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A marketing service connecting Minnesota homeowners with licensed radon mitigation contractors. Compass Camper LLC is not a licensed contractor and does not perform radon mitigation work.

Serving homeowners statewide across Minnesota

Minnesota Radon Pros

New Construction Radon in Minnesota

Minnesota is one of the states that writes radon protection directly into its building code. Minnesota Rules 1303.2400 requires a passive radon control system in new residential construction, applying to homes built after June 1, 2009. That rough-in is a real head start, but it does not assure a low reading, and the Minnesota Department of Health still recommends testing new homes. We connect owners of newer homes statewide with MDH-licensed contractors for testing, activation, and verification.

What the Code Puts in Your House

The passive system required by Minnesota Rules 1303.2400 to 1303.2402 works by stack effect: warm air rising in a sealed pipe slowly draws soil gas from beneath the foundation to a discharge above the roof. Per the rule and the Department of Labor and Industry radon fact sheet, the builder installs:

The rule applies broadly: basements, crawl spaces within the conditioned space, slab-on-grade designs, and configurations with attached garages are all covered when they allow soil gas entry.

Why New Homes Still Test High

Passive means no fan, and stack effect alone moves little air. In a state where the MDH data portal shows 2 in 5 tested homes at levels posing a significant health risk, plenty of post-2009 houses come back above 4 pCi/L on their first test. That is not a construction defect; it is what the code anticipated. The attic outlet and straight pipe run exist precisely so a licensed contractor can convert the system from passive to active by adding a fan and a monitor.

Buying or Building New

If you are buying a newer home, ask for the radon vent location, test before or right after closing, and remember the seller's disclosure duties under the Radon Awareness Act. If you are building, ask the builder where the pipe runs and test as soon as you occupy. Fast-growing markets with post-2009 stock, like Bloomington infill and the Moorhead side of the Fargo-Moorhead metro, are exactly where passive-to-active conversions are routine. The full picture is in our RRNC guide, and activation pricing factors are in the Minnesota cost guide.

Verify Your Contractor's Minnesota Radon License

Before you hire anyone for radon work in Minnesota, check their license. The Minnesota Radon Licensing Act, Minnesota Statutes section 144.4961, requires anyone who performs radon testing, mitigation, or laboratory analysis for compensation to be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health, and every mitigation system installed under the law must carry an MDH system tag. A licensed professional expects the question. Three things to ask before you sign:

  • Can I see your current MDH radon license, and is the company licensed too?
  • Will the installed system carry the MDH system tag required under the licensing law?
  • Will I get a written, itemized estimate and a follow-up radon test that confirms the system works?
Search the official MDH license lookup Read the Minnesota radon license guide

New Construction Radon Questions

Do new Minnesota homes have radon protection built in?

Yes. Minnesota Rules 1303.2400 to 1303.2402 require a passive radon control system in new residential construction, applying to homes built after June 1, 2009. The passive system is a sealed vent pipe from beneath the slab through the roof that relies on natural stack effect, with no fan.

My home was built after 2009. Do I still need to test for radon?

Yes. A passive system reduces radon entry but does not always bring levels below the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, because stack effect alone is a weak driver. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends testing every home, including new construction. Testing is cheap and settles the question for your specific house.

What happens if a passive radon system tests high?

A licensed mitigation professional activates the system: a radon fan is installed on the existing vent pipe, usually in the attic space the code already reserved, along with a monitor that shows the fan is working. Activation is normally simpler than a full retrofit because the pipe run, roof penetration, and outlet already exist.

Who can activate or modify a radon system in Minnesota?

Anyone doing radon mitigation work for compensation in Minnesota must hold a Minnesota Department of Health license under Minnesota Statutes section 144.4961, and the completed work carries an MDH system tag. Verify any contractor in the MDH license lookup before hiring.

Test High in a Newer Home?

Activation of an existing passive system is routine work for an MDH-licensed contractor. Get a free written quote.

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