Radon To-Dos for Tahoe Home Sellers: Testing, Disclosure and Local Regulations

Renny the Radon Robot is happy that we got our Radon test and then sold our home on the meadow at Lake Tahoe knowing it did not have a Radon problem. Renny and the rest of the robot crew show up throughout this guide to bring warmth and cheer to the serious topic of Radon in homes.

To-Dos for Radon Testing for Tahoe Home Sellers

The EPA Guide gives home sellers ideas for what to do when selling their home. Of course, any individual person's To-Dos vary depending on whether you have ever had your home tested for Radon, and what the results were.

The EPA recommendation is simple - If you are thinking of selling your home and you have already tested your home for Radon, out Radon testing on your To-Do List or make sure that any prior testing was done correctly. Then, provide your test results to the buyer.

We think chances are that your potential buyer will like your results, or they may never have heard of Radon. Yet, they might also request a current test. Another topic that the EPA touches lightly is the seller's legal obligations regarding disclosure. The EPA doesn't give recommendations regarding disclosure, except to check your state laws and local ordinances. This is because the states have varying laws regarding Radon mitigation and disclosure. Related to selling your home, many states require testing as part of the sales process. Over 35 states require disclosure during real estate transactions. However, some of the other states do not have any radon disclosure, whether through laws or their associations of real estate agents.

We feel that even if your state or local government does not require disclosure of Radon information to buyers, you should be ready to find out if Radon levels are high in the home. And if the levels are high, are you required to disclose it to the buyer? Is high Radon considered a construction defect? Whatever the answers to these questions may be, the EPA recommends fixing the problem prior to closing on your sale.

Check Your State Laws & Local Ordinances

For more advice, you may want to check with your real estate agent, state laws and local ordinances. Of course, we aren't lawyers and don't give out legal advice, but we wouldn't want to become embroiled in a legal dispute if a home had Radon off the charts. Would you?

During a home sale, nobody wants to bring up issues that might not even matter. But it's a good idea to be sure you are complying with legal requirements, and your home may pass the Radon test with flying colors! To speak colloquially, "You can't sweep High Radon under the rug."

Radon and Building Codes at Lake Tahoe

Here's a handy overview of how California and Nevada approach Radon in their building codes, with a focus on El Dorado County and Douglas County, because those are the counties where Lake Tahoe resides.

TRPA Encourages Radon Awareness

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) addresses the issue of Radon in Lake Tahoe homes, and they do so formally and repeatedly. Their Governing Board has passed multiple official resolutions declaring National Radon Action Month in Lake Tahoe, emphasizing the Basin's high Radon potential and urging all residents to test their homes.

TRPA Formally Recognizes Radon as a serious local health risk and has passed multiple resolutions declaring January as National Radon Action Month in Lake Tahoe. These TRPA resolutions emphasize the importance of testing and the need for mitigation and Radon-resistant new construction.

About Our Radon at Tahoe Series

This series is provided to inform about Radon at Lake Tahoe and beyond. On each page, you can view more by clicking on one of the navigation links below.

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