Local rules and regulations for Knox County, Tennessee. Population: 478,971.
Verified from official government sources
Select a topic to see Knox County's rules on that subject.
The unincorporated county has no dedicated amplified-music or PA ordinance. Loud amplified sound is addressed under Tennessee disorderly conduct (TCA 39-17-305). Permitted event uses carry a 40 dB night / 50 dB day property-line cap under zoning standard 4.104.
Knox County code requires every motor vehicle to have a working muffler and bans muffler cutouts on county roadways. Excessive or unusual vehicle noise from a defective or modified exhaust is prohibited, mirroring Tennessee state law TCA 55-9-202.
Knox County code makes it a violation to keep an animal that habitually barks, whines, or makes objectionable noise that is a nuisance to neighbors. 'Habitually' means continuously for 10 minutes, or intermittently for one-half hour or more.
Knox County does not regulate aircraft noise; airspace and aircraft operations are governed by the FAA under federal preemption. The county zoning noise standards apply only to ground-based uses, not overflights.
Knox County has no ordinance restricting leaf blowers by decibel, model, or time of day. Lawn-maintenance noise is not separately regulated in the unincorporated county; only nuisance-level noise falls under state disorderly-conduct law.
Knox County sets no specific start/stop hours for construction noise. The zoning noise performance standards expressly exempt construction, maintenance, and site-preparation noise, so construction sound is not capped by the county decibel limits.
Knox County's zoning ordinance sets octave-band sound-pressure limits at the property line for uses subject to performance standards, ranging from 77 dB at 63 Hz down to 39 dB at 8,000 Hz, measured on a slow-response sound level meter.
Knox County zoning bars any use from creating a sound level at or beyond its lot boundary exceeding the octave-band performance-standard limits. Short bursts, safety signals, railroads, and construction are exempt; measurement uses a slow-response sound meter.
Unincorporated Knox County has no general quiet-hours ordinance with set nighttime cutoffs. Code sections 50-4 through 50-25 (offenses) are reserved. Nuisance noise is handled through state disorderly-conduct law and, for specific uses, zoning decibel standards.
For permitted rural-retreat event uses, Knox County zoning caps noise at any property line to 40 dB between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 50 dB at all other times. General backyard outdoor music has no dedicated county rule beyond state disorderly-conduct law.
Unincorporated Knox County has no short-term rental permit ordinance. You do not need a county STR permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo outside city limits. Only the City of Knoxville requires an STR permit.
Unincorporated Knox County has no short-term-rental parking ordinance. STR guest parking follows the county Zoning Ordinance's general off-street parking standards. There is no county STR guest-vehicle cap.
Unincorporated Knox County does not register short-term rentals. There is no county STR registry or annual renewal. Operators must, however, register with the Knox County Clerk to remit the county's hotel/motel occupancy tax.
Knox County levies a 5% occupancy tax on gross receipts from hotels, motels, campgrounds, and other lodging including short-term rentals. Operators file a monthly return with the Knox County Clerk by the 20th of the following month.
Unincorporated Knox County does not require a host or on-site manager to be present during a short-term rental stay. Because the county has no STR ordinance, whole-home unhosted rentals are allowed subject to general rules.
Unincorporated Knox County sets no short-term-rental-specific occupancy limit. There is no county cap on guests per STR. General building and fire codes govern maximum occupancy; the City of Knoxville sets its own STR occupancy rules.
Unincorporated Knox County has no STR-specific noise ordinance, but short-term rentals must comply with the county's general noise and nuisance provisions. Excessive or disturbing noise is enforceable regardless of whether the property is an STR.
Unincorporated Knox County does not require a short-term rental to be the owner's primary residence. Non-owner-occupied STRs are allowed because the county has no STR ordinance restricting them. The City of Knoxville does distinguish owner-occupied units.
Unincorporated Knox County places no cap on the number of nights a property may be rented short-term. There is no minimum-stay or maximum-nights-per-year rule because the county has no STR ordinance.
Unincorporated Knox County does not require short-term rental hosts to carry a specific insurance policy or liability minimum. No STR ordinance means no county insurance condition; hosts should still carry appropriate liability coverage.
Knox County follows the 2018 International codes for smoke-alarm placement in new and renovated homes. Alarms are required in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level. The county fire department also offers free smoke detectors to residents on request.
