Get Your Foundation Testing Paid For — Connecticut Covers 50%, Massachusetts 75%

If you’ve been putting off testing your foundation because you’re worried about the cost, here’s the part a lot of homeowners don’t realize: both Connecticut and Massachusetts will pay back most of what testing costs.

Testing isn’t free — a licensed engineer’s inspection plus a two-core lab test can run well over a thousand dollars combined. But if your home is in the affected zone, you don’t swallow that whole cost. Both states run a reimbursement program: you pay first, then submit your receipts and report to get money back.

What each state covers

Same structure, different amounts:

• Connecticut (through CRCOG): visual inspection reimbursed 100% up to $400; core test (two samples) reimbursed 50% up to $2,000.
• Massachusetts: visual inspection reimbursed 100% up to $400; core test 75% up to $5,000.

A couple of things worth knowing: in Connecticut, you don’t have to test positive to get reimbursed — the program pays back the cost either way. And a standard two-core test runs about $1,500 before reimbursement, so this is real money, not pocket change. For the full breakdown — eligibility, what to submit, and how to apply in each state — see our Foundation Testing Reimbursement guide.

A core test can also cut your tax bill

Here’s a Massachusetts-specific tip most homeowners miss. If you’re seeking a property-tax reduction, a core test is required — a visual inspection alone won’t count. And because a confirmed pyrrhotite foundation lowers your home’s assessed value, that reduction can be real. The core test can pay for itself twice: once through the 75% reimbursement, and again through a lower tax bill. (Connecticut homeowners can pursue assessment relief too — ask your assessor.)

Where things stand

Massachusetts’s Stakeholder Working Group delivered its Final Report on March 31, recommending a state assistance fund — but the enabling legislation (S.580 / H.890) is still pending and unfunded, so test and document now, but don’t count on MA remediation money yet. Connecticut’s CFSIC replacement cap holds at $205,000 per home, and its application window closes 5:00 PM, June 30, 2030. Testing reimbursement has no statewide deadline, but funds are finite — confirm the Massachusetts program is currently funded before you schedule.

Your one move

If you’ve been meaning to test but haven’t: start with the visual inspection. It’s fully reimbursed up to $400, it sets your Connecticut Severity Class, and it gets your paper trail started. Keep every receipt and make sure your report includes photos — both states require them. Our free Homeowner’s Pyrrhotite Checklist walks you through the whole sequence in order.

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General information for homeowners, not legal, engineering, tax, or real estate advice. Figures and deadlines change — confirm current details with CFSIC, CRCOG, the Massachusetts program, or a licensed professional before acting. Figures current as of July 2026.