Property Maintenance in Knoxville, TN (2026)
2 verified property maintenance rules for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
Knoxville declares unfit or dangerous buildings public nuisances and can order the owner to repair or demolish them, recovering the cost through a property lien if the owner won't act.
Knoxville Unfit Building Nuisance Law
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances §§ 6-143—6-144 (Code 1962, § 10-31; Ord. No. O-47-2012, § 3, 4-3-12)
All buildings which are unfit or dangerous within the terms of section 6-143 are hereby declared to be public nuisances, and shall be repaired or demolished and debris removed from the site as provided in this article. The following criteria shall be used by the public officer or the better building board in ordering repair or demolition: (1)If the building can be reasonably repaired so that...
Vacant Lot Maintenance
Vacant and unimproved lots in Knoxville are held to the same 12-inch rule as occupied property: owners must keep weeds and grass from growing in rank profusion along the lot and the adjacent right-of-way strip.
Knoxville Vacant Lot Weed Rules
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 13-143(b)
It shall also be unlawful for any owner, occupant, lessee or anyone having supervision or control of any lot, tract, parcel of land or portion thereof, occupied or unoccupied, improved or unimproved, within the city to suffer or permit trees, vines, grass, weeds or any plant that is not cultivated to grow in rank profusion or otherwise in, along, upon or across the sidewalk or street adjacent t...
Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.
Property Maintenance in Knox County →