Radon Test Rebates and Grants in Ontario: What You Actually Qualify For
You searched for a grant to cover a radon test. Here’s the twist. The test is the cheap part.
A radon test costs $25 to $99 in Ontario. Some homeowners pay nothing at all. The real money help kicks in later, if your test comes back high and you need a fix. That’s where the $1,500 grants and the $50,000 warranties live.
So this guide covers both. What you can get for the test itself. And the much bigger help waiting on the other side if you need it.
The short version:
- Testing is cheap. Free kit programs and $99 pro tests mean cost should never stop you from testing.
- Tarion is the big one. New Ontario homes can get up to $50,000 in builder-paid mitigation.
- The Lungs Matter Grant covers up to $1,500 of a fix for income-eligible homeowners.
- Take Action on Radon hands out free or cheap test kits some falls.
- Some towns run an Ontario Renovates program with forgivable loans for home repairs.
- The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed. Don’t count on it.
First, the honest truth about “radon test grants”
Most people who search for a radon test grant expect a coupon for the test. That’s rarely how it works.
Here’s why. A test is cheap. Health Canada and the groups that fund radon work know this. So they spend their grant money on the expensive part, the mitigation system, not the $99 test.
A radon test in Ontario costs less than a car’s oil change. A free kit costs nothing. So the funders skip the test and aim their dollars at the fix.
That’s actually good news. It means money isn’t a reason to skip testing. You can find out where you stand for $0 to $99. Then, if the number is high, real help shows up.
We break the test prices down in our radon test cost guide. Below, we walk through every program by what it actually pays for.
Free and cheap radon tests in Ontario
Start here. You may not need any grant to test.
Take Action on Radon kit programs
Some Ontario towns give out free or low-cost radon kits each fall. They work with a national group called Take Action on Radon.
The “100 Radon Test Kit Challenge” has run in places like Guelph, Waterloo Region, and Halton.
The catch is stock and timing. Kits run out fast, and mostly in the fall. So watch your local public health unit’s page around September and October.
The $99 pro test
If no free kit is near you, our residential test is $99 flat. That’s a trained tester, a calibrated device, and a written report.
Across the wider industry a pro short-term test runs $150 to $300. We keep ours below that on purpose. Cost shouldn’t be the reason a family skips a test.
Tarion warranty: the $50,000 program most people miss
This is the biggest radon money in Ontario. And most homeowners have no idea it exists.
Ontario is the only province where your new home warranty covers radon.
Your home may qualify if all three are true:
- You bought from a registered builder.
- Your Agreement of Purchase and Sale was signed on or after February 1, 2021.
- You’re still inside the 7-year Tarion warranty term.
If a certified test reads at or above 200 Bq/m³, the builder is on the hook. Tarion covers up to $50,000 of mitigation work. That’s far more than any fix costs.
The paperwork trips people up, though. You need the right test, filed the right way, inside the right window. We walk test customers through the whole Tarion claim process for free.
If your home was built after February 2021, check this before you spend a dollar. A lot of Ontario families pay out of pocket for mitigation their builder was legally required to cover. Nobody told them about Tarion.
Lungs Matter Grant: up to $1,500 for the fix
Not a new build? There’s still help for the mitigation cost.
The Canadian Lung Association runs a program called Lungs Matter. It covers up to $1,500 of mitigation for income-eligible homeowners.
To apply, you’ll need three things:
- A confirmed high radon test, at or above 200 Bq/m³.
- Proof your household income is under the program’s limit.
- A quote from an installer.
The grant pays the installer directly in most cases. So you don’t front the money and wait for a cheque. A full mitigation system in Ontario runs $2,800 to $3,800, so $1,500 covers a big chunk of it.
It’s a short application. Worth 15 minutes before you spend out of pocket.
Ontario Renovates: forgivable loans in some towns
This one is easy to miss because it changes from town to town.
Ontario Renovates is a provincial program. But your local service manager, usually your city or region, runs it. Each one sets its own rules.
The program gives forgivable loans to lower-income homeowners for home repairs and safety fixes. In some municipalities, radon mitigation counts as an eligible repair. In others, it doesn’t.
So the answer depends on your postal code. Call your regional housing office or service manager and ask two things:
- Does your Ontario Renovates program cover radon mitigation?
