Knox County, TN Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Dark-sky ordinance
- None adopted
- Light source
- Must be shielded
- Aim
- Away from residential
- Goal
- Reduce glare/trespass
- Illuminated signs
- 300 ft residential buffer
Summary
Knox County has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but its Zoning Ordinance requires outdoor lighting for parking, storage, display, or security to be shielded and aimed away from residential property, reducing glare, light trespass, and overlighting. Sign lighting near residential zones must be indirect or non-reflective.
Lighting used for parking lots, outdoor storage, product display or security shall reduce the impacts of glare, light trespass and overlighting, promote safety and security and encourage energy conservation and shall not interfere with the operation of motor vehicles in the public right-of-way or adjacent uses of land.
Full Breakdown
The Knox County Zoning Ordinance addresses outdoor lighting in its performance standards. It states lighting shall reduce the impacts of glare, light trespass, and overlighting, promote safety and security, and encourage energy conservation, and shall not interfere with vehicle operation in the public right-of-way or with adjacent land uses. The light source must be shielded and arranged so lighting is directed away from any lot boundary adjacent to residentially zoned property. Sign provisions add that no illuminated sign is permitted within 300 feet of residential-zoned property unless designed not to shine or reflect onto it. Knox County has not adopted a comprehensive dark-sky/International Dark-Sky lighting code; these shielding rules are the governing standard.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliant lighting is enforced through zoning and site-plan review by Knoxville-Knox County Planning and the county Department of Code Administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Knox County have a dark-sky law?
Can a business light shine onto my home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Knox County
Compare Knox County to another location·View the Tennessee outdoor lighting overview
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