Whether you can keep chickens or livestock in unincorporated Knox County depends on your zoning. The county Agricultural (A) zone permits farm animals as an agricultural use; low-density residential zones generally prohibit livestock. Tennessee's Right-to-Farm Act (TCA 43-26-103) protects established agricultural operations.
Knox County zones its unincorporated land, and the keeping of chickens, poultry, and livestock is governed by the Knox County Zoning Ordinance rather than a single animal ordinance. Land in the Agricultural (A) zone allows keeping farm animals and fowl as an ordinary agricultural use, while property in low-density residential districts typically may not keep livestock. Many one-acre residential parcels could apply to rezone Agricultural to allow animals. Tennessee's Right-to-Farm Act creates a rebuttable presumption that an established farm operation is not a nuisance. Always confirm your parcel's zoning with Knoxville-Knox County Planning before adding animals.
Keeping livestock in a zone that prohibits it is a zoning violation enforced by Knox County Codes Administration, which can order removal and issue citations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
knox-county-tn
Knox County does not prohibit backyard composting for households. The zoning code only regulates commercial-scale composting facilities, which are solid-wast...
knox-county-tn
Knox County has no ordinance regulating artificial turf on residential property. Synthetic lawns are neither required nor banned; large installations should ...
knox-county-tn
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 ...
knox-county-tn
Knox County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially regulating residential rain barrels or rainwater collection. Tennessee does not restrict rainwater harv...
knox-county-tn
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...
knox-county-tn
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 chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.