Tennessee Radon Authority
Updated October 17, 2026

Lawrence County Radon · Tennessee

Lawrence County, TN radon Zone 1 risk. A 4.2 average. A fractured code map.

Lawrenceburg does not require the IRC radon appendix. St. Joseph’s older published code does. Outside city limits, the enforcement picture is not yet confirmed. The common thread: test the home, not the ZIP code.

Research checked Oct. 15, 2026 2022–2023 TN dashboard data
Radon pathway through a house Soil gas rises through a foundation crack while a vent pipe provides a pathway toward the roof.
A passive vent only helps when the system is complete and the home is tested.

Radon in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County, Tennessee?

Yes, it can be. Lawrence 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 Lawrence County, TN have to be built radon-resistant?

Not in Lawrenceburg, whose 2018 code adopts Appendix Q only. St. Joseph's older 2012 code included the radon appendix, but its current code wasn't confirmed. Local code details

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

4.2pCi/L average shownTN Radon Testing dashboard, 2022–2023
1NRPP measurement pro based locallyLawrence County listing
0NRSB pros foundWithin 100 miles, Tennessee-filtered search
01 / Risk profile

The label and the readings point the same way.

Lawrence County is in EPA Radon Zone 1—the highest-potential category. The state dashboard’s county tooltip shows an average above the EPA action level, but one field is internally impossible and must be withheld.

EPA designation
1

Predicted average indoor radon greater than 4 pCi/L. Zone designations guide policy; they do not replace testing an individual home. EPA zone map

Average shown
4.2 pCi/L
Median shown
1.9 pCi/L
Maximum
withheld
Data-quality flag. The dashboard displays a maximum of 1.9 pCi/L—lower than its 4.2 average, which is mathematically impossible. The value repeated across two loads with the county label confirmed as “Lawrence,” so the defect is in the displayed data, not a neighboring-county hover. View the state dashboard.
02 / Building codes

One county, four very different answers.

Appendices are only mandatory when adopted. The 2018 IRC’s radon provisions sit in Appendix F; Lawrenceburg’s ordinance names Appendix Q only.

Lawrenceburg

Radon appendix not adopted

The city enforces the 2018 IRC. Municipal Code §12-901 adopts “including Appendix Q” only; the history note identifies Ordinance #1310, May 2021. Appendix F is absent, so radon-resistant new construction is optional under the published local adoption. Municipal Code Title 12

The city’s live Planning & Development page also lists 2021 editions for the commercial I-codes and NFPA 101, while retaining the 2018 IRC. The later I-series ordinance number and date were not found online. Current city code list

St. Joseph

Appendix F adopted—dated source

A roughly 2015 MTAS code PDF adopts the 2012 IRC with Appendices A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, M, N, O, P and Q. Appendix F makes radon-resistant construction mandatory under that adoption—but the current code status is not confirmed. Published Title 12

Unincorporated Lawrence County

State enforcement presumed; confirm

The county website lists no building-codes, zoning, or planning department and no residential permits. The best-supported reading is that the State Fire Marshal enforces Tennessee’s 2018 IRC minimum where no local program exists—but the county’s adoption and enforcement status could not be directly verified. County departments · MTAS state-code guidance

Loretto

Current code unverified

The city issues building, plumbing, electrical, and sign permits. Its current IRC edition, appendix list, and adopting ordinance were not verifiable online; the available MTAS code reflects a 1995 codification. Loretto permit information

Iron City

Local program unverified

No building-code adoption was found online. State minimum enforcement is the best-supported conclusion, not a confirmed fact. Iron City is partly in Lawrence County and partly in Wayne County.

Tennessee amendment nuance

Passive until proven

Tennessee’s published 2018 IRC amendment package allows an Appendix F vent to terminate capped in the attic until radon is verified at 4 pCi/L or greater, and removes the requirement for a power source at that attic termination. Published amendment text

03 / County-specific rules

No Lawrence County–specific radon rule for public buildings, schools, or real-estate transactions was found online.

How do I find a certified radon professional in Lawrence 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 / Homebuyer playbook

Test every home—including new construction.

Neither the EPA zone nor the county average tells you what is happening in one house. The local code gaps make a measured result more important, not less.

01

Add a radon contingency

Tennessee’s property disclosure form has no radon-specific question. The Tennessee Association of Realtors advisory tells buyers to include radon among appropriate inspection contingencies. Disclosure advisory

02

Do not assume “new” means protected

Lawrenceburg’s published adoption omits Appendix F. Outside city limits, enforcement is still unconfirmed, and Tennessee’s published amendment allows a passive vent to stop capped in the attic until testing shows at least 4 pCi/L.

03

Read the result, not the zone

Zone 1 marks broad potential. It cannot determine a specific home’s level. Test before closing when possible, then retest after occupancy or major foundation and HVAC changes.

04

Verify the system is complete

In a home advertised as “radon-ready,” inspect where the pipe begins and ends, whether it reaches outdoors above the roof, and whether a fan and power source are present. A capped attic pipe is not an active mitigation system.

46,914July 1, 2025 population estimate
+6.2%Population change since the 2020 Census
32New private housing permits in 2025, up from 9 in 2020

Population, housing, tenure, and value data: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. Permit series: FRED BPPRIV047099.

05 / Practical next steps

Radon testing resources

Test, understand the result, and know who to call—a practical starting point for testing a Lawrence County home, finding qualified help, and responding to an elevated result.

Test your home

If your result comes back high

1-800-644-6999 — the Fix-It Hotline, for general guidance on lowering radon in your home.

Learn more

American Lung Association’s free Radon Basics course.

Hotline listings: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.