Tennessee makes consumer (1.4G) fireworks legal statewide, and unincorporated Knox County has no blanket discharge ban. But state law bars igniting fireworks within 600 feet of a church, hospital, or school. Inside Knoxville city limits, consumer fireworks are prohibited.
Knox County restricts open burning through its Air Quality Management program. A residential land-management permit lets you burn onsite brush under 3 inches in diameter, only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., with all flames out by 4 p.m. Leaves, trash, and construction debris cannot be burned.
Backyard campfires and bonfires are allowed in Knox County as recreational fires without an open-burning permit. Keep them attended, away from structures, and burn only clean wood. From Oct 15 to May 15 a free TN Forestry burn permit is required for fires near woodland.
Knox County does not designate wildfire hazard or wildland-urban-interface zones and has not adopted special construction or clearance rules for them. Wildfire risk is managed through Tennessee Division of Forestry burn permits and voluntary Firewise practices, not a mapped county overlay.
Propane storage in Knox County is governed by the adopted 2018 International Fire Code and NFPA 58. Small residential grill cylinders are unrestricted, but larger tanks have quantity limits, clearance, and permit requirements enforced by the county Fire Prevention Bureau.
Recreational fire pits and portable outdoor fireplaces are allowed in Knox County without an open-burning permit as a 'recreational fire.' Under the adopted 2018 International Fire Code, keep recreational fires 25 feet from any structure and portable fireplaces 15 feet away.
Knox County has no wildfire-style defensible-space ordinance mandating brush clearance around homes. Overgrown vegetation is handled as a general property-maintenance nuisance, and burning brush requires an Air Quality open-burning permit. Firewise clearance around structures is voluntary.
Knox County has no ordinance letting residents paint curbs to reserve parking, and there is no county color-code for painted curbs in the unincorporated area. Official curb markings and traffic control on public roads are set by the county/state, not by private property owners.
Knox County does not run its own residential on-street parking permit or restriction program in the unincorporated area. Parking on county roads follows Tennessee state traffic law (blocking travel lanes, hydrants, and intersections is prohibited). Inside Knoxville the city sets street-parking rules.
Under Knox County Ordinance O-12-09-101, an abandoned or inoperable vehicle cannot be stored on public or private property for more than 48 hours. An inoperable vehicle lacks a running engine, four tires, a battery, or valid plates. Codes officers tag violators for removal.
There is no blanket Knox County ban on parking a vehicle overnight on a residential street or driveway in the unincorporated county. The main limits are the abandoned/inoperable-vehicle 48-hour rule and zoning limits on RVs and commercial vehicles. Knoxville and Farragut set their own overnight rules.
Knox County has no county-specific ordinance mandating or restricting residential EV charging stations. Installations follow the adopted electrical code and require an electrical permit through Knox County Codes Administration. Public charging is governed by state and utility standards.
Knox County zoning does not create residential curbside loading zones. Off-street parking and loading for non-residential uses must be provided on-site under the off-street parking requirements. On county roads, the Sheriff enforces obstruction of travel lanes.
Knox County zoning permits one camping/travel trailer, recreational vehicle, hauling trailer, and/or boat trailer per household on a residential lot, stored behind the front building line and not occupied on site. Max 40 ft long, 10 ft wide.
Knox County zoning permits one commercial vehicle per household in a residential zone, and it may not exceed one and one-half (1.5) tons rated capacity. Vehicles hauling explosives, gasoline, LP products, or other hazardous materials are not permitted at a home.
Knox County zoning caps recreational vehicles and trailers at 40 feet long and 10 feet wide (one per household), and limits commercial vehicles to one per household under 1.5 tons. Larger or additional oversized vehicles are not permitted in residential zones.
Knox County zoning requires each residence to have its off-street parking (a lot, driveway, garage, or combination) on the same lot as the home. RVs and trailers must sit behind the front building line, and only one inoperable vehicle may be stored outdoors.
Knox County's Zoning Ordinance sets no general height cap on residential fences, but a fence in any required front yard may not materially impede vision above 3½ feet. Near corners, a stricter visibility triangle rule limits obstructions between 2½ and 10 feet.
Knox County's Zoning Ordinance requires a written building permit from Code Administration and Inspections before erecting or moving any structure, and each accessory structure needs its own permit. Confirm whether your specific fence triggers a permit before you build.
Knox County's Zoning Ordinance sets no rules on shared or boundary fences, cost-sharing between neighbors, or which side faces out. Division-fence disputes are private civil matters under Tennessee property law, not county zoning enforcement.
