Right to Farm in Knox County, TN (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Knox County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Farm Nuisance Protection
Knox County's zoning ordinance exempts agricultural uses that comply with Tennessee's Right to Farm Act from planning commission review, a note repeated in both the Rural Retreat and RP Rural Preservation zone provisions. The Agricultural Zone itself permits a broad range of farm operations, including commercial dairies, poultry and hog operations, and fish and minnow raising, by right, without a use-on-review hearing before the planning commission.
Right to Farm Protection in Knox County TN
Few RestrictionsKnox County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5.23 note; Sec. 5.22.02.C
Note: Certain agricultural uses are permissible by Tennessee state law under the Right to Farm Act and other regulations. These uses, if permissible and deemed in compliance with state regulations, are exempt from planning commission review. ... C.Farming, including all types of agriculture and horticulture; commercial dairies; rabbit, goat and other animal or fish and minnow raising farms; egg...
Agricultural Zoning Protection
Knox County's RP Rural Preservation Zone recognizes Tennessee's Right to Farm Act: agricultural uses that are lawful under state law and comply with state regulations are exempt from Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission review under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5.23.01. The zone otherwise limits development to uses compatible with long-term farming, capping lot coverage at 10 percent and requiring 15 acres per dwelling.
Right to Farm Protections in Knox County TN
Light RestrictionsKnox County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 5.23.01
5.23.01. General description. The rural preservation zone is provided to help insure the continued production of agricultural commodities by encouraging preservation of productive agricultural lands and the open space, wildlife habitat, and scenic corridor value that productive agricultural lands provide. Uses allowed within the district are intended to be limited to uses which are compatible w...
Right to Farm by City in Knox County
1 cities in Knox County have their own right to farm rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Knox County ordinances
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