Tree removal permit rules in Knox County, TN — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
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.
There is no general residential tree-removal permit in unincorporated Knox County. The zoning ordinance requires landscaping and screening trees for certain new developments (parking lots, buffer yards) and, on those projects, existing trees to be conserved for buffers must be shown on the landscaping plan. But an existing homeowner clearing trees on their own lot is not required to obtain a county permit. Steep-slope or streamside clearing may trigger the county stormwater/grading ordinance. Knoxville has its own city tree rules.
No county penalty for removing your own residential trees. Land-disturbing clearing near streams or on slopes may require a stormwater/grading permit; violating that is enforced separately.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Knox County parks are open sunrise to sunset unless otherwise posted or for a permitted event. Being in a county park after hours is prohibited. Loud or ampl...
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Knox County's Zoning Ordinance requires outdoor lighting be shielded and directed away from residential lot lines, and bars operations producing intense glar...
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Knox County has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but its Zoning Ordinance requires outdoor lighting for parking, storage, display, or security to be shielded an...
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Knox County has no separate garage-sale-sign category; such signs are regulated as temporary signs. They cannot be fixed to poles, trees, fences, or anything...
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In unincorporated Knox County, a political candidate sign may be posted without a building permit, but it cannot exceed 32 square feet, cannot be displayed f...
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The Knox County Zoning Ordinance has no separate tiny-home category. A tiny home is treated as a dwelling, and the ordinance allows only one house per lot in...
See how Knox County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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