Knox County's Zoning Ordinance sets no general residential retaining-wall height, but structural walls fall under the county's building-permit requirement, and grading that affects drainage may require a separate grading permit from the county hydrologist.
The Knox County Zoning Ordinance sets no restrictions on residential fence materials such as wood, vinyl, chain-link, or masonry. Materials are specified only where screening is required, which must be an opaque ornamental fence, wall, or dense evergreen hedge.
Knox County does not require ordinary residential fences, but its Zoning Ordinance mandates opaque screening fences in specific cases, such as a 5-to-6-foot enclosure around off-street parking approved in a restrictive zone and a 7-foot enclosure around mobile home parks.
Knox County zoning does not dictate fence materials for ordinary residential lots, so wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain-link, and masonry are all allowed. Confirm building-permit and screening rules with Code Administration, and check HOA covenants before you build.
Backyard smokers count as cooking fires in Knox County and need no open-burning permit. Use clean cooking wood or charcoal, keep the smoker clear of structures, and follow the same multi-family fire-code limits that apply to grills.
Grilling with charcoal or propane is allowed in Knox County; cooking fires are exempt from the open-burning permit. On multi-family balconies, however, the adopted 2018 Fire Code restricts open-flame and LP-gas grills near combustible construction.
In the RA Low Density Residential Zone, Knox County requires a 35-foot front yard, side yards of 8 feet for single-story and 12 feet for taller dwellings, and a 25-foot rear yard. Detached accessory buildings may sit as close as 5 feet to side and rear lot lines.
In the RA Low Density Residential Zone, no main building may exceed 3 stories or 35 feet, and accessory buildings are capped at 18 feet. Farm buildings, chimneys, spires, flagpoles, and similar projections are exempt from the height limits.
In the RA Low Density Residential Zone, Knox County caps combined main and accessory building coverage at 30 percent of the lot area. Minimum lot area is 10,000 square feet on sewer or 20,000 square feet without sewer.
Knox County follows Tennessee's Apiary Act: beekeepers must register their hives with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and re-register every three years. Registered, reasonably-operated apiaries receive liability protection (TCA 44-15-125). Local zoning still governs where hives may be placed.
Knox County's animal ordinance (Chapter 6, enforced through Young-Williams Animal Center) prohibits dogs from running at large; a dog must stay confined to the owner's property or under control. State law (TCA 44-8-408) makes it an offense for a dog to go uncontrolled onto another's property or a public place.
Knox County does not ban specific dog breeds. It regulates dangerous behavior instead: the county animal ordinance defines a vicious animal as one that has attacked a person or animal two or more times unprovoked. Tennessee law (TCA 44-17-120) lets a court order a dog destroyed if it kills or
Cats in Knox County must be vaccinated against rabies: Tennessee law (TCA 68-8-103) requires dogs and cats over six months old to be currently vaccinated. Knox County's animal ordinance covers cats for rabies and nuisance; there is no countywide cat-leash requirement.
Knox County's animal ordinance does not set a strict countywide numeric cap on ordinary household pets in the unincorporated area; the focus is on rabies vaccination, confinement, and nuisance. Cities like Knoxville may set their own per-household limits, so check municipal code if you live inside a city.
Keeping livestock in unincorporated Knox County is a zoning question. The Agricultural (A) zone permits horses, cattle, goats, and other farm animals; residential zones generally prohibit them. Tennessee's Right-to-Farm Act (TCA 43-26-103) presumes an established, compliant farm operation is not a nuisance.
Tennessee's exotic-animal law (TCA 70-4-403) classifies wildlife and bans private possession of Class I species inherently dangerous to humans, such as big cats, bears, and primates. Class III animals (many reptiles, small rodents) need no state permit. Knox County zoning and animal rules apply on top of state law.
Whether you can keep chickens or livestock in unincorporated Knox County depends on your zoning. The county Agricultural (A) zone permits farm animals as an agricultural use; low-density residential zones generally prohibit livestock. Tennessee's Right-to-Farm Act (TCA 43-26-103) protects established agricultural operations.
Knox County has no blanket ordinance banning backyard bird or squirrel feeding, but feeding that attracts nuisance wildlife or bears can draw complaints. Tennessee prohibits feeding wild animals in ways that create hazards, and TWRA enforces state wildlife rules, especially the ban on feeding bears.
