Special Events & Permits in Knox County, TN (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Knox County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Block Party Permits
Only the county Department of Engineering and Public Works can close a county roadway to traffic. Anyone else wanting to close a street, including a neighborhood group planning a block party, must get the department's prior written approval before doing so, except in a genuine emergency.
Temporary Street Closure Permits in Knox County
Significant RestrictionsKnox County Code § 62-60
Sec. 62-60. - Closing of streets. The department of engineering and public works shall have authority to close temporarily any roadway to vehicular or foot traffic, or to divert such traffic therefrom when it is deemed in the interest of public safety or convenience. Except during emergencies, similar closures by other persons or agencies shall not be undertaken without prior written approval f...
Park Event Permits
Reserving a Knox County park or field for a special event runs through Sec. 27-11(b): file an application with the parks and recreation director, who must find the event will not unreasonably interfere with public use, incite disorder, or demand extraordinary police resources before issuing a permit. Permit holders must carry insurance and can lose the permit for a rule violation or good cause.
Park Special Event Permits in Knox County, TN
Significant RestrictionsKnox County Code § 27-11(b)
(1)Application. A person seeking issuance of a permit hereunder shall file an application with the appropriate director.(2)Standards for issuance. The director shall issue a permit hereunder when he finds:a.That the proposed activity or use of the park will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park;b.That the proposed activity and use will not unre...
Street Fair Rules
Knox County licenses festival and parade vendors as "street barkers" under Code § 12-26, lets them cry out to attract customers during recognized festival or parade days as an exception to the general anti-noise rule for peddlers, and ties their license period to those event dates under § 12-34.
Festival and Parade Street Vendor Rules, Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Code §§ 12-26, 12-30(4), 12-34
Street barker means any peddler who does business during recognized festival or parade days in the county and who limits his or her business to selling or offering to sell novelty items and similar goods in the area of the festival or parade. ... No peddler, street barker, solicitor, solicitor for charitable purposes, or solicitor for subscriptions shall: ...(4)Call attention to his or her busi...
Special Events & Permits by City in Knox County
1 cities in Knox County have their own special events & permits rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Knox County ordinances
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