Radon testing in Iowa City follows two tracks. Single-family and duplex rentals have a schedule set by city code, and owner-occupied homes test on their own timeline. Below are both.
The city's rental schedule
Iowa City Code section 17-5-18(T) sets the rules. It applies to new rental permit applications filed on or after July 1, 2021, and to renewals of permits that expire on or after that date [1]:
- Single-family and duplex units must be tested for radon.
- The test has to be done by a radon measurement specialist certified by the State of Iowa.
- A unit that tests below 4 pCi/L is retested in eight years.
- Units that test below 4 and have a habitable room in the basement retest every four years.
- A test done within two years of the permit application, or of the old permit's expiration, is accepted.
- The owner gives the city a copy of every result.
The city's rental inspection guide summarizes the same eight- and four-year retest schedule [2]. Questions go to Housing Inspection Services at 319-356-5135 [3]. A landlord can't use their own kit for this, because the test has to be done by a state-certified measurement specialist [1]. Iowa HHS publishes a list of certified measurement specialists, generated September 24, 2026 [4].
Testing your own home
If you own and live in the house, you can test it yourself. Johnson County Public Health sells kits [5]:
| Kit | In office | Mailed |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term (3 to 7 days) | $12 | $15 |
| Long-term (3 to 12 months) | $30 | $33 |
Call 319-356-6040 to order [5]. Free state kits exist too. Iowa HHS sends Johnson County households to the American Lung Association form first, with some addresses moved over to Healthy Hometowns [6].
Getting a fair result
Pick the lowest floor your household actually uses, such as a finished basement family room. EPA rules out kitchens and bathrooms and wants the kit 20 inches or more above the floor [7]. During a short-term test, EPA asks you to keep outside doors and windows shut as much as possible [7]. If a short-term result is 4 pCi/L or higher, EPA calls for a follow-up test before deciding on a fix [7].
After a high result
If a rental tests at or above 4 pCi/L, city code calls for a mitigation system and a new test within 90 days, covered on the Iowa City page [1]. For any home, Iowa's mitigation rule calls for another test after the system goes in, starting no sooner than one day after the work and within 30 days of installation [8]. Keep every result with the property records.
FAQ
How often does an Iowa City rental need a new radon test?
Every eight years if it tested below 4 pCi/L, or every four years if it tested below 4 and has a habitable room in the basement. Once a mitigation system is in, it's every eight years [1].
I bought a kit at the store. Will the city accept it for my rental?
No. City code defines a rental radon test as one done by a radon measurement specialist certified by the State of Iowa [1]. Housing Inspection Services can answer questions about your permit [3].
Get a quote
Tested high? Send your result.
We're a referral service, not a contractor. We send mitigation requests only to contractors on Iowa HHS's current credentialed list and testing requests only to state-certified radon measurement specialists, but we don't otherwise vet them, a referral is not an endorsement, and independent contractors may pay us for referrals.
Sources
- City of Iowa City Code of Ordinances, Title 17 Chapter 5 Housing Code, sections 17-5-18(T) Radon Testing and 17-5-19(N) Supplied Facilities (fetched Nov 11, 2026). https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/iowacityia/latest/iowacity_ia/0-0-0-15483
- City of Iowa City, Guide to a Successful Rental Inspection for Single Family and Duplex Structures (PDF; live page blocked, saved copy retrieved Nov 11, 2026). https://www.icgov.org/home/showpublisheddocument/929/638168081179270000
- City of Iowa City, Housing Inspection Services (live page blocked, saved copy retrieved Nov 11, 2026). https://www.icgov.org/government/departments-and-divisions/neighborhood-and-development-services/neighborhood-services/housing-inspection-services
- Iowa HHS, Iowa Certified Radon Measurement Specialists list (PDF, report generated 9/24/2026). https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/7878/download?inline
- Johnson County Public Health, Radon Information (fetched Nov 11, 2026). https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/public-health/radon
- Iowa HHS, Radon program page (fetched Nov 11, 2026). https://hhs.iowa.gov/health-prevention/providers-professionals/radiological-health/radon
- U.S. EPA, A Citizen's Guide to Radon, EPA 402/K-12/002 (2025 edition, PDF). https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-12/documents/2016_a_citizens_guide_to_radon.pdf
- Iowa Administrative Code 641, Chapter 44, Radon Mitigation (ARC 0290D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 7/1/26). https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/641.44.pdf