Radon in Centre County, PA: State College Results and Costs

Centre County is one of Pennsylvania's high-radon counties. In the 24 ZIP codes centered in the county with at least 30 basement tests, PA DEP data shows 22,625 of 40,153 basement tests (56.3%) at or above 4 pCi/L, EPA's action level, by our count through July 2026.

Across all floor levels, DEP's data set has 48,355 Centre County tests with 53.6% at or above 4 pCi/L, sixth highest among Pennsylvania counties by that share. EPA's 1993 zone map rates Centre County Zone 1, and every one of the county's 31 ZIP areas in the Census Bureau file falls in a Zone 1 county.

Mitigation prices here follow national survey ranges because no agency publishes local ones: HomeGuide's Feb 2026 guide lists $1,200 to $2,000 for a standard sub-slab system and a national average of $1,600.

Licensing and permits

Certification: a Centre County radon tester or installer working for pay must hold Pennsylvania DEP certification (25 Pa. Code Chapter 240). That includes testers hired by a landlord or a buyer's agent.

Rentals and sales: with a large share of rental housing around Penn State, landlords and property managers commission many tests. The certification rule is the same for a rental as for an owner-occupied house.

Local permits: borough and township code offices, or the third-party agency a municipality uses, decide whether the fan circuit or a roof penetration needs a permit. HomeGuide puts radon permits at $25 to $150 where required.

Records: certified mitigators report installs and post-mitigation results to DEP under Chapter 240, so ask for a copy of what was filed.

Local conditions

Geology explains the readings. The Nittany Valley and Penns Valley floors are limestone and dolomite, karst rock riddled with fractures and solution channels that let soil gas move freely, while the long ridges such as Bald Eagle Mountain and Tussey Mountain are sandstone. Homes built on the carbonate valley floors near State College and Bellefonte sit on exactly the permeable rock EPA's zone method flags.

The DEP numbers bear it out. Basement tests in 16801 (downtown State College) were 55.0% at or above 4 pCi/L across 14,691 tests, 16803 (north State College) 53.9% across 8,781, and 16823 (Bellefonte) 61.6% across 6,341. Centre Hall's 16828, in Penns Valley, reached 68.9% across 885 tests (PA DEP data, our count).

Philipsburg's 16866, on the Allegheny Plateau side of the county near the Clearfield County line, was lower at 46.4% across 864 tests, a reminder that rock type changes across the county (PA DEP data).

What drives local prices

Karst sub-slab fill: sub-slab suction works best when air moves easily under the slab (EPA Consumer's Guide), which often holds on the limestone valley floors; a standard system is $1,200 to $2,000 based on HomeGuide's published survey.
Older stone and block foundations in Bellefonte and the Penns Valley villages can need block-wall work at $1,800 to $3,000 (HomeGuide) or extra sealing.
Rental duplexes and split-levels with two foundation types in the county may need a second suction area, an est. ×1.5 in our calculator.
Permit $25 to $150 where required, and a professional retest $125 to $400 (HomeGuide).
Scheduling around the academic calendar: landlords often want work done between leases, which can affect availability more than price (our observation, not a published figure).

Common jobs

Sub-slab systems in State College split-levels and ranches with poured basements.
Pre-lease or pre-sale tests and fixes for rental houses near campus.
Block-wall depressurization in older Bellefonte homes.
Upgrading a passive pipe in newer construction with a fan; EPA's 2010 guide put that at about $300 in 2010 dollars.

From test to fixed, and where we cover

Step 1: run a short-term test in the lowest level you use. Step 2: if you read 4 pCi/L or more, confirm with a second test or go straight to bids, as EPA's guide allows for high first readings.

Step 3: collect two DEP-certified bids and run them against the calculator. Step 4: retest after the system has run at least 24 hours.

Requests come from State College, Boalsburg, Bellefonte, Pleasant Gap, Centre Hall, Port Matilda and Philipsburg, along I-99, US 322 and I-80.

Communities: State College, Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Pleasant Gap, Centre Hall, Port Matilda, Philipsburg, Millheim

Before you sign

Radon risk builds over years of exposure, so a high reading calls for a fix in weeks, not hours (EPA Citizen's Guide). Tenants who receive a high result can share it with the landlord and point to DEP's radon program for next steps.

Questions about Centre County

Is radon high in State College?

In PA DEP data, 55.0% of basement tests in ZIP 16801 and 53.9% in 16803 read 4 pCi/L or higher. Test your own home to know your level (EPA).

Why does Centre County have so much radon?

Much of the population lives on limestone and dolomite valley floors whose fractured karst rock lets soil gas move easily; EPA rates the county Zone 1.

Do landlords in Centre County need a certified tester?

Anyone paid to test or mitigate in Pennsylvania needs DEP certification under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 240, including work ordered by a landlord.

How much does a radon system cost near State College?

National survey data puts a sub-slab system at $1,200 to $2,000 (HomeGuide, Feb 2026). Use the calculator and compare two certified bids.

Sources

Nearby counties

Rules and fees change; confirm with the state radon office. Price your own system with the radon mitigation cost calculator, read the radon mitigation cost guide, or check any ZIP with the radon levels by ZIP tool.