Scott County, Tennessee · Radon field guide
Scott County is EPA Zone 3, but that countywide prediction cannot clear a single house. With no verified radon-building mandate and no certified professional based in the county, testing has to be intentional.
EPA zone: Zone 3Region: East TennesseeState test data: State test figures couldn't be confirmed, so they aren't shown
It can be. Scott County is in EPA Zone 3, the lowest predicted radon-potential category (below 2 pCi/L on average). Homes with high radon are still found in Zone 3, and the Tennessee Radon Program has found homes needing action in every Tennessee county, so test to know your home's level.
No. Unincorporated Scott County doesn't require building permits, and the state code used elsewhere leaves out the radon appendix. Local code details
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
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
Tennessee doesn't license radon professionals, so look for NRPP or NRSB certification. Search both national directories by ZIP code; certified professionals often serve Scott County from nearby cities. How to choose a radon professional
Local enforcement is fragmented, and two key municipal details remain unresolved.
Tennessee's state residential program uses the 2018 IRC with Appendix Q only. Appendix F—the radon appendix—was not adopted. [3]
The state standard took effect July 16, 2020, but only governs places where the State Fire Marshal enforces residential codes. Unincorporated Scott County says county building permits are not required and is absent from the state's permit-required county list. [2] [4]
The county's official site says, “Building permits are not required by Scott County.” No IRC edition or radon appendix is in force through the county. The opt-out resolution number and date were not located online. [4]
The town records a resolution to opt out on March 21, 2019 and requires only a basic permit for setbacks and regulations while opted out. Whether the resolution was renewed after later elections is not verified. [5]
Oneida employs a local Building Codes Enforcement Officer, but the edition currently enforced—and any radon provisions—are not published. An old 1997 codification is not evidence of current practice. [6]
Winfield appears on the State Fire Marshal's permit-required city list. The state 2018 IRC therefore applies, with Appendix Q only and no radon appendix. [2] [3]
The available county dashboard would not yield a defensible Scott County reading.
EPA classifies Scott County as Zone 3: predicted average indoor radon below 2 pCi/L. EPA also warns that elevated homes occur in every zone and recommends that every home be tested. [1]
pCi/L predicted average
This is a county-scale model, not a measurement of your basement, crawlspace, slab, well-sealed addition, or finished lower level.
Repeated attempts on the Tennessee Radon Testing dashboard landed on neighboring counties. Because the tooltip's “County” label never confirmed Scott County, no average, median, or maximum is published here. The dashboard's pre/post charts are health-region aggregates, not county counts. Open the state dashboard. [8]
Verified nearby readings demonstrate why the zone label should not be overread. These figures are context, not Scott County substitutes, and come from the 2022–2023 dashboard with the county name confirmed in the tooltip. [8]
0.8 median · 7.2 max pCi/L
Matched across two loads.
Median and maximum rendered blank; average only.
0.7 median · 32.1 max pCi/L
One verified load.
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.
Scott County's housing story is predominantly about existing homes.
Tennessee's residential disclosure form asks whether a seller is aware of environmental hazards including radon gas. It is awareness-based: the form does not require the seller to test. No Scott County-specific disclosure rule was found. [11]
New construction is sparse: Census QuickFacts reports three building permits in 2025. The same source reports about 22,671 residents, 9,970 housing units, 71.6% owner occupancy, a $124,900 median home value, and $686 median gross rent. [12]
What the evidence does—and does not—support.
No. Zone 3 predicts a lower county average; it does not measure any individual property. EPA recommends testing every home because elevated homes occur in all zones. [1]
No countywide mandate was verified. Unincorporated Scott County requires no county building permit, Winfield uses the state code without the radon appendix, Huntsville's current opt-out renewal is unverified, and Oneida's current code edition is unpublished.
They could not be captured with the county label confirmed. Publishing nearby values as Scott County's would be misleading, so this guide withholds them. Contact the TDEC Radon Program at TDEC.Radon@tn.gov or 615-785-3289. [8]
No Scott County-specific rule was found in this research. That is not proof that no unpublished policy exists.