Animal hoarding is addressed through Tennessee's cruelty statute (TCA 39-14-202), which makes it an offense to fail to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter, or to abandon an animal. Knox County Animal Services (Young-Williams) investigates neglect; a court can bar convicted owners from keeping animals.
A home occupation in Knox County may have one small business sign. It cannot exceed two square feet in area, and it cannot be located closer than twenty feet to the street right-of-way line. The business must not otherwise change the building's outside appearance.
Knox County allows home occupations in residential zones only if no non-resident works there, no more than 25% of the dwelling's floor area is used, there is no outdoor storage or change to the building's appearance, and the business is conducted in the house — not an accessory building.
Knox County requires approval before any home occupation begins. Submit a summary letter to the Zoning Department stating the business type, address, employees, and whether there will be deliveries. The Department of Code Administration must approve the home occupation prior to starting.
Knox County sets no separate cottage-food rule. Tennessee's Food Freedom Act (T.C.A. 53-1-118) lets you make and sell most homemade, non-hazardous foods without a state license, permit, or inspection. Zoning still treats it as a home occupation, so 'cooking and preserving' must meet the section 4.90 conditions.
A small family home daycare fits within a home occupation, but a group day care home in unincorporated Knox County is a use-permitted-on-review under Zoning Ordinance 4.91, requiring a 10,000 sq ft lot, 30 sq ft of indoor play space per child, and a fenced play area. State DHS licensing
Above-ground pools in unincorporated Knox County need a permit and must meet the same 48-inch barrier standard. Critically, the ladder or steps must be lockable, removable, or secured to prevent access, with no openings greater than 4 inches.
Residential pools in Knox County must have gate and alarm safeguards under the 2018 IRC, and Tennessee law (T.C.A. 68-12-801) requires a pool water alarm for all pools. Public/commercial pools are permitted and inspected quarterly by the Knox County Health Department.
Knox County regulates hot tubs and spas under the same 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as pools. A permit is required, and the barrier, gate, and pool-water-alarm safety rules apply. Spas with a listed, locking safety cover may qualify for a barrier exemption under the ISPSC.
Every residential pool in unincorporated Knox County must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches tall. The maximum gap at the base is 2 inches, openings cannot pass a 4-inch sphere, and chain-link mesh cannot exceed 1 3/4 inches.
In unincorporated Knox County a building permit from Knox County Codes Administration is required to build an in-ground or above-ground residential pool. The pool is inspected twice and must meet the 2018 IRC and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Inside Knoxville or Farragut, apply to that city instead.
In unincorporated Knox County, grass, weeds and vegetation on residential lots must be kept under 12 inches. Growth exceeding 12 inches is a 'dirty lot' violation subject to abatement by Codes Administration.
Knox County treats vines, grass, weeds and other vegetation that reaches 12 inches or more as a presumed public nuisance on residential property. Owners must cut it back after receiving an abatement notice.
Knox County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially regulating residential rain barrels or rainwater collection. Tennessee does not restrict rainwater harvesting, so homeowners may collect roof runoff for outdoor use.
Knox County does not prohibit backyard composting for households. The zoning code only regulates commercial-scale composting facilities, which are solid-waste processing uses permitted on review, not home compost piles.
Knox County has no ordinance dictating when homeowners trim their own trees. The zoning ordinance only requires planted trees and shrubs in specific settings like parking lots and buffer yards, not routine yard pruning.
Knox County does not impose a general ordinance restricting lawn or garden watering days or hours. Any watering limits come from your individual water utility during drought, not from a county code.
Knox County has no ordinance regulating artificial turf on residential property. Synthetic lawns are neither required nor banned; large installations should account for the county's stormwater and grading rules.
Knox County does not require a permit for a homeowner to remove trees from their own residential lot in the unincorporated county. Tree-preservation requirements in the zoning code attach only to new development landscaping plans.
Knox County has no rule requiring native plants in home yards, but its zoning ordinance requires native shade trees in new parking lots and along streets in certain developments. Home gardeners choose freely.
Owners of vacant land in unincorporated Knox County must keep grass under 12 inches and must not use the lot for open storage of junk, tires, or debris. Both are enforced through the county's dirty lot ordinance on a complaint basis by Code Administration.
Knox County has no curbside trash service, so there are no set trash-cart setout times, but open storage of junk and debris is prohibited on residential lots. Abandoned or inoperable vehicles cannot be stored on private property, which is enforced alongside container and blight rules by Code Administration.
