Tennessee Radon Authority
Updated October 17, 2026

Hamilton County radon · Tennessee

Hamilton County, TN radon Moderate zone.
Serious high end.

Hamilton County is mapped in EPA Zone 2, yet the state dashboard displayed a maximum of 35.3 pCi/L. Local code records do not confirm that radon-resistant construction is required.

Research checked: October 16, 2026Chattanooga + unincorporated Hamilton County

Radon in Hamilton County, Tennessee: quick answers

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

Is radon a problem in Hamilton County, Tennessee?

It can be. Hamilton 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 Hamilton County, TN have to be built radon-resistant?

Not confirmed. Hamilton County and Chattanooga use the 2018 code, but their published records don't show whether the radon appendix was adopted, so treat it as optional and ask the building office or builder.

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

The short answer

Test the house, not the zone.

The county’s Zone 2 designation describes broad potential; it does not clear an individual home. The Tennessee dashboard’s 35.3 pCi/L maximum is a reminder that high readings can occur inside a “moderate” county.

Zone sources: EPA Map of Radon Zones: Tennessee and EPA Map of Radon Zones: Tennessee. Dashboard: Tennessee Radon Testing.

2EPA radon zoneModerate potential; two independent references agree.
2.1Dashboard average, pCi/LDisplayed on two live loads; tooltip stability caveat applies.
2Local NRPP measurement prosBoth bundle radon with broader services.
Risk profile
2EPA radon zone

A moderate label with a long tail.

Two independent zone references identify Hamilton County as Zone 2. One mitigation-company page says Chattanooga is Zone 1, but that conflicts with both references and with the ICC’s Tennessee Zone 1 county table; the supported designation is Zone 2.

2.1Average pCi/L
0.7Median pCi/L
35.3Maximum pCi/L
Read these as dashboard displays, not definitive county statistics. The Hamilton tooltip showed the same three values on two live loads, but dashboard tooltips varied between hovers elsewhere. It also grouped Hamilton as “Less than 2 pCi/L” while displaying a 2.1 average. Underlying county data were not available for independent confirmation.

Dashboard: Tennessee Radon Testing, 2022–2023 context. The pre/post bands include a Hamilton County row but do not become county-only when the map is selected.

How do I find a certified radon professional in Hamilton 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.

Real estate

Put radon in the deal.

Tennessee does not require a residential radon test or place radon on the required disclosure list. The state disclosure form instead advises buyers to use radon and other inspection contingencies.

Sources: East Tennessee home-sales overview and Tennessee disclosure form RF 201.

Write testing into due diligence

Make radon testing an explicit inspection contingency rather than expecting a seller disclosure to surface it.

Ask the new-build question

Ask the builder whether 2018 IRC Appendix F features were installed. The base code edition alone does not answer that.

Request the actual report

For a previously tested house, review the result, device, dates, test conditions, and any mitigation follow-up—not just a verbal “it passed.”

Why new construction belongs in the conversation: Hamilton County residential permits rose about 12.8% in 2024, described as the second-highest new-construction year in two decades; area single-family permits then fell 18% in 2025. The direction changes, but the consumer question does not: was this particular home built with radon features, and was it tested?

Market context: Matt Ward Homes, June 2026 and Hamilton County Herald, January 2026.

Primary and supporting references

Source desk