Knoxville does not impose a dedicated ADU impact fee. Standard building permit fees through Plans Review & Inspections apply based on construction valuation, with separate trade permits for plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and gas work. Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) tap fees apply only if a new water, sewer, gas, or electric service is required. Tennessee has no statewide ADU fee-waiver statute.
Knoxville has not adopted a city-side residential impact-fee program comparable to Tennessee's Hallsdale-Powell or Cumberland County frameworks. Plans Review & Inspections charges building permit fees scaled to estimated construction valuation, with separate plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and gas trade permits each typically running $50 to $200. The Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB), which provides water, wastewater, electric, and natural gas service, charges tap and connection fees only when a new service connection is required; most ADUs share the principal house's existing services and avoid new tap fees. Knox County does not assess a separate municipal impact fee inside city limits. Stormwater management fees through Public Service apply when impervious surface is added. The Knox County Property Assessor reassesses the property after construction, increasing taxable value. Total city-side ADU fees for a typical project commonly fall in the $1,500 to $4,000 range, lower than comparable California or Texas jurisdictions because Tennessee has no statewide ADU mandate or fee cap.
Building without paying required permit fees prevents issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy and triggers stop-work orders. Performing utility hookups without KUB authorization risks utility disconnection and back-billing. Unpermitted construction discovered later is typically assessed double permit fees as a retroactive penalty under the Knoxville Building Code.
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has no general City Code ordinance restricting lawn ornaments, garden statues, religious displays, or yard decorations on private residential prope...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has no City Code ordinance specifically regulating inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Inflatables must stay within the pr...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has no dedicated City Code ordinance regulating the timing, brightness, or quantity of residential holiday light displays. General electrical safet...
Knoxville, TN
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Knoxville require Plans Review & Inspections permits when they include gas lines, plumbing, electrical work, or structures. Nat...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville treats wood smokers, pellet grills, and other solid-fuel cooking equipment under the 2024 International Fire Code as adopted in City Code Chapter 1...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has adopted the 2024 International Fire Code under City Code Chapter 11, Article II (Sections 11-21 to 11-22), effective January 2025. IFC Section ...
See how Knoxville's adu impact fees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.