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Knoxville, TN Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Adopted code
IPC 2024 edition (Sec. 6-106)
Permit required
Yes, before plumbing work begins
Fees
Set by City Council Fee Schedule
Extensions
Eliminated by local amendment

Summary

Knoxville requires plumbing work to be permitted under the adopted 2024 International Plumbing Code, with permit expiration and fees set by the city's own amendments in § 6-107.

The International Plumbing Code, 2024 edition, and Appendices B, C, D, and E, as modified by the provisions of this article, is hereby adopted as the Plumbing Code of the City of Knoxville ("plumbing code") and is made a part of this article by reference as though copied herein in full.

(Ord. No. O-148-99, §§ 1, 6, 5-4-99; Ord. No. O-81-07, § 1, 4-24-07; Ord. No. O-224-2012, § 1, 12-11-12; Ord. No. O-175-2018, § 1, 11-20-18; Ord. No. O-125-2024, § 2, 10-29-24)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).

Full Breakdown

The city adopted the International Plumbing Code, 2024 edition, along with its Appendices B through E, as the Plumbing Code of Knoxville under Sec. 6-106. Section 6-107 rewrites the code's own administrative chapter: plumbing permits expire under Section 105.5.3 on a valuation-based schedule, extensions are eliminated outright, and fees are set by the City Council's adopted Fee Schedule rather than the IPC's own fee table. Starting plumbing work before a permit issues triggers those Fee Schedule charges under the amended § 108.4.

Violations & Fines

Skipping the permit or starting work first still means paying the Fee Schedule charge under § 108.4, plus the Code's general penalty for unpermitted work: up to a $50 fine, $500 in costs, and 30 days in jail (§ 1-9).

Frequently Asked Questions

What plumbing code has Knoxville adopted?
The 2024 International Plumbing Code, plus Appendices B, C, D, and E, adopted under § 6-106 with local administrative amendments in § 6-107.
Can I get an extension on an expired Knoxville plumbing permit?
No, § 6-107 deletes Section [A] 105.5.4 Extensions entirely, so an expired permit has to be reapplied for rather than extended.

Sources & Official References

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All Knoxville rules

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