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Radon in Quebec

Radon levels in Quebec homes and where they are highest, from the 2024 survey by census division, with certified providers, funding and rules, dated.

Manoir Boucher-De Niverville, a whitewashed stone house with a steep roof, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

Photo: Fralambert, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons.

Share of properties at or above 200 Bq/m³ by survey reporting unit, Quebec

  • 5% or less
  • over 5% to 10%
  • over 10% to 20%
  • over 20% to 30%
  • over 30% to 40%
  • over 40%
  • No data
  • Insufficient data

Each census division shows the figure for its reporting unit, so every division in a pooled unit takes the pooled figure. Divisions the report lists with no data or fewer than four readings are marked.

Source: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities, 2024 Report, Version 1.1 (CCSR.24.1.1), released October 2024, ISSN 2818-8195. Cross-Canada Survey of Radon working group. Boundaries: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census census-division cartographic boundary file, adapted. Not an endorsement by Statistics Canada.

Radon by census division

Survey reporting units in Quebec, 2024 Cross-Canada Radon Survey

Reporting unitReadingsAt or above 200 Bq/m³ (%)Geometric mean (Bq/m³)Highest observed (Bq/m³)
Abitibi31032.696.2
Antoine-Labelle; Papineau (pooled)9231.5123.11,406
Argenteuil31055.4196.1
Arthabaska434.749.2400
Avignon5563.6228.91,382
Beauce-Sartigan; Les Appalaches (pooled)287.196655
Bécancour; Nicolet-Yamaska; Pierre-De Saurel (pooled)392.649.1211
Bellechasse; La Nouvelle-Beauce; Robert-Cliche; Les Etchemins (pooled)5728.1115.61,110
Brome-Missisquoi5722.898777
Charlevoix-Est; Charlevoix; La Côte-de-Beaupré (pooled)6415.658.3363
Deux-Montagnes18527.6117.81,221
Division No. 10; La Haute-Côte-Nord; Manicouagan; Sept-Rivières--Caniapiscau; Minganie--Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent (pooled)646.259.8684
Drummond573.537.7278
Francheville110037.1126
Gatineau3131684.51,365.3
Joliette342.944.6669.7
Kamouraska; L'Islet; Montmagny (pooled)4030100.8507
Kings; Queens; Prince; Communauté maritime des Îles-de-la-Madeleine (pooled)14620.581.8914
L'Assomption7412.262.7447.7
L'Érable; Lotbinière (pooled)251265.1518
L'Île-d'Orléans2744.4140.91,110
La Haute-Gaspésie; Bonaventure (pooled)4030109.8865.8
La Haute-Yamaska502287.5751
La Jacques-Cartier8622.194.61,110
La Matapédia; La Matanie; La Mitis (pooled)3330.3105.2471
La Tuque; Le Domaine-du-Roy; Lac-Saint-Jean-Est (pooled)267.757.1270.1
La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau; Pontiac; Témiscamingue; Abitibi-Ouest; La Vallée-de-l'Or (pooled)608.358.81,348
La Vallée-du-Richelieu47426.4117.414,652
Laval25317.884.71,073
Le Granit; Le Haut-Saint-François; Coaticook (pooled)5318.994.3773
Le Haut-Richelieu8417.986.31,965
Le Rocher-Percé; La Côte-de-Gaspé (pooled)4454.5199.52,913
Les Basques; Rivière-du-Loup; Témiscouata (pooled)2817.983.5525
Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais17544144.81,406
Les Jardins-de-Napierville; Le Haut-Saint-Laurent; Beauharnois-Salaberry (pooled)5221.290.6707
Les Laurentides4311.647962
Les Maskoutains501874.5411
Les Moulins756.760.7340
Les Pays-d'en-Haut601.740.8340
Les Sources; Le Val-Saint-François; Acton (pooled)3116.163.3455
Lévis1298.552.7433
Longueuil4817.569.3543.9
Marguerite-D'Youville21529.8127.5888
Maria-Chapdelaine; Le Saguenay-et-son-Fjord; Nord-du-Québec (pooled)925.449.1781
Maskinongé; D'Autray (pooled)313.239.6229.4
Matawinie25438.3834
Mékinac; Shawinigan (pooled)277.444.3418
Memphrémagog7313.783.3496
Mirabel; La Rivière-du-Nord (pooled)9218.571.6573.5
Montcalm287.141.1285
Montréal65016.676.32,126
Portneuf571470.2622
Québec87617.972.31,443
Rimouski-Neigette6523.1103555
Roussillon11619.8106851
Rouville322582.7651
Rouyn-Noranda313.232.1291
Sherbrooke14029.399.51,065.6
Thérèse-De Blainville13521.588.9777
Vaudreuil-Soulanges13220.592.8585

Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities, 2024 Report, Version 1.1 (CCSR.24.1.1), released October 2024, ISSN 2818-8195. Cross-Canada Survey of Radon working group.

Cities with a page

Survey municipalities in Quebec

CityCensus divisionAt or above 200 Bq/m³ (%)Providers with an address here
MontréalMontréal17.43
QuebecQuébec18.15
SherbrookeSherbrooke24.93

C-NRPP, Find a Professional directory: every province and territory searched for each of the six service types, de-duplicated by the registry's person id. Pulled on 2026-10-18.

Help paying for radon testing or mitigation in Quebec

Grant

RénoRégion 2026 to 2027⁠

Up to 95% of recognized cost to a maximum of $20,000, raised to $25,000 for households at or below the applicable income level. Radon eligibility not verified. Open; intake varies by MRC.. As of 2026-09-18.

