EPA radon potential
Zone 3Predicted average indoor screening levels below 2 pCi/L. Elevated homes have been found in all three zones, so EPA recommends testing regardless of zone. [8]
01 / QUICK READ
Lower predicted risk does not mean no radon.
Radon-resistant new construction is optional in Jackson and unincorporated Madison County.
Both jurisdictions enforce the 2018 IRC. Their published code lists name Appendix G for pools, but not Appendix F, the radon appendix. Under the IRC, an appendix must be specifically adopted to be mandatory. [1] [3]
Bottom line
Test every home—including new construction—because the code does not require passive radon features.
Test every home—including new construction—because the code does not require passive radon features.
02 / RISK & DATA
The state dashboard puts Madison at the Zone 3 boundary.
EPA’s zone map predicts broad county potential. Tennessee’s dashboard is a limited testing snapshot, not a property-level answer.
COUNTY LABEL VERIFIED TWICE
Tennessee Radon Testing dashboard
2.0Average · pCi/L
1.6Median · pCi/L
The tooltip’s own county label read “Madison” on two separate page loads, with identical average and median values. The maximum was present visually but not exposed in the accessibility tree, so it is not published here. [9]
Do not turn the lower charts into county totals.
The dashboard’s pre- and post-mitigation charts aggregate by health region. Madison County is not shown separately, and the tooltip exposes no county test count. The 2.0 average and 1.6 median also do not state whether they combine pre- and post-mitigation tests.
03 / BUILDING CODES
Two local code systems, the same radon result.
Jackson handles its own permits. The Madison County Building Department covers unincorporated areas plus Three Way and Medon. Both hold State Fire Marshal exemption status.
APPENDIX F NOT ADOPTED
City of Jackson
Jackson’s January 2022 Construction Guide lists the 2018 IRC and specifically names IRC Appendix G for swimming pools. Appendix F and radon do not appear in the adopted-code list or published amendments, making radon-resistant construction optional. [1]
APPENDIX F NOT ADOPTED
Madison County
The county Construction Guide lists the 2018 IRC, effective January 1, 2021 and revised February 2024. Its published adopted-code list names Appendix G but not the radon appendix, so radon-resistant construction is optional in unincorporated areas. [3] [4]
No local radon-specific rule was found.
No Madison County or Jackson mandate surfaced for radon testing in public buildings, schools, or real-estate transactions. Tennessee encourages school indoor-air programs; it does not require a local radon program. [7]
How do I find a certified radon professional in Madison 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.
04 / HOMEBUYERS
Make the test part of the inspection contingency.
Tennessee sellers disclose known conditions; they are not required to test for radon. The state disclosure form advises buyers to include radon in their inspection contingencies. [12]
New construction is not automatically radon-ready.
Jackson and Madison County do not require the 2018 IRC radon appendix, so a new home may have no passive radon system. Ask the builder what was installed, then test the completed home.
Tennessee home-inspection reports must state that they do not address environmental hazards including radon. That makes a separate radon test or specialist referral especially important. [13]
Transaction plan
- Write radon into the inspection or due-diligence plan.
- Use a real-estate-appropriate test from an independent certified professional.
- For a new home, ask for any radon-system plans and photos.
- If mitigation is installed, retest to verify performance.
05 / TESTING RESOURCES
Start with Tennessee’s free test-kit program.
A do-it-yourself kit can screen a home. For a purchase or sale, use independent certified testing and follow the transaction timeline.
TDEC free radon kits
Tennessee’s Radon Program provides free home test kits and statewide guidance. The state recommends a certified professional for mitigation.
Open Tennessee’s free-kit information →06 / FAQ
Questions Madison County homeowners ask
Is Madison County in a high-radon zone?
No. EPA places Madison County in Zone 3, the lowest predicted-potential category. But the state dashboard shows a 2.0 pCi/L county average and 1.6 pCi/L median, and a zone cannot predict an individual home.
Does Jackson require radon-resistant new construction?
No. Jackson enforces the 2018 IRC and names Appendix G for pools, but its published adoption does not include Appendix F, the radon appendix. Radon-resistant construction is optional.
What does the Tennessee dashboard show for Madison County?
Two county-labeled tooltip checks showed an average of 2.0 pCi/L and a median of 1.6 pCi/L. The maximum was not accessible and is not reported. The lower band charts are health-region aggregates, not county totals.
Are certified radon testers based in Madison County?
No NRPP- or NRSB-listed professional was based in Madison County during the October 2026 directory checks. The nearest visible NRPP listings were in the Memphis area, roughly 66 miles from Jackson.
Where can I get a radon test kit?
TDEC offers free home test kits statewide. For a real-estate transaction, use an independent nationally certified professional and fit the test inside your due-diligence period.
07 / SOURCES
Primary documents, public data & directories
- City of Jackson Construction Guide — enforced codes and local amendments, revised January 2022.
- Jackson single-stair ordinance — Title 12, Chapter 2 amendment.
- Madison County Construction Guide — 2018 codes and jurisdiction.
- Madison County adopted codes — effective dates and resolutions.
- Madison County permits and inspections — department scope and contact.
- CTAS private acts for Madison County — local building-regulation authority.
- Radon in Schools: review of state laws — Tennessee classified as “Encourage.”
- EPA Tennessee radon-zone map — Madison County Zone 3.
- Tennessee Radon Testing dashboard — live county-tooltip checks, October 16, 2026.
- NRPP Find a Pro — Jackson ZIP 38301 search, October 16, 2026.
- NRSB Find a Professional — 50- and 100-mile measurement searches.
- Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure — inspection-contingency guidance.
- Tennessee contractor licensing law excerpt — home-inspector environmental-hazard disclaimer.
- EPA qualified-provider guidance — national proficiency programs.
- TDEC free radon kits — statewide homeowner program.
- Jackson metro population series — Census-sourced estimates.
Method note. This page separates verified local findings from inference and unresolved questions. Dashboard values were published only after two matching county-labeled reads. Regional band charts were not presented as county statistics. Directory results are snapshots, not a census.