Knoxville, TN Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)

Section 4.3 of Appendix B (Knoxville's Zoning Code) holds Table 4-2, the Residential Districts Dimensional Standards, and the setback rows are the part most owners need. Front setbacks tighten as the district gets denser. In the EN District the front setback is within 10 feet of the average of the blockface, but in no case less than 40 feet. RN-1 uses the same 10-foot band with a 25-foot floor. RN-2 requires 20 feet or the blockface average, whichever is less, and never less than 10 feet. RN-3 and RN-4 require 10 feet or the blockface average, whichever is less.

Corner lots carry their own numbers. In EN the corner side setback is 15% of lot width, or 20% of lot width for nonresidential uses. RN-1 requires 15 feet, and 25 feet for nonresidential. RN-2 requires 12 feet and 20 feet for nonresidential, while RN-3 and RN-4 require 12 feet and 15 feet for nonresidential. In RN-5 and RN-6 the corner side setback is 12 feet, rising to 15 feet for multifamily and nonresidential buildings. RN-7 sets a flat 15 feet.

Rear setbacks are 25 feet in EN and RN-1 through RN-4. In RN-5 and RN-6 the rear setback depends on height: 25 feet for structures 35 feet or less, and 30 feet for anything taller. RN-7 requires 30 feet. Interior side setbacks sit in the same table by district and housing type.

Two companion rules sit in the same section. A residential lot with no sanitary sewer connection needs at least 20,000 square feet of lot area, and a larger district minimum overrides that figure. A pocket neighborhood design is allowed in RN-4 under the standards of Section 4.5. The blockface averages in the front setback row come from the lots on the same side of the block.