Radon rules in Quebec

Laws, codes and decisions on radon that apply in Quebec

Each row names its instrument and status as the authority states it. Guidance is not law; a tribunal decision is not court precedent. Canada's 200 Bq/m³ guideline binds no homeowner.

Rule typeApplies toWhat it saysInstrumentStatusIn effect from
Building codeQuebecIn 2021 the RBQ changed the Construction Code's maximum radon threshold from 800 to 200 Bq/m³, referring to Health Canada's level. The amendment added a vertical passive radon exhaust stack to the rough-in already required; the regulatory impact analysis describes a basic pipe infrastructure to be completed with a passive or active system if indoor radon exceeds the threshold.Construction Code (Quebec), radon amendment announced 24 November 2021In force2021-11-24
Real estate disclosureQuebecThe seller's declaration form includes a radon line, and OACIQ publishes guidance on keeping radon from derailing a transaction. Quebec's civil law system differs from the common law elsewhere in Canada.OACIQ seller declarations form (radon line); OACIQ guidance on radon in transactionsGuidanceno data
Rental housingQuebecFour Quebec tenancy decisions in which radon above Health Canada's guideline was held to breach the landlord's repair and habitability obligations. Tenancy tribunal decisions, not court precedent.Barak c. Osterrath, 2012 CanLII 150609; Pickard c. Arnold, 2015 CanLII 129833; Bramley c. Vanwynsberghe, 2017 QCRDL 11313; Vanderwerf c. Dolan, 2019 QCRDL 37417Tribunal or court decisionno data
Building codeCanada (federal or national)The radon rough-in with a capped stub was added to the National Building Code in 2010 and adopted by several provinces and territories. A rough-in is not a working mitigation system; code compliance does not guarantee a level below 200 Bq/m³, and only testing shows the actual level. Health Canada says current best practice calls for more complete systems.National Building Code of Canada, radon rough-in provisions (2010 edition onward)In force2010-01-01
Professional certificationCanada (federal or national)Canada has no licensing system for radon testers or mitigators. Health Canada recommends professionals certified through C-NRPP, but certification is voluntary, and no province has regulated radon professionals even though provinces have that power.No licensing statute; C-NRPP certification is voluntaryNo ruleno data
Real estate disclosureCanada (federal or national)High radon is treated as a latent defect by many real estate councils and associations; licensees must disclose known latent defects and help clients negotiate who pays for testing and mitigation. No province requires a radon test before a resale closes. Property disclosure statements in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and British Columbia include a radon line.Latent defect disclosure duties under provincial real estate regulationGuidanceno data
GuidelineCanada (federal or national)The 200 Bq/m³ guideline is a federal health guideline, not a general legal limit for homes. For an ordinary existing home, no Canadian law requires testing, and none requires mitigation when a result exceeds 200 Bq/m³.Government of Canada radon guideline, 200 Bq/m³Guidanceno data
Municipal liabilityCanada (federal or national)Once a local government decides to inspect building plans and construction, it owes a common law duty of care, and courts have found cities liable where inspectors failed to find design and construction flaws. A municipality is not automatically liable whenever a building tests high; the limits vary by province.Rothfield v. Manolakos [1989] 2 SCR 1259; Just v. British Columbia, 1989 CanLII 16 (SCC); Ingles v. Tutkaluk Construction Ltd., 2000 SCC 12Tribunal or court decisionno data
Schools and child careCanada (federal or national)No Canada-wide law requires radon testing in schools or child care. Health Canada documents testing initiatives across provinces, but testing programs are not legal requirements.No Canada-wide statuteNo ruleno data
Technical standardCanada (federal or national)Health Canada identifies the 2019 CGSB standard as the recognized Canadian mitigation standard and recommends that building codes reference it. CARST describes three protection levels: Level 1, a rough-in for active soil depressurization; Level 2, Level 1 plus a full passive vertical radon stack; Level 3, Level 2 plus a fan. Most provinces require protection similar to Level 1. A standard is not law unless a code or regulation adopts it.CGSB, Radon control options for new construction in low-rise residential buildings (2019)Guidanceno data
Rental housingCanada (federal or national)Every province and territory has tenancy law requiring rental housing to be habitable and in good repair. There is no radon-specific statute requiring rental homes to be tested; tenants rely on general repair and habitability rules. Tenants are separately protected by occupiers' liability law.Provincial and territorial tenancy legislation (habitability and repair duties)Guidanceno data
Workers' compensationCanada (federal or national)Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador list diseases caused by ionizing radiation. British Columbia is the province Health Canada identifies as listing radon and lung cancer by name.Provincial workers' compensation disease schedulesGuidanceno data
WorkplaceCanada (federal or national)The federal workplace regulation bars exposure of employees, other than nuclear energy workers, to a yearly average above 800 Bq/m³. SOR/2026-10, registered 30 January 2026 and published in the Canada Gazette on 11 February 2026, replaces the limit with 200 Bq/m³ and makes it the employer's duty, in force on 30 January 2027. Part II of the Canada Labour Code covers about 1.3 million employees, roughly 8% of the workforce.Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, SOR/86-304, s. 10.26(4); amended by SOR/2026-10In force2027-01-30

The radon rules dataset; each row cites its primary source and the date checked.

Provenance

Source
2024 Cross-Canada Radon Survey, Version 1.1 (CCSR.24.1.1); C-NRPP Find a Professional directory, pulled 2026-10-18.
Method
Survey figures are reproduced as printed, by reporting unit. Provider counts are businesses whose registry address is in this place with at least one unexpired credential; nothing is typed by hand.
Date checked
2026-10-18
Next review
2026-11-18
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