In unincorporated Knox County, open storage of garbage, building materials, rubbish, brush, tires, automotive parts, junk, or debris in a residential area is prohibited under the county's dirty lot ordinance, enforced by Knox County Code Administration. Inside Knoxville and Farragut, the city or town's own codes apply.
In unincorporated Knox County, grass and weeds overgrown by more than 12 inches in a residential area violate the county's dirty lot ordinance. Code Administration inspects on complaint, posts violations, and can bill cleanup costs to the owner if the property is not mowed after notice.
Unincorporated Knox County has no dedicated garage-sale permit; occasional residential yard sales are treated as a customary accessory use under the Knox County Zoning Ordinance. Inside the City of Knoxville a personal-property-sale permit and limits apply, so city residents should check municipal rules.
In unincorporated Knox County, a political candidate sign may be posted without a building permit, but it cannot exceed 32 square feet, cannot be displayed for more than 30 days, and must be removed within 5 days of the election. Signs cannot block traffic-control devices or sit in the public
Knox County has no separate garage-sale-sign category; such signs are regulated as temporary signs. They cannot be fixed to poles, trees, fences, or anything in a street right-of-way, cannot obstruct traffic vision, and cannot sit in the public right-of-way. Small residential signs generally stay under 9 square feet.
Knox County does not provide curbside pickup of any waste or recycling. Unincorporated residents either haul household waste free to one of the county's Convenience Centers or contract with a private hauler for curbside service.
Knox County residents can self-haul large items free to a Convenience Center, which accepts hot water tanks, furniture, and small demolition debris from home improvements. Quantity limits apply and some items are not accepted; centers are for Knox County residents only.
Dumping trash on public or private property without permission is illegal statewide under Tennessee's littering law (TCA 39-14-502). Mitigated criminal littering (under 5 lbs / 7.5 cubic feet) is a Class B misdemeanor with a $500 fine; larger commercial dumping escalates to a felony. Report to Knox County Solid Waste
Knox County runs no curbside collection, so there is no county bin-placement or setout-time rule for the unincorporated area. Residents who hire a private hauler follow that company's cart placement rules, or self-haul to a Convenience Center. City of Knoxville sets its own curbside placement rules.
Recycling in Knox County is voluntary, not mandatory. Residents drop recyclables free at Convenience Centers, which take plastic bottles/jugs labeled #1 and #2, mixed paper, cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, scrap metal, and more. No plastic bags, Styrofoam, or food waste in recycling bins.
In unincorporated Knox County, the Zoning Ordinance allows only one house per lot, so a separate second dwelling or ADU is not permitted by right. Home occupations are allowed inside the main dwelling. Inside Knoxville, the city's own code permits one ADU by right.
A carport in unincorporated Knox County is an accessory structure. It cannot extend into the front yard, must keep an 8-foot side yard (5 feet on deep lots) and at least 5 feet from the rear line, and cannot exceed 18 feet in height. Attached carports follow the main-house setbacks.
The Knox County Zoning Ordinance has no separate tiny-home category. A tiny home is treated as a dwelling, and the ordinance allows only one house per lot in residential zones, so a tiny home cannot be added as a second dwelling. It must also meet minimum lot area and the
Converting a garage into living space in unincorporated Knox County must keep the lot to one dwelling and cannot create a separate second unit. A home occupation may run inside the main dwelling, but not in any accessory building. A residential building permit is required for structural or electrical work.
In unincorporated Knox County, accessory buildings including sheds cannot exceed 18 feet in height, must sit at least 5 feet from a rear lot line, and cannot extend into the front yard. One-story detached accessory structures under 120 square feet are exempt from a building permit but still must meet
Knox County's Zoning Ordinance requires outdoor lighting be shielded and directed away from residential lot lines, and bars operations producing intense glare or heat from casting it onto neighboring property. Illuminated signs cannot shine or reflect onto nearby residential land within 300 feet.
Knox County has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but its Zoning Ordinance requires outdoor lighting for parking, storage, display, or security to be shielded and aimed away from residential property, reducing glare, light trespass, and overlighting. Sign lighting near residential zones must be indirect or non-reflective.
These cities are located within Knox County and may have their own ordinances.
These communities are in unincorporated Knox County. County ordinances apply directly to these areas.
Ordinance data for Knox County is sourced from the following official government references. Click any topic above for detailed citations.