Animal Ordinances in Knoxville, TN (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Knoxville City Code Chapter 5 limits livestock and farm animals within city limits, with backyard chickens permitted under conditions tied to lot size, coop placement, and the residential zoning district under the Recode Knoxville ordinance.
Chickens and Livestock in Knoxville
Some RestrictionsDog Leash Laws
Knoxville requires dogs to be on a leash or under restraint when off the owner's property. Dogs running at large may be impounded by animal control.
Knoxville Dog Leash Laws
Some RestrictionsBreed Restrictions
Knoxville does not have breed-specific legislation. No dog breeds are banned. Tennessee state law does not preempt local BSL, but Knoxville has not enacted any.
Knoxville Dog Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsBeekeeping
Beekeeping is generally permitted in Knoxville. Tennessee has a supportive beekeeping framework through the state Department of Agriculture. Hives should be managed to prevent nuisance.
Knoxville Beekeeping Rules
Some RestrictionsExotic Pets
Exotic pet ownership in Knoxville is regulated by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The state classifies animals into categories requiring various levels of permits. Large carnivores and venomous species are restricted.
Knoxville Exotic & Wild Animal Regulations
Some RestrictionsWildlife Feeding
Knoxville and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency rules discourage feeding wild deer, raccoons, and bears, particularly given the city's proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains, where intentional feeding can trigger nuisance-animal abatement and state wildlife violations.
Wildlife Feeding Restrictions in Knoxville
Some RestrictionsAnimal Hoarding
Knoxville treats animal hoarding as a cruelty and public-health issue under Chapter 5 and Tennessee state cruelty statutes, with Young-Williams Animal Center, Knox County Health Department, and Knoxville Police Department able to seize animals from severely overcrowded properties.
Animal Hoarding Enforcement in Knoxville
Heavy RestrictionsPet Limits
Knoxville City Code Chapter 5 limits the number of dogs and cats that can be kept at a single residence without a kennel permit, with thresholds tied to lot size and zoning, and excess animals trigger commercial-kennel review under Recode Knoxville.
Household Pet Limits in Knoxville
Some RestrictionsCat Rules
Knoxville treats cats more leniently than dogs, but Chapter 5 still requires rabies vaccination, prohibits nuisance behavior, and authorizes Young-Williams Animal Center to impound stray, injured, or neglected cats found roaming on public or private property.
Cat Ownership Rules in Knoxville
Few RestrictionsMandatory Spay/Neuter
Knoxville does not impose a blanket mandatory spay-neuter law on all pets, but Young-Williams Animal Center requires sterilization for adopted dogs and cats, and unaltered animals impounded multiple times can face mandatory sterilization before release.
Spay and Neuter Rules in Knoxville
Some RestrictionsMicrochipping
Knoxville does not require pets to be microchipped, but Young-Williams Animal Center microchips all adopted dogs and cats and uses chip scans to reunite strays with owners, making microchipping a strongly recommended best practice citywide.