Resolution 25-11 puts passive radon-control methods into the 2021 residential code for unincorporated Bedford County.
Bedford County Radon
Bedford County, TN radon Radon-ready
is not radon-tested.
Unincorporated Bedford County adopted the radon appendix. New homes get passive protection on paper—but the county made future-fan power optional and deleted the required post-construction test.
Radon in Bedford County, Tennessee: quick answers
EPA zone: Zone 1Region: Middle TennesseeState test data: State test figures couldn't be confirmed, so they aren't shown
Is radon a problem in Bedford County, Tennessee?
Yes, it can be. Bedford County is in EPA Zone 1, the highest radon-potential category, where the predicted average indoor screening level is above 4 pCi/L. Levels vary from house to house, so a test is the only way to know your home's level.
Do new homes in Bedford County, TN have to be built radon-resistant?
Partly. Unincorporated Bedford County's 2021 code adopts the radon appendix (AF), so a passive radon pathway is required, but the county deleted the appendix's final radon test and made the future fan's power source optional. Local code details
How do I test my home for radon in Bedford County?
Order a free short-term kit from the Tennessee Radon Program online or by calling 1-800-232-1139. Place it on the lowest lived-in floor, about 3 feet off the floor, for 3 to 5 days, then mail it back right away. How to test your home
What radon level means I should fix my home?
EPA recommends fixing your home if radon is 4 pCi/L or higher, and considering a fix between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Confirm a high short-term result with a second test first. What your result means
Who can test or fix radon in Bedford County?
Tennessee doesn't license radon professionals, so look for NRPP or NRSB certification. Search both national directories by ZIP code; certified professionals often serve Bedford County from nearby cities. How to choose a radon professional
01 / Executive readout
The county code is unusually specific—and stops just short of proof.
AF104.1 was removed in full. A new house can pass the county's adopted code without a post-construction radon result.
No NRPP- or NRSB-listed measurement professional was found with a Bedford County base across the directory checks.
02 / Building code
A passive system is required. The last two steps are not.
Unincorporated county · Effective 1 Feb 2025*
2021 IRC + Appendix AF
Bedford County Resolution 25-11 adopts the 2021 International Residential Code and quotes “Appendices A through D, F through K; M, N, P, Q” plus listed portions of Appendix E. In the 2021 IRC’s double-letter naming, Appendix AF is Radon Control Methods—the same AF prefix used by the county’s two radon amendments.
- 1Passive pathway: adoptedSubfloor preparation, soil-gas retarder and a vent pathway are part of the appendix's radon-resistant method.
- 2Future fan power: optionalThe county inserted “[OPTIONAL]” into AF103.12, which covers the power source for a future vent-pipe fan.
- 3Final radon test: deletedThe county deleted AF104.1—the section requiring radon testing—in its entirety.
*The resolution says February 1, 2025, or publication in a newspaper of general circulation, whichever is later. It was adopted January 14, 2025.
03 / Jurisdiction split
The address decides which code story applies.
Confirmed from adopted resolution
2021 IRC · Appendix AF adopted
Passive radon-resistant construction is required on paper, with the future-fan outlet made optional and the testing section removed. Confirm permit-by-permit enforcement with the county Building Official.
Appendix status open
2018 IRC · Appendix F unverified
The city's Applicable Codes page confirms Ordinance 2021-1144 adopted the 2018 IRC. The ordinance's appendix list could not be extracted, so buyers should not assume a new Shelbyville home includes a passive radon system.
No local adoption published
Title 12 reserved
Bell Buckle's municipal code reserves its building-code title “for future use.” The state residential standard appears to govern by default; the state's Appendix F treatment is not yet confirmed.
Current IRC not published
Only an obsolete code was found
The published 1995 codification adopts the 1991 Standard Housing Code. The town issues permits referencing its “Adopted Codes,” but no current IRC edition was found online.
No adoption found
No published building code
No building-code ordinance or IRC adoption was located for Normandy. Tiny municipalities without local enforcement generally fall under state standards; town confirmation is still needed.
04 / Risk & evidence
High-potential geology, but no publishable county reading.
EPA map classification
ZONE 1
The federal map places Bedford County in the highest potential category: a predicted average indoor screening level above 4.0 pCi/L. It is a planning signal, not a substitute for testing a specific building.
TN dashboard · Live check 15 Oct 2026
The tooltip fields were blank.
The Bedford tooltip displayed the labels for Average, Median and Maximum—but no numbers rendered on this verification pass. Earlier transcribed 1.3 / 1.3 / 1.4 values are therefore withheld.
The pre- and post-mitigation charts remain titled “by Health Region.” Selecting Bedford did not turn them into county-level distributions.
DO NOT PUBLISH: 1.3 average · 1.3 median · 1.4 maximum · any county test count or percentageHow do I find a certified radon professional in Bedford County?
Tennessee doesn't license radon testers or mitigators, so national certification is the best way to check qualifications. The Tennessee Radon Program points residents to two directories: search them by ZIP code and widen the radius if nothing is listed nearby.
We don't recommend or rank companies. Before you hire, check the certification number in the directory yourself and ask for a follow-up test after any system is installed. Questions to ask a radon professional.
05 / Homebuyer field guide
Ask for the system. Then test the house.
01
Identify the permitting jurisdiction
An unincorporated Bedford County permit has the confirmed 2021 IRC + Appendix AF path. Shelbyville's 2018 IRC appendix status remains unverified, and the small towns have incomplete published records.
02
Request the radon-system details
For a new county-permitted house, ask where the passive vent runs, whether a fan-power outlet was installed even though it is optional, and whether anyone tested after completion.
03
Use an inspection contingency
The Tennessee Association of Realtors disclosure form expressly names radon gas and advises buyers to include a radon inspection contingency. A seller's “unknown” is a reason to test, not reassurance.
04
Do not treat “new” as a result
A passive system lowers risk but does not measure the finished home's indoor air. Bedford County deleted the code's testing requirement; a buyer's own test closes that gap.
+11.1%
Shelbyville's estimated population growth from the April 2020 base to July 1, 2025: 23,543 to 26,146. With active new construction, the difference between county and city code paths will matter to more buyers.
06 / Radon testing resources
Test the home. Know who to call next.
Test your home
- Free test kit from TDEC — Tennessee's radon program.
- Buy a kit by phone: 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236).
- Live help with your questions: 1-800-55RADON (1-800-557-2366).
- Find a certified pro: NRPP 800-269-4174 · NRSB 866-329-3474.
If your result comes back high
- 1-800-644-6999 — the Fix-It Hotline, for general guidance on lowering radon in your home.