Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Knoxville, TN (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
Knoxville's Planned Development process lets the City Council grant exceptions to zoning district dimensional standards, including density, in exchange for public benefits like affordable housing set-asides under the Recode Knoxville zoning code.
Knoxville Density Bonus for Affordable Housing
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville City Code, Appendix B (Zoning Code), Art. 16 (Zoning Applications), § 16.7.D (Planned Development — Exceptions from District Regulations)
The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission may recommend and the City Council may grant exceptions to the zoning district dimensional, design, and use regulations where a planned development is located... In no case may an exception to district regulations be granted unless the applicant demonstrates a substantial benefit to the City... h. Affordable housing set-asides. Affordable housing mu...
Downtown Design Guide
Knoxville requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Design Review Board before any new construction, substantial addition, exterior alteration, sign lighting, or public improvement proceeds in the Downtown (DK) zoning district, except the DK-E subdistrict.
Knoxville Downtown Design Review Rules
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville City Code, Appendix B (Zoning Code), Art. 16.5.B (Design Review — Applicability) (Ord. No. O-38-2020, § 1, 2-25-20)
Downtown design review in the DK District is required as follows, unless a historic overlay district is in place, whereby the Historic Zoning Commission will conduct review and approval of the development. (Downtown design review is also not required in the DK-E Subdistrict.) Downtown design review is required in the following instances. No permit will be issued without a certificate of appropr...
Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Knox County →