City Land Use Classifications

Refer to the appropriate Sector Plan for land use classifications in Knox County.

City of Knoxville

(I-MU)
City Zoning Districts
Code
Classification
Description
Location Criteria
Permitted Zones
BP-1

Business Park Type 1
BP-1

Primary uses are light manufacturing, office and regionally- oriented warehouse/distribution services in which tractor- trailer transportation is to be a substantial portion of the operations. Substantial landscaped buffers are expected between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.
  • Relatively flat sites (predominant slopes less than 6 percent) out of floodplains
    Relatively large sites (generally over 100 acres)
    Away from low and medium density areas or where truck traffic would have to go through such areas
    Areas with freeway and arterial highway access (generally within two miles of an interchange)
    Rail access is a consideration
    Can be served with sewer, water and natural gas
OP, I-MU, I-RD
BP-2

Business Park Type 2
BP-2

Primary uses are light manufacturing, offices, locally- oriented warehouse/distribution services, large-scale research and development facilities, office developments, and office parks/campuses. Retail and restaurant services, developed primarily to serve tenants and visitors to the business park can be considered. Substantial landscaped buffers are necessary between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.
  • Relatively flat sites (predominant slopes less than 6 percent) out of floodplains
    Relatively large sites (generally over 100 acres)
    Away from low and medium density areas or where truck traffic would have to go through such areas
    Freeway and arterial highway access (generally within two miles of an interchange)
    Rail access is a consideration
    Can be served with sewer, water and natural gas
OP, I-MU, I-RD
LI

Light Industrial
LI

Typically consists of older industrial areas used for the light manufacturing, assembling, warehousing and distribution of goods. Light industrial uses include such manufacturing as assembly of electronic goods and packaging of beverage or food products. Substantial landscaped buffers are expected between uses of lesser intensity, particularly residential, office and agricultural uses.
  • Existing industrial areas
    Within one mile of an interstate interchange with access via major collector or arterial streets
I-MU, I-RD, I-G
MU-UC

Mixed Use Urban Corridor
MU-UC

This land use consists of urban streets that have potential for redevelopment and vertical mixed uses such as shops on the ground level and apartments above. Commercial cores or nodes should be created along these corridors. Nodes should not be more than 4 blocks.
  • Corridors should be served by or planned to be served by sidewalks and transit
    On streets designed or planned for redesign with street trees, on-street parking, and other streetscape amenities
    On streets capable of sustaining on-street parking along corridor or along side streets
C-G, C-H, I-MU, DK, SW, CU
RS

Regional Commercial
RS

This land use includes retail and service-oriented development that meets the needs of residents across Knox County and surrounding areas. ?Big box? retail, malls and ?lifestyle centers? are examples of regional-oriented commercial uses.
  • Sites should be relatively flat (under 10 percent slope) and with enough depth to support shopping center and ancillary development.
    Water, sewer, natural gas utilities and stormwater systems should be capable of handling the development
    Vehicular and pedestrian connections should be accommodated between different components of the district (e.g., between stores, parking areas and out-parcel development).
    Locate region?serving commercial development on arterials in locations which are easily accessible to the interstate system. Development sites should be sufficient in size to permit future expansion.
    RS development should be limited and carefully located to avoid market over-saturation and conflict with the central business district
OP, C-H, C-R, I-MU
SWMUD II

South Waterfront Mixed Use District Type 2
SWMUD II

This district allows for diverse uses and range of development intensities and forms. Zoning is limited to districts which require Planning Commission special use approval.
  • Case-by-case analysis is recommended.
RN-1, RN-2, RN-3, RN-4, RN-5, O, C-G, I-MU, I-G