Homelessness & Encampment Rules in Knoxville, TN (2026)
3 verified homelessness & encampment rules for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sit-Lie Rules
Knoxville prohibits obstruction of public sidewalks, doorways, and ADA paths under Chapter 32 streets rules, applying to encampments and sit-lie behavior in the central business district and high-pedestrian corridors.
Public sidewalk obstruction restricted citywide
Some RestrictionsEncampment Sanitation
Tennessee HB 1320 (2022) criminalizes camping on public property as a Class E felony statewide, with reduced misdemeanor penalties for some local property. Knoxville coordinates outreach before any enforcement and follows state procedure.
TN HB 1320 makes encampment trespass a felony
Heavy RestrictionsBridge Housing Siting
Knoxville pursues bridge and transitional housing through partnerships with KARM, Volunteer Ministry Center, and Knox County Coalition for the Homeless, with city funding, federal CoC dollars, and select shelter siting under residential and mixed-use zoning.