9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Knox County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
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 Codes Administration, Dirty Lot Fact Sheet (grass overgrowth standard)
Grass is overgrown when it exceeds 12\". Overgrown Grass Complaint — When grass is overgrown by more than 12\", in a residential area, it is in violation of the dirty lot ordinance.
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 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 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 Codes Administration, Dirty Lot Fact Sheet
Grass is overgrown when it exceeds 12\". Open storage of trash is prohibited in a residential area. When grass is overgrown by more than 12\", in a residential area, it is in violation of the dirty lot ordinance.
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 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 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.
Knox County Zoning Ordinance, parking-lot interior landscaping standard
All parking lots of twenty (20) or more spaces shall contain within the interior of the parking lot not less than one (1) native shade tree, capable of reaching fifty (50) feet in height at maturity for every ten (10) spaces or fraction thereof.
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 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.
1 cities in Knox County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Knox County Ordinance Hub →