7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Knox County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
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 Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3.20.04.B
In any required front yard, except as provided in "A." above, no fence, wall, hedge or yard ornament shall be permitted which materially impedes vision across such yard above the height of three and one-half (3½) 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 Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6.10.01
Except as hereinbefore provided, a written building permit shall be obtained from the department of code administration and inspections before starting or proceeding with the erection, structural alteration, or moving of any building or structure, or changing the use of any building or land.
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.
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 Ordinance Sec. 3.51.10.B
All sides of the lot, except those openings for ingress and egress, shall be enclosed with an opaque ornamental fence, wall or dense evergreen hedge having a height of not less than five (5) feet nor more than six (6) feet. Such fence, wall or hedge shall be maintained in good condition.
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 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.
1 cities in Knox County have their own fence regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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