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.
For an ordinary residence, Knox County does not mandate native landscaping. However, the zoning ordinance's landscaping standards for qualifying new development do require native trees: interior parking-lot islands and terminal islands must contain a native shade tree, and street frontages in some zones must be planted with native shade trees. These rules govern commercial and multi-unit site plans, not private yards. Homeowners are free to plant native or non-native species; the county neither requires natives nor bans ornamentals for residences.
No penalty for a homeowner's plant choices. A developer omitting required native plantings on an approved site plan can be denied approval or cited under the zoning ordinance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has no general City Code ordinance restricting lawn ornaments, garden statues, religious displays, or yard decorations on private residential prope...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has no City Code ordinance specifically regulating inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Inflatables must stay within the pr...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has no dedicated City Code ordinance regulating the timing, brightness, or quantity of residential holiday light displays. General electrical safet...
Knoxville, TN
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Knoxville require Plans Review & Inspections permits when they include gas lines, plumbing, electrical work, or structures. Nat...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville treats wood smokers, pellet grills, and other solid-fuel cooking equipment under the 2024 International Fire Code as adopted in City Code Chapter 1...
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has adopted the 2024 International Fire Code under City Code Chapter 11, Article II (Sections 11-21 to 11-22), effective January 2025. IFC Section ...
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