Fire Regulations in Knoxville, TN (2026)
4 verified fire regulations for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fireworks
Knoxville bans possessing, manufacturing, storing, selling, or using fireworks within city limits unless the fire prevention bureau issues a bonded display or handling permit.
Knoxville Fireworks Possession Ban
Heavy RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 11-5(b)-(c)
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, manufacture, store, handle, sell, or use fireworks within the city except as otherwise authorized in subsection (c).(c)The fire prevention bureau may issue permits authorizing the manufacture, storage, handling or supervised display of fireworks in accordance with applicable state laws and fire codes. Prior to the issuance of a permit, an applican...
Outdoor Burning
Knoxville prohibits burning solid waste in open ground fires, barrels, or open receptacles anywhere in the city, unless allowed under the fire prevention code and state air pollution rules.
Knoxville Bans Open Burning of Waste
Heavy RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 13-8
No person shall start or maintain or cause to be started or maintained any open ground fire or any fire in an open can, barrel or other open receptacle for the purpose of burning or consuming solid waste, upon any property, either public or private, within the city, except as provided in the fire prevention code of the city and as permitted under local and state air pollution control regulations.
Smoke Detectors
Knoxville's amended residential code excuses existing homes from hardwiring and interconnecting smoke alarms during renovations that don't remove interior walls or ceiling finishes.
Knoxville Smoke Alarm Interconnection Exception
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 6-42 (amending IRC § R314.6; Ord. No. O-125-2024, § 2, 10-29-24)
Amend Section R314.6 Power Source relating to Smoke Alarms is amended to create Exception 3 that shall read: Exception 3. Interconnection and hardwiring of smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required where the alterations or repairs do not result in the removal of interior walls or ceiling finishes exposing the structure. Section N1102.5.1.2 (R402.5.1.2) Testing is replaced with ...
Propane Storage
Knoxville's fire prevention bureau permits and licenses aboveground propane and fuel storage tanks over 60 gallons, capping generator tanks at 1,500 gallons outside industrial zones.
Knoxville Propane Tank Storage Rules
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 11-3(b)(2)
Emergency or stand-by generators with integral or sub-base tanks with capacities of greater than sixty (60) gallons but less than one thousand, five hundred (1,500) gallons are authorized for service upon proper permitting by the city fire prevention bureau in all areas in the city except those zoned residential by the metropolitan planning commission.
Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.
Fire Regulations in Knox County →