective approach for crawl space homes. Homes with mixed foundations may need a combination. The EPA says exhaust must vent above the roof surface and at least 10 feet above the ground, the fan must not be in or below a livable area, and every active system needs a warning device, usually a manometer.

How do I know the system is still working?

The EPA says to do the post-mitigation test no sooner than 24 hours after the system starts and within 30 days of installation, to check the warning device regularly, never to turn the fan off, and to retest at least every two years. Fans may last five years or more, and warranties tend not to exceed five years.

Who can install a system in Minot?

DEQ says a homeowner can install a system or hire an installer, and that systems use common building materials and few specialized tools. DEQ publishes a list of radon mitigation and measurement personnel located in North Dakota and links to the AARST-NRPP and NRSB certification programs. DEQ's radon materials don't describe a separate state radon license.

What about contractor licensing?

The North Dakota Secretary of State requires a contractor license when the cost, value or price of a job exceeds $4,000. Licenses are issued in four classes by the size of each job: Class D up to $100,000, Class C up to $300,000, Class B up to $500,000 and Class A over $500,000. Applicants must file a certificate of liability insurance and proof of Workforce Safety and Insurance coverage or good standing, and licenses renew each year by March 1. You can confirm a license is in good standing on the Secretary of State's FirstStop contractor search. Ask the contractor whether the City of Minot or your town requires a permit for the work.

Minot and Ward County at a glance

Ward County had 69,919 residents at the 2020 census, and Minot, its seat, had 48,377. Burlington had 1,291 and Surrey 1,357. Minot sits in the Souris (Mouse) River valley, about 160 feet below the surrounding plains, with North Hill and South Hill on either side. Its record low is 49 below zero, and it averages about 42.5 inches of snow a year. The June 2011 flood affected more than 4,100 Minot homes, which is one reason so many basements in the valley have been rebuilt.

Common questions

Does North Dakota license radon contractors?

DEQ's radon materials don't describe a separate radon license. DEQ says homeowners may install systems or hire an installer. Jobs over $4,000 need a Secretary of State contractor license.

What share of North Dakota homes have high radon?

ND DEQ reports about 63 percent of homes above the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L.

Can I get a free radon kit in Minot?

DEQ's radon page currently says it is out of free kits. EPA-approved kits are sold at hardware and big box stores and online.

Minot radon guide: North Dakota facts and rules (2026)