Knoxville, TN Animal Ordinances: Bird Protection (2026)
Key Facts
- Sanctuary area
- Entire city corporate limits
- Named official sanctuaries
- 7 parks and sites
- Sign/equipment defacement fine
- Up to $50.00
- Nuisance-bird abatement
- Mayor/board discretion, starlings named
- Governing section
- City Code § 5-31
Summary
Knoxville designates its entire corporate limits a wildlife and bird sanctuary. Willfully molesting, trapping, hunting, shooting, killing or maiming any wild bird or animal, or robbing a nest, is unlawful anywhere in the city, with seven parks named as official sanctuaries carrying extra sign and equipment protection.
The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the city is designated as a wildlife and bird sanctuary. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or wantonly molest, trap, hunt, shoot, kill or maim any wildlife, wild fowl or bird, or to rob the nest or home of either. If starlings or similar birds are found to be congregating in such numbers in a particular locality that, in the opinion of the mayor or other proper authority, they are considered to constitute a nuisance or menace to the health or property of the citizens of the city, then such nuisance or menace may be abated in such manner as is deemed advisable by the board. No person shall deface, destroy or remove any equipment or signs, shrubbery or trees at any official bird sanctuary referred to in subsection (d) of this section, and every person found guilty of violating this subsection shall be fined up to fifty dollars ($50.00).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Section 5-31(a) declares the whole area within Knoxville's corporate limits a wildlife and bird sanctuary. Subsection (b) makes it unlawful for any person to willfully or wantonly molest, trap, hunt, shoot, kill or maim any wildlife, wild fowl or bird, or to rob the nest or home of either, anywhere within that citywide sanctuary. Subsection (c) gives the mayor or other proper authority discretion to abate starlings or similar birds if they congregate in numbers the mayor considers a nuisance or menace to health or property, with the animal control board deciding the manner of abatement.
Subsection (d) names seven official bird sanctuaries carrying added protection: Ijams Park and Nature Center, Ivan Racheff Park, Tyson Park, the Third Creek bicycle trail, Chilhowee Park, Knoxville Zoological Park, and James White Fort. Subsection (e) lets philanthropic societies, with recreation department approval, erect signs, bird feeders, birdhouses and other equipment, and plant trees and shrubs for cover and food at those sanctuaries. Subsection (f) protects that installed equipment: defacing, destroying or removing signs, shrubbery, trees or equipment at an official bird sanctuary is a separate violation.
Violations & Fines
Anyone found guilty of defacing, destroying or removing signs, equipment, shrubbery or trees at an official bird sanctuary faces a fine of up to $50.00 under Section 5-31(f). The broader citywide ban on molesting, trapping, hunting, shooting, killing or maiming wildlife or birds is enforced through the chapter's general citation process (Sec. 5-3), which carries a minimum $50.00 municipal court fine per violation, with proceeds directed to the animal shelter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to hunt or trap birds anywhere in Knoxville?
Which Knoxville parks are official bird sanctuaries?
Can the city do anything about nuisance starlings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Knoxville
Compare Knoxville to another location·View the Tennessee animal ordinances overview
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