Knoxville, TN Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)

Knoxville regulates fences in Appendix B, the Zoning Code, under § 10.3, the accessory structures section. Two parts of it matter before you build. Section 10.3.A.2 says a building permit can be required for an accessory structure under the Building Code, so the zoning text itself names no fence permit and no fee. The Director of Plans Review and Building Inspections issues all building permits under § 14.5, which makes that office the place to confirm whether your fence needs one. Section 10.3.L then sets the height rules.

From five feet behind the front building line forward to the front lot line, and anywhere in the corner side yard, privacy fences and walls are limited to 42 inches. On a through lot, the rear yard gets the same 42 inch cap when the fence sits closer to the street than the front setback for the zoning district or the average blockface of existing principal buildings numerically addressed along the parallel street, whichever is greater. Open fences carry no height limit in those areas. In every other yard, privacy fences, walls and open fences have no height limit under this section.

The definitions in § 2.3 decide which type your fence is. An open fence has more than 50% of its surface made up of regularly distributed openings across its entire length. A privacy fence has no distributed openings. A shadowbox design counts as a privacy fence, and a chain link fence with slats does not.

Fences can be built at the lot boundary with no setback, except inside the required visibility triangle. The code defines that triangle as the area at the intersection of two streets, or a street and a private driveway, where motorists need an unobstructed view of approaching traffic.

Two Article 10 rules apply nearby. Section 10.1.E bars permanent and accessory structures from utility and drainage easements, but fences can be installed at the property owner's risk with approval from the City Department of Engineering. Section 10.1.F requires adequate sight distance near intersections, as approved by that department.

Properties in the CU Cumberland Avenue district follow their own fence standards in § 7.2.7: a fence or wall in a primary or side street yard that is not a required screen cannot exceed 6 feet, side and rear yard fences cannot exceed 8 feet, barbed or concertina wire is not allowed, and chain-link is barred from street yards.