Knoxville building permits come from Plans Review and Inspections, 400 Main St., Suite 475 (865-215-4311). The Planning Commission next meets Nov. 12.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Knoxville’s Plans Review and Inspections and KnoxPlans pages and from Knoxville-Knox County Planning.

Inside Knoxville city limits, building permits come from the City of Knoxville Plans Review and Inspections Department, in the City-County Building at 400 Main St., Suite 475. Zoning maps, rezonings, subdivisions and addresses are handled by Knoxville-Knox County Planning, a joint city-county agency in the same building. If you live outside the city, Knox County issues your permit; in Farragut, the town does.

Who to call

  • Building permits and plan status: Plans Review and Inspections, 865-215-4311; office hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, front counter 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Plan review fees (KnoxPlans): 865-215-3669
  • Zoning, rezoning and Planning Commission: Knoxville-Knox County Planning, 865-215-2500, contact@knoxplanning.org
  • Addresses: Knoxville-Knox County Planning addressing, 865-215-2507
  • Outside city limits: Knox County building permits and zoning

Getting a permit in the city

  1. Get a certified address. Planning says every activity that requires a building permit needs a certified address before a permit is issued. New lots and new buildings are addressed by Planning’s addressing department.
  2. Check the zoning. Make sure what you want to build is allowed on the lot (see below).
  3. Create an account and apply online. The city’s online permitting site requires an account to apply for permits, track them and pay fees.
  4. Submit plans through KnoxPlans when the job needs plan review. After the plans are uploaded, the city asks you to call 865-215-3669 to pay the plan review fee.
  5. Schedule inspections online with the full permit number. The same system shows inspection results and lets you cancel or reschedule.

Permit fees are set by the city and listed on the department’s Plans Review and Permits page. Sign permits, demolition and other specialty permits are handled by the same department.

Zoning: what can go where

Knoxville’s zoning code is published on Municode, with a use matrix that lists which uses are allowed in each district and a plain-English user’s manual. To find the zoning on a parcel, search it on the KGIS map.

Some neighborhoods carry extra rules on top of the base zoning:

  • Downtown Design Overlay (D): new buildings and exterior changes downtown go to the Design Review Board.
  • Historic Overlay (H): exterior work in historic districts needs a certificate from the Historic Zoning Commission.
  • Infill Housing Overlay (IH): design guidelines for new homes in older neighborhoods.
  • Middle housing: duplexes, townhouses and small multi-unit buildings have their own dimensional, design and parking standards, explained on Planning’s middle housing page.

Subdividing land in the city or the county follows the joint Knoxville-Knox County subdivision regulations, most recently updated June 11, 2026.

Rezonings and the Planning Commission

The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission is an advisory board of 15 residents: seven appointed by the city mayor and eight by the county mayor. It hears rezonings, plans, subdivision plats and special uses, then sends rezoning recommendations to Knoxville City Council (or the Knox County Commission for county land), which makes the final decision.

Meeting When Where
Design Review Board (downtown cases) 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 See the Planning calendar
Planning Commission agenda review 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 See the Planning calendar
Planning Commission 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 Main Assembly Room, 400 Main St.

Planning posts a preliminary agenda three weeks before each commission meeting and the full agenda, with staff reports and maps, six days before. Written comments on a case are accepted until 12:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting; include the file number. Agendas, comments and case files are on Planning’s meeting page, and you can follow any case on its Keep Up with a Case page.

A variance from the zoning code (for example, a reduced setback) goes to the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals, through Plans Review and Inspections.

What this means for you

  • Planning a deck, addition or new house? Confirm the zoning and the address first, then apply online; most delays come from a missing address or plans that do not match the zoning.
  • A rezoning sign near you? Look up the case number on Planning’s site and send a comment before 12:30 p.m. on meeting day.

Related guides: property taxes, Knoxville home prices and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a building permit in Knoxville?

Inside city limits, from the City of Knoxville Plans Review and Inspections Department, 400 Main St., Suite 475, through its online permitting site. Call 865-215-4311 with questions.

Do I need an address before I get a building permit in Knoxville?

Yes. Every activity that needs a building permit needs a certified address first. Knoxville-Knox County Planning assigns addresses; call 865-215-2507.

How do I find my zoning in Knoxville?

Look up the parcel on the KGIS map or call Knoxville-Knox County Planning at 865-215-2500. The city’s zoning code is published on Municode.

When does the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission meet?

Monthly on a Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in the Main Assembly Room of the City-County Building, 400 Main St. The next meeting is Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026.