Knox County, TN Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Under 1 acre
- 1 to 5 dogs/cats allowed, § 6-34(a)
- 1.5-2.5 acres
- Up to 10 dogs/cats allowed
- 2.5-5 acres
- Up to 20 dogs/cats allowed
- 5+ acres
- 21 or more dogs/cats allowed
- Age exemption
- Under four months not counted, § 6-34(b)
- Cure period
- 30 days from notice, § 6-34(c)
- Vet exemption
- Waivable if fully vaccinated, § 6-34(e)
Summary
Knox County caps how many dogs and cats a household may keep based on lot size under Code Section 6-34: any lot may hold 1 to 5, but 6 to 10 requires at least 1.5 acres, 11 to 20 requires at least 2.5 acres, and 21 or more requires 5 acres or larger. The chart counts only animals older than four months, and a person cited for exceeding it gets 30 days to come into compliance.
Sec. 6-34. - Number of animals, acreage restrictions. (a)The following chart prescribes the number of dogs and cats per specified acreage restrictions: If You Have* Less than 1.0 Acre / 1.5—2.5 Acres / 2.5—5 Acres / 5+ Acres 1—5 dogs and cats Allowed Allowed Allowed Allowed 6—10 dogs and cats Prohibited Allowed Allowed Allowed 11—20 dogs and cats Prohibited Prohibited Allowed Allowed 21+ dogs and cats Prohibited Prohibited Prohibited Allowed *Total number of dogs and/or cats allowed. (b)Reference to dogs and cats only refer to adult dogs and cats older than four months. There are no restrictions on the number of dogs and cats younger than four months old that can be on the property.
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
5 to 5 acres, up to 20 are allowed; and only lots of 5 acres or more may keep 21 or more animals. Section 6-34(b) clarifies the chart counts adult dogs and cats older than four months, and there is "no restriction" on the number of puppies or kittens younger than that on the property. Section 6-34(c) gives a person found in violation 30 days from the notice of violation to correct it before further enforcement. Section 6-34(d) exempts licensed veterinary clinics, kennels, boarding facilities, pet shops and pet dealers doing business in the county, as well as community cats, from the acreage chart entirely.
Section 6-34(e) lets the animal control division waive the restriction if all the dogs and cats on the property have been vaccinated and inoculated as a veterinarian recommends and that veterinarian will attest the animals are properly cared for. The animal control division, part of the county sheriff's office, administers the exemption and the acreage chart alike.
Violations & Fines
Section 6-34 does not set its own fine; exceeding the acreage chart is enforced as a civil infraction under Section 6-47 once the 30-day cure period in Section 6-34(c) expires. Section 6-47 penalties run $50.00 to $500.00, heard in Knox County General Sessions Court, with each day a household remains over its acreage limit counted as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I legally keep in unincorporated Knox County?
Do puppies and kittens count toward the pet limit?
What happens if I already have more pets than my acreage allows?
Are kennels or veterinary clinics subject to the pet-count limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Knox County
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