Knox County, TN Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Ban scope
- Countywide ban on Class I wild/exotic animals, § 6-35(a)
- Classification source
- T.C.A. § 70-4-403 Class I animals
- Vet exemption
- State-licensed veterinary establishments, § 6-35(b)(1)
- Education exemption
- Accredited colleges/universities, § 6-35(b)(2)
- Permit exemption
- State wildlife agency permit holders, § 6-35(b)(3)
- Civil penalty
- $50 to $500 per day, § 6-47
Summary
Knox County bans owning, selling or keeping any "wild, exotic, dangerous or nondomesticated animal" countywide under Code Section 6-35(a), defined to include everything classified as a Class I animal under T.C.A. Section 70-4-403. Only three exceptions apply: state-licensed veterinary establishments, accredited colleges and universities using the animals for education or research, and people holding a valid permit from the state wildlife resources agency.
Sec. 6-35. - Wild or exotic animals. (a)No person shall have, sell, keep or maintain any wild, exotic, dangerous or nondomesticated animal within the county. "Wild, exotic, dangerous or nondomesticated animal" shall be defined to include all animals classified as class I animals under T.C.A. § 70-4-403, as amended.(b)Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, the provisions of this section shall have no application to the following:(1)Any veterinary establishment licensed by the state;(2)Appropriately accredited colleges, universities or other institutions of higher learning which own, keep or maintain any such animals for educational or scientific purposes; or(3)Persons or entities maintaining such animals pursuant to a valid permit issued by the state wildlife resources agency.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
A. " Because the ban is pegged to the state statute rather than a locally drafted species list, an animal's status can shift if the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Class I designations change. Section 6-35(b) then carves out exactly three exemptions from that ban: veterinary establishments licensed by the state, "appropriately accredited colleges, universities or other institutions of higher learning" that own or keep such animals for educational or scientific purposes, and persons or entities maintaining the animals under a valid permit issued by the state wildlife resources agency.
No permit process exists at the county level to keep a Class I animal as a private pet; the only path to lawful possession runs through one of those three state-connected exceptions. The ordinance sits in the same article as the county's general animal-control scheme, so enforcement runs through the Sheriff's Office animal control division rather than a separate wildlife unit.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 6-35 is enforced the same way as other Chapter 6 offenses, under Section 6-47: it is a civil infraction, an animal control officer or law enforcement officer may issue a citation, and the Knox County General Sessions Court has jurisdiction. The civil penalty runs $50.00 to $500.00, and each day a banned animal remains in the person's possession counts as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally own an exotic animal in unincorporated Knox County?
What counts as a prohibited "wild or exotic" animal under this ordinance?
Are there any exceptions to Knox County's exotic animal ban?
What's the penalty for keeping a banned exotic pet in Knox County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Knox County
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