Keeping livestock in unincorporated Knox County is a zoning question. The Agricultural (A) zone permits horses, cattle, goats, and other farm animals; residential zones generally prohibit them. Tennessee's Right-to-Farm Act (TCA 43-26-103) presumes an established, compliant farm operation is not a nuisance.
Knox County directly zones unincorporated land, so where you can keep livestock depends on your parcel's zoning district. The Agricultural (A) zone allows farm animals as a normal agricultural use, while lower-density residential zones generally prohibit keeping livestock. Owners of residential parcels sometimes seek an agricultural rezoning to keep animals. Under Tennessee's Right-to-Farm Act, TCA 43-26-103, an established farm operation carries a rebuttable presumption that it is not a public or private nuisance; that presumption can only be overcome by showing the operation departs from generally accepted agricultural practices or violates an applicable law.
Keeping livestock in a district that prohibits it is a zoning violation; Knox County Codes Administration can require removal and issue citations, with fines for continued noncompliance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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