Knox County does not ban specific dog breeds. It regulates dangerous behavior instead: the county animal ordinance defines a vicious animal as one that has attacked a person or animal two or more times unprovoked. Tennessee law (TCA 44-17-120) lets a court order a dog destroyed if it kills or
Knox County's approach is breed-neutral. The county animal-control ordinance (Chapter 6, enforced by Young-Williams Animal Center) targets vicious behavior, defining a vicious animal as one that has attacked a person or another animal two or more times without provocation. Owners of such animals face confinement, muzzling, or removal requirements. Tennessee's dangerous-dog statute, TCA 44-17-120, provides that a dog attacking a human and causing death or serious bodily injury may be destroyed on a judge's order. Neither the county nor Tennessee imposes pit-bull or other breed-specific bans.
Failing to properly confine a declared vicious animal can lead to impoundment and citations; a dog causing death or serious injury may be ordered destroyed under TCA 44-17-120.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Knox County does not prohibit backyard composting for households. The zoning code only regulates commercial-scale composting facilities, which are solid-wast...
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Knox County has no ordinance regulating artificial turf on residential property. Synthetic lawns are neither required nor banned; large installations should ...
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Knox County has no rule requiring native plants in home yards, but its zoning ordinance requires native shade trees in new parking lots and along streets in ...
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Knox County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially regulating residential rain barrels or rainwater collection. Tennessee does not restrict rainwater harv...
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Knox County does not impose a general ordinance restricting lawn or garden watering days or hours. Any watering limits come from your individual water utilit...
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Knox County treats vines, grass, weeds and other vegetation that reaches 12 inches or more as a presumed public nuisance on residential property. Owners must...
See how Knox County's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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