Knoxville, TN Swimming Pools & Spas: Fencing & Safety Requirements (2026)

Knoxville defines a private swimming pool as any pool or open tank deeper than 30 inches built for swimming or bathing, and that classification triggers strict placement rules: no pool, apron, or accessory structure tied to it may encroach into a required setback, and none may sit in a front or corner side yard. A spa or hot tub escapes that definition, and every rule that comes with it, only when it is kept securely covered whenever not in use by a sturdy, insulated top capable of restricting a child's access. Leave the cover off or use a flimsy one and the city treats the unit as a regulated swimming pool. The provision sits in Article 10's accessory-structure standards, not a separate pool ordinance.