Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Knoxville, TN (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
Knoxville puts the duty to maintain and repair sidewalks and driveways on the abutting property owner, who can face a lien if the city has to make the repairs instead.
Knoxville Sidewalk Repair Responsibility
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 23-42 (Code 1962, § 36-6)
It shall be the duty of the abutting property owner, or his agent, of any house or property, to maintain and repair sidewalks or driveways adjoining his property, and if an abutting property owner or his agent fails to repair or maintain the sidewalk or driveway adjoining his property the director shall notify the owner, and if the repairs are not completed within ten (10) days the director sha...
Obstruction Rules
Placing rocks, lumber, rubbish, or other material on a Knoxville public street or sidewalk is a misdemeanor unless a contractor holds a director-of-public-service permit for adjacent building work.
Knoxville Street and Sidewalk Obstructions
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 23-2 (Code 1962, § 36-55)
If any person shall place upon any public street of the city, or cause to be placed thereon, any rocks, lumber, wood, rubbish or other encumbrance, or other obstruction whatever, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided that, for the purpose of erecting, finishing or repairing any building within the city, a contractor, upon obtaining a permit therefor from the director of public service, ...
Encroachment Permits
Knoxville requires a right-of-way permit and, where traffic is affected, a temporary traffic control permit before anyone opens, disturbs, or builds within a public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way. The Department of Engineering issues both. Emergency repairs may proceed without one, but the permit must still be obtained as soon as possible afterward, and unpermitted work triggers a double fee.
Knoxville Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 23-71 (Ord. No. O-15-00, § 1, 1-25-00)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to make an opening in any street, to disturb in any way the surface or subsurface of any street, or to perform any construction within the right-of-way, or to perform any work so closely adjacent as to create a hazardous roadway condition, or to restrict pedestrian or vehicle flow within the right-of-way without having first received a right-of-way permit ...
Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.
Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Knox County →