A piece of land usually comes with a few rules attached and these 'rules' dictate what you can do with the land and its buildings. The majority of the rules are housed in the City Zoning ordinance but, depending on your request, additional codes and ordinances may apply. The zoning and certification permit is used anytime a project or request requires review and approval based on the Zoning Ordinance, the project is exempted from the requirement for a building project permit or when you need to update a Certificate of Occupancy at a location but have no need for a building permit.


Some examples of zoning and certification projects include:

1. Installing a fence less than 7' tall,
2. Construction or placement of a 1-story storage building less than 200sf in area,
3. Establishing a business in your residential dwelling (home occupancy),
4. Obtaining approval for a temporary use, 
5. Establishing a new tenant in an existing commercial space (if no work is to be performed),
6. Reissuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.


Residential Zoning and Use Permit

This permit only applies to One and Two Family Dwellings and Townhouses not over three stories above grade and the associated structures that are governed by the International Residential Code (IRC).

Certification permits are issued when a project is exempted from the requirements of a building permit yet still require some inspections/initial review or when a property owner needs a Certificate of Occupancy reissued. Projects exempted from the requirement of a full building permit are listed in the International Residential Code (IRC) Section 105 and outlined in the City of Knoxville Zoning ordinance.

I-Codes  |  Zoning Ordinance

 
Commercial Zoning and Use Permit

Certification permits are issued when a project is exempted from the requirements of a building permit yet still require some inspections / initial review or when a business needs a Certificate of Occupancy and Occupant Load Posting. Projects exempted from the requirement of a full building permit are listed in the International Building Code (IBC) Section 105 and outlined in the City of Knoxville Zoning ordinance.

IBC-Codes  |  Zoning Ordinance