Building Setbacks & Zoning in Knoxville, TN (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Knoxville sets residential setbacks district by district in Table 4-2 of Section 4.3 of the Zoning Code. Front setbacks run from 40 feet minimum in the EN District down to 10 feet or the blockface average in RN-3 and RN-4. Rear setbacks are 25 feet in EN and RN-1 through RN-4, and 30 feet in RN-7.
Knoxville Residential Setback Rules (Table 4-2)
Some RestrictionsKnoxville City Code, Appendix B (Zoning Code), Art. 4, Sec. 4.3, Table 4-2 (Ord. No. O-10-2024, § 1, 2-6-24; Ord. No. O-143-2025, § 1, 11-25-25; Ord. No. O-147-2025, § 1, 11-25-25)
All residential lots that are not served by a sanitary sewer system must be a minimum of 20,000 square feet in lot area. If the minimum lot area requirement is greater than 20,000 square feet, such requirement controls. ... Table 4-2: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards EN RN-1 RN-2 RN-3 RN-4 ... Minimum Front Setback +/- 10' of the average of blockface; in no case less than 40' +/- 10'...
Structure Height Limits
Knoxville caps residential structures at 35 feet in the EN, RN-1, RN-2, RN-3, and RN-4 single-family zoning districts, measured from grade at the front building line, per the city's Table 4-2 dimensional standards.
Knoxville Residential Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsKnoxville City Code, Appendix B (Zoning Code), Art. 4, Sec. 4.3, Table 4-2 (Ord. No. O-10-2024, § 1, 2-6-24; Ord. No. O-143-2025, § 1, 11-25-25; Ord. No. O-147-2025, § 1, 11-25-25)
Table 4-2: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards EN RN-1 RN-2 RN-3 RN-4 Bulk Minimum Lot Area 22,000 sf SF: 10,000 sf 2F: 15,000 sf Nonresidential: 20,000 sf SF: 5,000 sf 2F: 10,000 sf Nonresidential: 10,000 sf SF: 5,000 sf SF-A: 3,750 2F: 7,500 sf TH: 12,000 sf for 3 du, 3,000 sf each additional du Nonresidential: 10,000 sf SF: 5,000 sf SF-A: 3,500 2F: 7,000 sf TH: 3,000 sf...
Lot Coverage Limits
Knoxville caps how much of a residential lot can be covered. Building coverage tops out at 25% in the EN District, 30% in RN-1 and RN-2, 35% in RN-3 through RN-5, 40% in RN-6 and 50% in RN-7. Impervious surface, which adds paving and driveways to the buildings, is capped from 35% in EN up to 70% in RN-7. Townhouse, multifamily and nonresidential lots get higher ceilings in several districts.
Knoxville Residential Lot Coverage Limits: Building and Impervious Surface
Some RestrictionsKnoxville City Code, Appendix B (Zoning Code), Art. 4, Sec. 4.3, Table 4-2 (Ord. No. O-10-2024, § 1, 2-6-24; Ord. No. O-143-2025, § 1, 11-25-25; Ord. No. O-147-2025, § 1, 11-25-25)
Table 4-2: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards EN RN-1 RN-2 RN-3 RN-4 ... Maximum Building Coverage 25% 30% 30% 35% TH & Nonresidential: 50% 35% TH, MF, Nonresidential: 50% Maximum Impervious Surface 35% 40% 40% Nonresidential: 50% 45% TH & Nonresidential: 60% 45% TH, MF, Nonresidential: 60% ... Table 4-2: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards RN-5 RN-6 RN-7 ... Maximum Building C...
Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Knox County →