- What’s the income limit this year?
It’s not a sure thing. But for an eligible homeowner, a forgivable loan can cover most or all of a fix. That’s worth one phone call.
What’s NOT available (so you don’t waste time)
A few programs get mentioned online that you can’t actually use in 2026.
- Canada Greener Homes Grant. This federal grant once helped with radon work. It closed to new applicants in February 2024. Don’t build a plan around it.
- A federal radon tax credit. There isn’t a standing one for most homeowners. Mitigation isn’t a normal medical expense on your taxes.
- Insurance coverage for testing. Home insurance doesn’t pay for radon tests or fixes. Radon is a slow health risk, not a sudden covered event.
One narrow exception on taxes. If a doctor prescribes mitigation for a documented lung condition, some homeowners claim it under the Medical Expense Tax Credit. Ask your accountant. Don’t assume.
Every Ontario radon program at a glance
Here’s the whole picture in one table.
| Program | What it covers | Rough amount | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take Action on Radon kits | The test | Free to cheap | Anyone in a participating town, while stock lasts |
| Tarion warranty | The fix | Up to $50,000 | New builds, signed on or after Feb 1, 2021, inside 7 years |
| Lungs Matter Grant | The fix | Up to $1,500 | Income-eligible, with a high test result |
| Ontario Renovates | The fix (sometimes) | Varies | Lower-income homeowners, depends on your town |
| Canada Greener Homes | Nothing now | $0 | Closed Feb 2024 |
Read it top to bottom. Testing help sits at the top and costs little to nothing. The real money, for the fix, sits in the middle rows.
DIY the paperwork, or hire help?
You can do most of this yourself. Some of it is worth handing off. Here’s the honest split.
What you can DIY:
- Test your own home. A $40 DIY kit or a free program kit gives a solid first screen. Place it low, follow the closed-house rules, mail it in.
- Apply for the Lungs Matter Grant. The form is short. Gather your test result, income proof, and a quote, then submit.
- Call your town about Ontario Renovates. No expert needed. Just two questions and a phone call.
When it’s worth getting help:
- A Tarion claim. The rules on timing, forms, and test type are strict. A missed step or a non-qualifying test can sink the claim. This is where a pro test and some guidance pay off.
- A test that has to convince someone else. Buying, selling, or filing a warranty needs a documented pro test, not a mailed-in kit.
- A borderline or confusing result. If your number sits near 200 Bq/m³, a second look helps you decide.
We help test customers with the Tarion paperwork for free. That’s part of the $99 test, not an upsell. You could do it alone. Most people would rather not risk the $50,000 on a form.
What to do next
Work it in this order. It keeps you from spending money you don’t have to.
- Test first. Grab a free kit if your town offers one, or book a $99 test. You can’t claim any grant without a result.
- If the number is high, check Tarion. New build after February 2021? Start there. The builder may owe you the whole fix.
- No Tarion? Check Lungs Matter and Ontario Renovates. Between them, an eligible homeowner can cover most of a mitigation bill.
- Then get quotes. Our mitigation cost guide shows what a fair Ontario price looks like.
Radon is the top cause of lung cancer in Canadians who have never smoked.
Book a $99 radon test in 60 seconds. If your number comes back low, we’ll tell you, and you’ll owe nothing more.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a grant to cover the radon test itself in Ontario?
Rarely a cash grant, but you can often test for free. Some Ontario towns give out free or cheap kits each fall through Take Action on Radon.
What’s the biggest radon grant in Ontario?
Tarion, by far. For new homes signed on or after February 1, 2021, the builder can owe up to $50,000 in mitigation under the new home warranty.
Does the Lungs Matter Grant cover the test?
No. It covers up to $1,500 of the mitigation system, not the test.
Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant still open for radon?
No. It closed to new applicants in February 2024. Don’t build your plan around it. Look at Tarion, Lungs Matter, and your local Ontario Renovates program instead.
Does home insurance pay for radon testing or mitigation?
No. Home insurance treats sudden damage, not slow health risks like radon. You’ll fund the test yourself, then lean on Tarion, Lungs Matter, or Ontario Renovates for the fix if you qualify. Our FAQ page covers more of the common cost questions.
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Authored by the Breathe Radon Free Team. Every claim is backed by a primary source. Full bibliography at /sources.
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