5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Knox County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
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 Zoning Ordinance 4.90.01
No person other than household members residing on the premises shall be engaged in such occupation. Not more than twenty-five (25) percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation. No home occupation shall be conducted in any accessory building.
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 Zoning Ordinance 3.90(D)
Business signs for home occupations shall not exceed two (2) square feet nor be located closer than twenty (20) feet to the street right-of-way line.
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.
Tennessee Food Freedom Act, T.C.A. § 53-1-118
Foods made in home kitchens under the TFFA are exempt from all licensing, permitting, inspecting, packaging, and labeling laws of this state.
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
Knox County Zoning Ordinance 4.91.01
A fenced play area of not less than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet for the first twenty (20) children shall be provided. For every additional child, an additional one hundred (100) square feet shall be provided... The minimum height of the fence shall be four (4) feet.
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 Zoning Ordinance 4.90
The county department of code administration shall approve all home occupations prior to initiation of such activity.
1 cities in Knox County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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