The Salento province represents the area with the highest radon risk in Puglia, concentrating all priority municipalities identified by DGR 1523/2025.
Radon Gas Puglia
Radon Gas Puglia: Risk, Measurement, and 2026 Regulations
A complete guide to radon risk in Puglia: from the historic L.R. 30/2016 to the news introduced by DGR 1523/2025 on priority areas. Find out if your municipality is among those at risk, what the radon measurement obligations are for commercial activities and schools, and how to comply with certified dosimeters by the October 2027 deadline.
Puglia Radon Law:
L.R. 30/2016
Rules regarding the reduction of exposure to natural radioactivity.
Puglia Regulatory References
The Regional Reference Law (L.R. 30/2016)
Puglia stands out on the national scene for having adopted, with Regional Law no. 30 of November 3, 2016, one of the most advanced and rigorous regulations for the protection of public health from radon gas risks. Unlike other regions, Puglia has chosen to inextricably link environmental safety to the certificate of usability (agibilità) of buildings.
This means that today, in Puglia, guaranteeing a healthy environment is not just a health obligation, but an indispensable administrative requirement. The law intervenes on two main fronts: on the one hand, it imposes specific construction criteria for new buildings, obliging designers to provide prevention systems (such as ventilated crawl spaces and radon-proof membranes) already at the Building Permit stage; on the other hand, it extends the monitoring obligation to all buildings open to the public and to schools, recognizing that protection cannot be limited only to underground workplaces.
The New Priority Areas (DGR 1523/2025)
With the recent approval of Regional Council Resolution no. 1523 of October 22, 2025, the Region completed the regulatory framework by transposing the directives of Legislative Decree 101/2020. This step is fundamental because it geographically defines where the risk is statistically higher.
The resolution identified specific Priority Areas concentrated in the province of Lecce, where the geological conformation of the subsoil favors the rising of gas. For activities located in these municipalities, the monitoring obligation becomes stringent even for premises located on the ground floor, overcoming the old distinction that limited checks to underground areas only. It is an acknowledgment that safety must be guaranteed wherever there is potential exposure.
Who checks? The role of ARPA Puglia
A valuable tool made available to citizens is the WebGIS Portal, an interactive map that allows you to transparently view the data of measurement campaigns carried out over the years.
Consult the interactive map on ARPA WebGIS »
History of Radon Regulations
From the 2013 European Directive to the 2025 Regional Resolution: evolution of the legal framework.
Directive 2013/59/Euratom
The BSS (Basic Safety Standards) Directive establishes fundamental safety standards for protection against ionizing radiation, including radon gas. It introduces for the first time at the European level the reference level of 300 Bq/m³ for workplaces and homes.
Read on EUR-LexLegislative Decree 31 July 2020, no. 101
The Consolidated Text on Radiation Protection implements the Euratom Directive in Italy. It introduces mandatory obligations for employers, defines Priority Areas, establishes the National Radon Action Plan (PNAR), and provides for penal sanctions for non-compliance (Art. 205).
L.R. 3 November 2016, no. 30
Regional Law 30/2016 was a pioneering law in Italy, anticipating national directives by years. With courage, it established that radon protection is not an option, but a habitability requirement. Imposing strict limits (300 Bq/m³) and mandatory checks for schools and new constructions, it placed Puglia at the forefront of environmental oncological prevention.
Download L.R. 30/2016National Radon Action Plan 2023-2032
The PNAR, approved by DPCM January 11, 2024, is the national strategic document that defines objectives, timelines, and resources for radon risk reduction. It requires Regions to complete the mapping of Priority Areas and coordinates measurement campaigns.
DGR no. 1523 of 22/10/2025
The publication of Resolution 1523 marks the completion of the regional regulatory path. By precisely identifying the Priority Areas in Salento, the Region formally activates extended measurement obligations. It is the key document that starts the "countdown" for compliance for ground-floor activities in the affected municipalities.
Puglia Radon Map
Areas with concentrations exceeding reference limits.
This map is not just a geographical drawing: it visualizes the real results of years of environmental monitoring conducted by ARPA Puglia. Each point represents a measurement and tells us about the "breathing" of the Apulian subsoil. The points highlighted in red indicate areas where the concentration of radon gas has systematically exceeded the safety threshold of 300 Bq/m³.
As can be seen, the phenomenon is not random but is mainly concentrated in Salento. This scientific data was the basis for defining the Priority Areas: if your activity is located in one of these territories, it is not a matter of bad luck, but a specific geological condition that requires a simple preventive action: measurement.
Legend
Map acquired on 22/01/2026 from the portal webgis.arpa.puglia.it
Municipalities in Priority Area (Lecce Prov.)
Source: DGR 1523/2025
| Municipality | Province | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Casarano | LE | Priority Area |
| Surbo | LE | Priority Area |
| Minervino di Lecce | LE | Priority Area |
| Campi Salentina | LE | Priority Area |
| Maglie | LE | Priority Area |
| Zollino | LE | Priority Area |
| Copertino | LE | Priority Area |
| Lecce | LE | Priority Area |
Radon Measurement Obligations in Puglia
Who must perform radon gas measurement and within what timeframe.
Who needs to act immediately?
The approval of the priority areas changes the rules of the game. While previously attention was limited to underground premises, today the situation is different. In zones identified as at risk (Lecce and neighboring municipalities), the legislator's "magnifying glass" now also shifts to the ground floor.
This means that shops, offices, professional studios, and restaurants located at street level in these municipalities must now carry out a risk assessment. Naturally, maximum attention remains for schools and kindergartens throughout the regional territory, where the protection of children's health is an absolute and non-derogable priority.
Time is running out: the deadlines
The legislation leaves no room for doubt: the time to comply is clearly defined. From the moment of publication of DGR 1523/2025, a transitional period of 18 months + 12 months begins to complete the first annual measurement.
In practical terms, this means that by October 2027, every activity subject to the obligation must have the test report issued by a certified laboratory in hand. It seems like a distant date, but considering that the measurement requires a full year of dosimeter exposure to be valid, it is essential to install the devices as soon as possible so as not to be late for the deadline.
Consequences of non-compliance
Beyond health aspects, ignoring this legislation exposes you to concrete legal risks. Legislative Decree 101/2020 has toughened the sanctions framework, introducing criminal measures that can lead to arrest for the most serious or repeat cases.
But there is an even more immediate administrative aspect in Puglia: the link to usability (agibilità). A report of non-compliance can lead to the suspension of the certificate of usability of the premises. concretely, this means blocking commercial or production activity until regularization. An entrepreneurial risk that can be eliminated with a simple and economical measurement.
F.A.Q. Puglia
Specific answers for the Puglia Region
My municipality is not on the list, do I need to measure?
How long does the measurement last?
What does L.R. 30/2016 say for new constructions?
What is the radon concentration limit in Puglia?
What happens if I exceed the limit of 300 Bq/m³?
Who can perform radon measurements in Puglia?
How much does a radon measurement cost?
Do schools in Puglia need to measure radon?
Does ARPA Puglia provide radon measurement services?
Where can I find the complete list of radon-risk municipalities in Puglia?
Do you have a business in Puglia?
Avoid sanctions and the blocking of usability. The October 2027 deadline is approaching: plan your annual measurement now.