Rockville Urges Testing During National Radon Action Month
January 2, 2026
January is National Radon Action Month and Rockville is helping residents protect their homes and health with a radon information session and free test kits.
Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless radioactive gas. While no immediate symptoms signal its presence, exposure at high levels can cause cancer. Testing is the only way to know a home’s radon levels.
The Rockville Senior Center will host a free in-person and virtual information session where participants can learn what radon is, why it can be a hidden health risk in homes and how it affects well-being. The session will also cover simple testing methods and resources for reducing radon exposure. Register with course #38536 at rockvillemd.gov/registration. The session will be held 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Order a discounted radon test kit via the link at rockvillemd.gov/radon. The test involves placing a small measuring device in the middle of the basement or lowest level of a home, raised 3 feet off the ground for two to four days. Directions included with the kit explain how to mail the device to a laboratory for results.
Rockville’s building code requires all new single-family construction to include passive radon mitigation features. These include subfloor preparation, installation of a soil-gas retarder, closure of potential radon entry routes and installation of vent pipes. These elements are verified through required city inspections.
Montgomery County’s home energy disclosure and radon testing laws apply to the sale of single-family homes and townhomes in Rockville and require specific rental properties to be tested for radon. The laws provide residents with access to important home health and energy information, supporting the goal of protecting public health from radon exposure and promoting home energy efficiency, an objective of Rockville’s Climate Action Plan.
For more information, visit rockvillemd.gov/radon.