--- title: Radon Rules for Pennsylvania Landlords canonical: "https://radonmitigationyorkpa.net/radon-guide/pa-landlord-radon-requirements/" pubDate: "2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z" updatedDate: "2026-10-03T00:18:00.000Z" author: Radon Mitigation York PA description: "Do PA landlords have to test for radon? What state law says today, where disclosure applies, what lenders may require and best practice for rental owners." --- # Radon Rules for Pennsylvania Landlords No statewide Pennsylvania law currently requires landlords to test rental units for radon or to disclose radon levels to tenants. Disclosure rules apply when you sell residential property, and some lenders and housing programs require testing. For multifamily owners, testing every ground-contact unit is best practice. High results call for [radon mitigation for rental buildings](/services/commercial-radon-mitigation/). We also did not find a radon requirement in the City of York's rental licensing and inspection rules or its building and housing code as of this writing. Local rules can change, so check with the city before you rely on this. ## What Pennsylvania law requires today Here is what applies to radon in Pennsylvania right now. ### Certification for anyone testing or mitigating Pennsylvania's Radon Certification Act and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 240 require anyone who tests or mitigates radon for others to be certified by PA DEP. If you hire someone to test or fix radon in a rental, they must be certified. You can check through the [PA DEP Radon Division](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/radiation-protection/radon-division). As the owner, you can test your own property yourself with a home test kit. Hiring someone to do it for you means hiring a certified tester. ### Disclosure when you sell Pennsylvania's Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law requires sellers of residential property to complete a disclosure statement. The form asks about radon, including any tests and results the seller knows about. If you sell a rental house or small multifamily building, that applies to you. ### Rental leases Pennsylvania's landlord and tenant law does not include a radon testing or disclosure requirement for leases. There is no radon equivalent of the federal lead-based paint disclosure that applies to older rental housing. Pennsylvania courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability in residential leases. We did not find a Pennsylvania appellate decision applying that warranty to radon, so whether high radon could be raised under it has not been clearly settled. Talk to a Pennsylvania attorney if you have a specific legal question. ## Pending bills are not law Pennsylvania lawmakers have introduced bills that would require radon testing in more buildings. Senate Bill 497 in the 2025 to 2026 session, for example, proposed testing requirements for school, residential and commercial buildings. It was referred to the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee in March 2025, and as of this writing the [General Assembly's bill page](https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/sb497) showed no further action. It is not law. School testing bills are covered in our guide to [radon testing in Pennsylvania schools and daycares](/radon-guide/radon-testing-schools-and-daycares-pa/). ## When testing may be required anyway Even without a state rule, you may be asked for radon results by: - **Lenders.** Some multifamily loan programs require radon testing as part of underwriting or environmental review. HUD's FHA multifamily programs generally call for a radon report. Freddie Mac requires testing in a share of ground-contact units. Fannie Mae dropped its minimum testing rule in 2025 and now requires testing only when state or local law or the environmental reviewer calls for it. Rules change, so ask your lender. - **Federal housing programs.** HUD has issued a departmentwide radon policy for projects that go through its environmental review process. - **Buyers.** When you sell, a buyer will often order a radon test during inspection. - **Insurers or property managers.** Some include radon in risk reviews. ## Best practice for York landlords York County is in [EPA Radon Zone 1](https://www.epa.gov/radon/epa-map-radon-zones-and-supplemental-information), the highest radon potential category. Many local rentals are older rowhouses, twins and converted buildings with stone or block basements. Testing is low cost compared with the risk. Here is a sensible approach: 1. **Test every unit with floors or walls touching the ground.** That includes basement and first-floor units on slab. 2. **Test a share of upper units.** The ANSI/AARST protocol for multifamily buildings calls for at least one unit and at least 10 percent of units on each upper floor. 3. **Use a certified tester for documented results.** A report from a PA DEP certified tester carries more weight with lenders and buyers. 4. **Fix units at or above 4.0 pCi/L.** That is EPA's action level. EPA also says to consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L. 5. **Retest after mitigation and after big changes,** such as HVAC replacement or finishing a basement. 6. **Keep records.** Store test reports and system details with your property files. ## Talking to tenants about radon If a tenant asks about radon, answer plainly. Share any test results you have. If you have not tested, tell them you will, and follow through. Tenants can also test their own unit with a short-term kit, so it is better to have your own results first. If a test comes back high, explain the next steps and the timeline for a fix. Most residential radon systems are installed in a day, and a clearance test confirms the result. ## Who pays for radon mitigation in a rental In a rental, the owner pays to fix the building. There is no Pennsylvania program that requires tenants to share that cost. For small rentals, a single-family style system usually works. Larger buildings may need several suction points and a diagnostic visit first. ## Key takeaways - Pennsylvania has no statewide law requiring landlords to test rentals for radon. - Seller disclosure rules apply when you sell, not when you lease. - Anyone you hire to test or mitigate must be PA DEP certified. - Pending bills are not law. Check status before relying on any new rule. - Best practice: test every ground-contact unit and a share of upper floors, and fix anything at or above 4.0 pCi/L. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can a tenant test for radon without my permission? A tenant can place a home test kit in their own unit. Hiring a certified tester to enter the property usually involves the landlord. ### Do I have to share test results with tenants? No state law requires it today, but sharing results builds trust and is the safer practice. ### Is a single test enough for a whole building? No. Radon varies from unit to unit, so each ground-contact unit needs its own test. ## Get your rental property tested and fixed We test and mitigate rental homes and apartment buildings across York. Call [(717) 356-3035](tel:+17173563035) any time for a same-day callback.