Smyrna and La Vergne sit in the northwest corner of Rutherford County, between Murfreesboro and Nashville, along I-24 and Murfreesboro Road. Both have grown quickly, and both have a wide mix of housing: older neighborhoods from the 1970s and 1980s, big 1990s and 2000s subdivisions, and newer townhome and single-family communities. Rutherford County is in EPA Radon Zone 1, the highest-potential category, and that applies to Smyrna and La Vergne as much as to Murfreesboro. This page covers what's specific to testing and fixing radon in these two towns. We're a free referral service that connects homeowners with independent certified radon professionals.
What the test data shows
The CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Network pools radon results reported by national labs. For Rutherford County, it shows 977 buildings tested from 2008 to 2017, a median of 1.5 pCi/L, and 15.3% of tests at or above the EPA's 4 pCi/L action level. Those are homes whose owners chose to test, not a random sample, but the spread is the point: a low median and a meaningful share of high results. Tennessee's radon program reports that about 1 in 4 homes that request its free kit test above 4 pCi/L statewide. Neither source breaks results down by town, so the practical takeaway is simple: test your house.
The ground under Smyrna and La Vergne
Like the rest of the county, Smyrna and La Vergne sit on the Ordovician limestone of Tennessee's Central Basin. The USGS assessment for EPA Region 4 links radon potential in this kind of terrain to clay-rich soils formed on limestone, where uranium and its decay products can concentrate, and to the fractures and solution channels in karst bedrock that let soil gas move. Near Percy Priest Lake and along Stewarts Creek, soils and depth to rock vary a lot over short distances, which is part of why homes on the same street can test differently.
Homes you'll find here
- Crawl space ranches and two-stories from the 1970s through the 2000s. These usually need a sealed vapor barrier with suction under it (sub-membrane depressurization). See crawl space radon.
- Slab-on-grade homes and townhomes, common in newer subdivisions. These use sub-slab suction, often with the pipe routed through the garage. In attached townhomes, discuss pipe routing and exhaust location with the HOA.
- Combination foundations, such as a crawl space house with a slab garage or bonus room. These may need suction under both.
Talk it through with a certified pro. Free referral for Murfreesboro and Rutherford County homes.
(629) 201-4576Permits: Smyrna and La Vergne are different
Smyrna runs its own Building Safety Department and is exempt from the state electrical program. It issues electrical permits directly (applications go to [email protected]) and requires contractors to show a Tennessee contractor's license, insurance and a Smyrna business tax license or release. As of April 15, 2026, Smyrna adopted the 2024 International Residential Code.
La Vergne participates in the State of Tennessee electrical program. Rutherford County's Building Codes Department issues state electrical permits for La Vergne addresses, to Tennessee-licensed electricians or to property owners doing work on their own homes, and state-contracted inspectors handle inspections. Details are on our permits page.
Testing in Smyrna and La Vergne
The Tennessee Radon Program, run by TDEC, sends one free short-term test kit per household, with lab analysis included. Request it online through TDEC's radon kit form. Place the kit in the lowest lived-in level: the main floor of a crawl space or slab home, or a finished lower level. Keep windows and outside doors closed for 12 hours before and during a short-term test. Middle Tennessee's humid summers and mild winters mean many homes have windows open in spring and fall, so plan a test for a stretch when the house will be closed. See radon testing.
Renters and townhome owners
Many Smyrna and La Vergne residents rent, or own townhomes with shared walls. Renters should talk with their landlord about testing and mitigation. Townhome owners should check HOA rules before installing an exterior pipe, and ask the installer about routing the pipe through the garage and attic to avoid exterior changes.
Costs
Angi's 2026 national data puts a typical active radon system at about $805 to $1,326. Crawl spaces with large areas and combination foundations usually cost more. See radon mitigation cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is radon a problem in Smyrna, TN?
Smyrna is in Rutherford County, which is EPA Radon Zone 1. CDC-tracked lab data shows 15.3% of county tests at or above 4 pCi/L. Testing is the only way to know your home.
Who issues radon fan electrical permits in La Vergne?
Rutherford County Building Codes, as an issuing agent for the state electrical program. Smyrna issues its own permits.
Can a townhome be mitigated?
Usually, yes, with sub-slab suction routed through the garage and attic. Check HOA rules for any exterior pipe.
How do I get a free radon kit in Smyrna or La Vergne?
Request one from the Tennessee Radon Program through TDEC's online form. It's one free kit per household with lab analysis included.
Talk it through with a certified pro. Free referral for Murfreesboro and Rutherford County homes.
(629) 201-4576Where this information comes from
- EPA Map of Radon Zones, county data (Rutherford County, TN: Zone 1)
- CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking Network, Radon Tests from Labs 2008-2017 (county summary via lung.com)
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation: Tennessee Radon Program
- Tennessee Radon Program free test kit request (TDEC)
- USGS Open-File Report 93-292-D, Geologic Radon Potential of EPA Region 4 (includes Tennessee)
- Town of Smyrna, Building Safety Department
- Town of Smyrna, Building Safety permits and electrical permit information
- Rutherford County Building Codes, Electrical Permit
- Tennessee Electrical Permits, Exempt Jurisdictions
- Angi: How Much Does a Radon Mitigation System Cost? (2026 national data)