Outdoor Lighting in Knoxville, TN (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Knoxville, Tennessee (Knox County) requires all new or altered outdoor light fixtures on nonresidential, multifamily and townhouse sites to use full cutoff luminaire design with a maximum 75-degree cutoff angle, and bans searchlights and laser lighting citywide.
Knoxville Full-Cutoff Lighting Rule
Some RestrictionsKnoxville City Code, Appendix B (Zoning Code), Art. 10, § 10.2.B(2)-(3), D(2) (Ord. No. O-87-2020, § 1, 5-19-20; Ord. No. O-143-2025, § 1, 11-25-25)
All luminaires must be of the cut off luminaire design. To be considered a cut off luminaire, the cut off angle must be 75 degrees or less. A cut off luminaire must be designed to completely shield the light source from an observer 3.5 feet above the ground at any point along an abutting lot line. ... Searchlights, laser source lights, or any similar high intensity lights are prohibited.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Knoxville caps nonresidential and multi-family outdoor lighting at one footcandle at any lot line and requires shielded cutoff luminaires with a 75-degree cutoff angle under the zoning code's exterior lighting article.
Knoxville Exterior Lighting Footcandle Cap
Some RestrictionsKnoxville City Code, Appendix B (Zoning Code), Art. 10, § 10.2.B
1. For townhouse and multi-family dwellings and non-residential developments, the maximum allowable footcandle at any lot line is one footcandle. 2. All luminaires must be of the cut off luminaire design. 3. To be considered a cut off luminaire, the cut off angle must be 75 degrees or less. A cut off luminaire must be designed to completely shield the light source from an observer 3.5 feet abov...
Billboard Lighting
Knoxville's zoning code outlaws new billboards outright: Section 13.2.H of Appendix B lists 'billboards and other off-premise signs' among the signs prohibited citywide, and Section 13.2.E separately bars any illuminated sign within 100 feet of a residential district from shining or reflecting light onto that property.
Knoxville Billboard Ban And Sign Lighting Limits
Heavy RestrictionsKnoxville City Code, Appendix B (Zoning Code), Art. 13, § 13.2, items E, H (Prohibited Signs) (Ord. No. O-87-2020, § 1, 5-19-20)
The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts: ... E. Illuminated signs within 100 feet of property in any residential zone district, unless the illumination of such sign is so designed that it does not shine or reflect light onto such property within a residential district. ... H. Billboards and other off-premise signs.
Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Knox County →