Knoxville, TN Outdoor Cooking: Smoker Rules (2026)

Solid-fuel cooking equipment including offset smokers, kamado-style cookers, pellet grills, and charcoal smokers fall under IFC Section 308.1.4 as adopted by Knoxville City Code Chapter 11, Article II. On multi-family residential buildings without automatic sprinklers, smokers cannot be used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. Sprinklered buildings qualify for the IFC exception, subject to building rules. Single-family detached homes face no city-imposed restrictions on residential smoker use. Best practice is to place smokers on noncombustible surfaces (concrete, brick patios), keep them clear of wood fences, decks, and overhanging branches, and dispose of ashes only after full cooling in a metal container. Excessive smoke or odors that drift across property lines may trigger nuisance enforcement under Knoxville City Code property maintenance provisions. Burn permits from the Tennessee Division of Forestry are not required for residential cooking. Knoxville's barbecue culture means smoker use is widespread and generally accepted in residential neighborhoods.