Radon System Permits in Murfreesboro, Smyrna and Rutherford County

A radon system is mostly plumbing pipe and a small fan, but the fan needs power, and that's where permits come in. In Rutherford County, the office that issues the permit depends on where you live: Murfreesboro and Smyrna run their own electrical inspection programs, while La Vergne, Eagleville and unincorporated areas fall under the State of Tennessee's electrical program, administered locally by the county. This guide summarizes the published rules as of October 2026. Confirm details with your installer and the permit office. We're a free referral service, not a contractor or a code official.

City of Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro is one of the Tennessee cities exempt from the state electrical program, so its Building and Codes Department issues electrical permits and does inspections inside city limits. The city's 2026 residential electrical permit form lists, for remodel and addition work on one- and two-family homes, combo permits starting at $100 for 0 to 200 amp services, and "other" permits, such as a final-only inspection, a rough-in-other inspection or a safety inspection, at $50 each. The fee schedule adopted in Resolution 26-R-10 took effect June 1, 2026, and adds a 3% technology fee to permits issued through the city's newer permitting system. Applications can be emailed to the department ([email protected]) or submitted online. The department asks applicants to allow about two weeks for processing, and the form asks for the electrical contractor's city license number.

The city's Building and Codes page lists the 2018 International Residential Code and the 2017 National Electrical Code as its adopted codes.

Town of Smyrna

Smyrna is also exempt from the state program. Its Building Safety Department issues electrical permits; residential applications are emailed to [email protected], and some permit types can be applied for through the town's online portal. To get a permit, a contractor needs a State of Tennessee contractor's license (or a home improvement or limited license), a certificate of insurance with workers' compensation or an exemption, and a Smyrna business tax license or release form. Homeowners pulling their own permits use a homeowner affidavit. As of April 15, 2026, Smyrna's adopted codes include the 2024 International Residential Code and the 2017 National Electrical Code.

La Vergne, Eagleville and unincorporated Rutherford County

Everywhere else in the county participates in the State Electrical Program. Rutherford County's Building Codes Department is an issuing agent for the state, so it issues State of Tennessee electrical permits from its office on the Public Square in Murfreesboro and passes inspection requests to state-contracted deputy electrical inspectors. The county says it can issue permits to electricians licensed by the state and to property owners. Because the permits are issued through the state's system, the county doesn't take cash, but it accepts major credit cards and electronic checks.

The state's electrical permit FAQ explains the property-owner option: a residential owner may buy a permit for work on a single residence or farm building for individual use, not for resale, lease or rent. That covers a homeowner wiring a radon fan in their own house. It wouldn't cover a landlord's rental.

What Tennessee does not license

Tennessee doesn't license radon mitigation contractors. The credential to ask for is national certification through the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). Certified professionals agree to follow ANSI/AARST installation standards, which cover suction point placement, fan location, discharge height, labeling and post-mitigation testing. Electrical work is separate: if a new circuit or a hardwired connection is needed, it should be done by a properly licensed electrician or by an owner under an individual-use permit.

Questions to ask before work starts

1. Which permit office covers my address: Murfreesboro, Smyrna, or the county (state program)?
2. Will you pull the permit, and is it in the quote?
3. Who's doing the electrical connection? Do they have the license the permit office requires?
4. Are you NRPP or NRSB certified, and what's your ID number?
5. Will the system meet ANSI/AARST standards, and who does the post-mitigation test?

Why permits help when you sell

Buyers' inspectors in Middle Tennessee often check for radon systems. A permit, an installer's report with certification number, a labeled fan and manometer, and a post-mitigation test result make an existing system easy to explain. See radon and home sales.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a radon fan in Murfreesboro?

Electrical work for the fan typically needs a permit. Inside city limits, Murfreesboro's Building and Codes Department issues it. Its 2026 form lists $50 for simple "other" permits, such as final-only or rough-in-other inspections.

Who issues electrical permits in La Vergne and Eagleville?

Rutherford County's Building Codes Department, as an issuing agent for the State of Tennessee's electrical program. State-contracted inspectors do the inspections.

Can a homeowner pull their own electrical permit in Rutherford County?

In the state program, yes, for work on a single residence for individual use. Murfreesboro and Smyrna run their own programs; Smyrna uses a homeowner affidavit.

Does Tennessee license radon mitigators?

No. Ask for NRPP or NRSB certification and verify it on the certifying body's website.

Does Smyrna require a state contractor's license?

For contractors pulling permits, yes. Smyrna asks for a Tennessee contractor's license (or home improvement or limited license), insurance and a Smyrna business tax license or release.

Where this information comes from

• City of Murfreesboro, Building & Codes
• City of Murfreesboro, Residential Electrical Permit Application (2026)
• City of Murfreesboro, Schedule of Permit Fees, Resolution 26-R-10
• Town of Smyrna, Building Safety Department
• Town of Smyrna, Building Safety permits and electrical permit information
• Rutherford County Building Codes, Electrical Permit
• Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, Electrical Permits FAQ
• Tennessee Electrical Permits, Exempt Jurisdictions
• National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP)
• National Radon Safety Board (NRSB)
• AARST consortium on radon standards (ANSI/AARST standards list)