Tennessee Radon Authority
Updated October 17, 2026

Benton County radon · Camden, Kentucky Lake & rural communities

Benton County radon. A 3.8 pCi/L average. No required radon-ready construction.

Benton County is mapped as Zone 2, and Tennessee’s 2022–2023 dashboard shows a county average just below EPA’s 4.0 pCi/L action level. Camden’s published code omits the radon appendix; unincorporated areas have no verified residential code.

Research checked October 16, 2026Primary records and live directories
Editorial cutaway illustration of radon moving through soil and foundation openings beneath a rural brick home near Kentucky Lake
County averages describe a dataset. Only a test can answer for one Benton County home.

Radon in Benton County, Tennessee: quick answers

EPA zone: Zone 2Region: West TennesseeState test data: State test figures confirmed on repeat checks

Is radon a problem in Benton County, Tennessee?

It can be. Benton County is in EPA Zone 2, where the predicted average indoor screening level is 2 to 4 pCi/L. Homes above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level are found in every zone, so a test is the only way to know your home's level.

Do new homes in Benton County, TN have to be built radon-resistant?

No. No radon-resistant construction requirement was found anywhere in Benton County: the unincorporated county has no residential code in force, and Camden's published code doesn't adopt the radon appendix. Local code details

How do I test my home for radon in Benton 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 Benton 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 Benton County from nearby cities. How to choose a radon professional

01 / QUICK READ

Moderate potential, little local protection, and a real testing gap.

Test every home—including new construction.

The state dashboard repeatedly returned a 3.8 pCi/L Benton County average. Yet radon-resistant construction is not required by the published Camden code, and no residential building code was verified for unincorporated Benton County. [1] [2] [3]

Bottom line
The county average sits just under 4.0 pCi/L. A property-level test is the only way to know a home’s level.
Zone 2Moderate-potential designation: predicted average indoor levels of 2–4 pCi/L. [4]
3.8pCi/L average in the dashboard’s combined 2022–2023 view, matched on three loads. [3]
0 localNRPP- or NRSB-certified measurement professionals based in Benton County. [5] [6]
≈50 miDistance from Camden to the nearest visible NRPP listings, in Bon Aqua. [5]
02 / RISK & DATA

The public average is close to the action level—but the sample size is hidden.

The dashboard supports a cautious county-level signal, not a prediction for any address.

EPA radon potential
Zone 2

Predicted average indoor radon from 2 to 4 pCi/L. EPA cautions that elevated homes occur in all zones and recommends testing every home. [4]

COUNTY LABEL VERIFIED ON 3 LOADS

Tennessee Radon Testing dashboard

3.8Average · pCi/L · seen 3 times
1.4Median · pCi/L · seen once
Not capturedMaximum

The tooltip itself read “County: Benton.” The average matched across three separate loads; the median appeared only once, so it is presented with that caveat. The maximum and county test count were not captured and are not estimated. [3]

The lower charts are health-region aggregates—not Benton County counts.

Selecting Benton County did not filter the pre- and post-mitigation band charts. No count or percentage from those regional bars is presented here as county data. The year control also reverted to “(All),” so separate 2022 and 2023 values were not obtained.

03 / BUILDING CODES

No verified radon-resistant construction mandate anywhere in the county.

Camden and the unincorporated county arrive at that result through different code paths—and both have a current-status question.

NO RESIDENTIAL CODE VERIFIED

Unincorporated Benton County

The State Fire Marshal’s current permit page lists the seven unincorporated counties where a state residential permit is required. Benton County is not among them, and research found no county building-codes department. No IRC edition or radon appendix applies on the evidence available. [1]

Practical result: radon-resistant new construction is voluntary. Owners in opt-out jurisdictions may voluntarily request State Fire Marshal inspection and a certificate of occupancy. [7]
PUBLISHED CODE ENDS JULY 2011

City of Camden

Camden Municipal Code §12-501 adopts the 2006 IRC through Ordinance #AW2011-05. The section lists no appendices, and §12-502 only redefines local officials. Under IRC §R102.5, the 2006 radon appendix applies only if specifically adopted; the published code does not adopt it. [2]

Result under the published code: radon-resistant new construction is optional. Confirm whether a newer ordinance exists with the Camden city recorder at 731-584-4656.
NO LOCAL RULE FOUND

Schools & public buildings

No Benton County or Camden rule was found requiring radon tests in schools or public buildings. A national policy review classifies Tennessee as encouraging, not mandating, school radon testing; TDEC provides technical information for schools. [8] [9]

HB1269/SB660 proposed annual school indoor-air programs including radon testing, but passage was not confirmed. Treat it as a proposal, not current law. [10]
KNOWN-CONDITION DISCLOSURE

Real-estate transactions

Tennessee’s disclosure framework addresses known defects; the standard form’s instructions advise buyers to include a radon-test contingency. Research found no Benton County–specific transaction rule. [11] [12]

A seller’s disclosure is not a substitute for a measurement in the home being purchased.
The county opt-out is not yet confirmed.

