Knoxville, TN Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Downtown Design Guide (2026)
Key Facts
- Reviewing body
- Design Review Board
- Applies to
- DK District (except DK-E)
- Decision deadline
- 30 days after complete application
- Required for
- New construction, additions, signs
- Ordinance
- O-38-2020, Feb 25 2020
Summary
Knoxville requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Design Review Board before any new construction, substantial addition, exterior alteration, sign lighting, or public improvement proceeds in the Downtown (DK) zoning district, except the DK-E subdistrict.
Downtown design review in the DK District is required as follows, unless a historic overlay district is in place, whereby the Historic Zoning Commission will conduct review and approval of the development. (Downtown design review is also not required in the DK-E Subdistrict.) Downtown design review is required in the following instances. No permit will be issued without a certificate of appropriateness from the Design Review Board.
1.New construction. New construction on a new or existing foundation.2.Substantial addition. A substantial addition occurs when the total footprint or gross floor area of the structure, as of the effective date of this Ordinance, is increased by either 1,000 square feet or 20% in area, whichever is less.3.Substantial alteration. Substantial alteration occurs with any exterior change, other than incidental repairs, that would prolong the life of the supporting members of a building. Routine exterior maintenance activities such as painting, tuckpointing, replacing trim in kind, railings in kind, or replacing other nonstructural architectural details in kind are not considered to constitute a substantial exterior alteration.4.Planned developments.5.Public improvements.6.Sign lighting or electronic message center.C.Modification of Dimensional Regulations
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Under Appendix B, Article 16.5, the Design Review Board reviews and approves plans in the DK District to protect Downtown Knoxville's character. Review applies to new construction, substantial additions (1,000 sq ft or 20% of footprint, whichever is less), substantial exterior alterations, planned developments, public improvements, and sign lighting or electronic message centers. The DK-E subdistrict is exempt from board review but still needs Planning Commission staff site plan review. A historic overlay district triggers Historic Zoning Commission review instead. The board must grant, condition, or deny a certificate of appropriateness within 30 days of a complete application, per Article 16.5.D.4.c.
Violations & Fines
No permit will be issued until the appeal period expires; if a certificate of appropriateness is denied or never obtained, the Zoning Administrator will not issue a building permit for the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does downtown Knoxville require design review for small renovations?
What if a downtown Knoxville building has a historic overlay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Knoxville
Compare Knoxville to another location·View the Tennessee zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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