Opt-out resolutions must be renewed after each general election. The live State Fire Marshal list supports non-code status, but the current Benton County resolution itself was not located. Confirm with the county mayor’s office or State Fire Marshal at 615-741-7170 before a construction decision.

How do I find a certified radon professional in Benton 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.

Search NRPPSearch NRSB

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.

04 / HOMEBUYERS

Plan the radon test before the contingency clock starts.

Certified providers appear to travel 35–60+ miles into this part of West Tennessee, so early scheduling matters.

A new home can be neither inspected nor radon-ready.

Unincorporated Benton County has no verified residential code, and Camden’s published code omits the radon appendix. Buyers of build-on-your-lot homes near Kentucky Lake should ask whether a sealed vapor retarder, a sub-slab gas collection layer and a passive vent rough-in were installed voluntarily.

Realtor.com’s roughly September 2026 snapshot describes an affordable, slower-moving market: a $255,000 county median listing price, 367 homes for sale and 64 median days on market. Those figures are a dated market snapshot, not current availability. [14]

Transaction plan

  1. Put radon testing inside the inspection or due-diligence window.
  2. Book early; nationally listed options start roughly 50 miles from Camden.
  3. For a new build, ask for plans and photos of any passive radon features.
  4. If mitigation is installed, retest to verify performance.
05 / TESTING RESOURCES

Start with Tennessee’s radon program.

A do-it-yourself kit can screen a home. For a purchase or sale, use independent nationally certified measurement where available.

TDEC homeowner testing

Tennessee’s Radon Program offers free homeowner test kits and school technical information. For a time-sensitive real-estate test, compare nationally certified providers and confirm the service area before the contingency period begins.

Visit the Tennessee Radon Program →
Search NRPPUse Camden ZIP 38320 and confirm measurement credentialsSearch NRSBLook for a Radon Measurement SpecialistEPA provider guidanceHow national proficiency programs fit into hiringView Tennessee’s dashboardBenton’s combined-year average was 3.8 pCi/L when checked
06 / FAQ

Questions Benton County homeowners ask

Is Benton County in a high-radon zone?

Benton County is mapped as Zone 2, the moderate-potential category with predicted average indoor levels from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Elevated homes can occur in every zone, so the map cannot replace a home test.

What does Tennessee’s dashboard show for Benton County?

Three county-labeled checks showed a 3.8 pCi/L average in the combined 2022–2023 view. A 1.4 pCi/L median appeared once. The maximum and county test count were not captured, and the lower band charts are health-region aggregates.

Does Camden require radon-resistant new construction?

Not under the published code. Camden’s online municipal code adopts the 2006 IRC without listing appendices, so the radon appendix was not adopted. Because that code copy ends in July 2011, confirm the current edition and appendix list with the city recorder.

What about new homes outside Camden?

No residential building code was verified for unincorporated Benton County. The county is absent from the State Fire Marshal’s current list of counties where a state residential permit is required. Current opt-out status should still be reconfirmed before relying on it for a project.

Are certified radon testers based in Benton County?

The October 2026 checks found no NRPP- or NRSB-certified measurement professional based in the county. The nearest visible NRPP listings were about 50 miles from Camden. Verify current credentials and service areas before hiring.

07 / SOURCES

Primary documents, public data & directories

  1. State Fire Marshal: Apply for a Residential Permit — current state-permit jurisdictions, checked October 16, 2026.
  2. Camden Municipal Code, Title 12 — 2006 IRC adoption through Ordinance #AW2011-05.
  3. Tennessee Radon Testing dashboard — three live Benton County tooltip checks, October 16, 2026.
  4. EPA Map of Radon Zones: Tennessee; definitions from the EPA Map of Radon Zones.
  5. NRPP Find a Professional — Camden, Paris and Waverly searches, October 16, 2026.
  6. NRSB Find a Professional — Camden-area measurement searches, October 16, 2026.
  7. State Fire Marshal opt-out jurisdictions explainer — voluntary inspection option.
  8. Radon in Schools: review of state laws — Tennessee classified as “Encourage.”
  9. TDEC Radon Program — free homeowner kits and school information.
  10. Tennessee HB1269 — proposed school indoor-air language; passage not confirmed.
  11. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-5-210 (disclosure form) — known-condition framework.
  12. Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure form — radon contingency guidance.
  13. EPA qualified-provider guidance — national proficiency programs.
  14. Realtor.com Benton County market report — approximately September 2026 snapshot.
  15. Tennessee Department of Health Benton County data package — 2025 county context.

Method note. This page separates repeated observations, single-load readings, dated market snapshots and open questions. It publishes no dashboard maximum or county test count. Health-region bars are not presented as county statistics, and directory results are dated snapshots rather than a census.