MPC: Knoxville Zoning, Article 4, Section2, 2a, and 2b

Page Updated: January 8, 2003

CITY ZONING TABLE OF CONTENTS	Zoning Ordinance for Knoxville Tennessee
	Article 4: Specific Districts Regulations Section 2, 2a and 2b
	Section 2 Section 2a Section 2b
	SECTION 2			R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
	A.	GENERAL DESCRIPTION:		This is the most restrictive residential district intended to be used for single-family residential areas with low population densities. Additional permitted uses, by review of the Planning Commission, include related non-commercial, recreational, religious and educational facilities normally required to provide the basic elements of a balanced and attractive residential area. These areas are intended to be defined and protected from the encroachment of uses not performing a function necessary to the residential environment. Internal stability, attractiveness, order, and efficiency are encouraged by providing for adequate light, air, and open space for dwellings and related facilities and through consideration of the proper functional relationship of each element.


	B.	PERMITTED PRINCIPAL AND ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES:		Property and buildings in an R-1, Single-Family Residential District shall be used only for the following purposes:
				1.	Detached single-family dwellings but not including trailer houses or mobile homes.
				2.	Utility sub-stations, easements, alleys and rights-of-way, and transportation easements, alleys and rights-of-way.
				3.	Accessory uses, subject to the provisions of Article 5, Section 4.
				4.	Accessory buildings and structures, subject to the provisions of Article 5, Section 4. The total of the following area calculations shall not exceed the building area of the principal building, or 750 square feet, whichever is lesser:
					a.	Building area of accessory buildings.
					b.	Area covered by the roofs of accessory structures which are not buildings.
						Recreational improvements that can be construed as structures but do not contain covered or enclosed areas (including, but not limited to: swimming pools; tennis courts; and patios) shall be exempt from this provision.
				5.	Signs, as regulated in Article 5, Section 10.
				6.	Agricultural crops, but not the raising of farm animals or poultry.

	C.	USES PERMITTED ON REVIEW:		The following uses may be permitted on review by the Planning Commission in accordance with provisions contained in Article 7, Section 5.
				1.	Churches or similar places of worship, with accessory structures but not including missions or revival tents.
				2.	Elementary or high schools, public or private.
				3.	Parks, playgrounds and playfields, and neighborhood and municipal buildings and uses in keeping with the character and requirements of the district.
				4.	Libraries, museums, and historical monuments or structures.
				5.	Plant nursery in which no building or structure is maintained in connection therewith.
				6.	Country clubs with eighteen hole golf course having grounds of not less than one hundred forty acres, or country club with nine hole golf course having grounds of not less than sixty acres, but not miniature golf courses or driving ranges operated for commercial purposes.
				7.	Cemeteries.
				8.	Home occupation as regulated in Article 5, Section 12.
				9.	Community swimming pool as regulated in Article 5, Section 16.
				10.	Two-family dwellings.
				11.	Club house for a civic, non-profit organization such as a garden club, women's club or a local community club. Off-street parking shall be provided as specified for private clubs in Article 5, Section 7.
				12.	Private day nurseries and kindergartens as regulated in Article 5, Section 3.
				13.	Commercial telecommunications towers.

	D.	PROHIBITED USES:		1.	Storage facilities for Class 1 flammable and combustible liquids (as defined by the National Fire Prevention Code) having an aggregate total of more than fifteen gallons, but excluding storage facilities which are part of a motorized vehicle or pleasure craft. These requirements do not apply to storage on a construction site where such materials are to be used.
				1.

	E.	AREA REGULATIONS:		1.	Front Yard:
					a.	For dwellings, the minimum depth of the front yard shall be twenty-five feet and in no case shall an accessory building be located or extend into the front yard.
					b.	Churches and other main and accessory buildings, other than dwellings and buildings accessory to dwellings, shall have a front yard setback of thirty-five feet.
				2.	Side Yard:
					a.	For a single story dwelling, located on an interior lot, side yards shall be not less than eight feet in width, however, the sum of two side yards shall not be less than twenty feet.
						For dwellings of more than one story there shall be a side yard requirement of not less than twelve feet.
					b.	For unattached buildings of accessory use, there shall be a side yard of not less than eight feet; provided, however, that unattached one-story buildings of accessory use shall not be required to setback more than five feet from an interior side lot line when all parts of the accessory building are located more than ninety feet behind the front lot line.
					c.	Churches and other main and accessory buildings, other than dwellings and buildings accessory to dwellings, shall setback from all side lot lines a distance of not less than thirty-five feet.
				3.	Rear Yard:
					a.	For main buildings there shall be a rear yard of not less than twenty-five feet.
					b.	Unattached buildings of accessory use shall not be located closer to any rear lot line than five feet.
				4.	Lot Width:
					a.	For all dwellings there shall be a minimum lot width of seventy-five feet at the front building line, and such lot shall abut for a distance of not less than twenty-five feet on a public street or an approved permanent easement giving access to a public street which meets the requirements for a permanent easement as set forth in the Knoxville-Knox County Minimum Subdivision Regulations.
					b.	For lots having a width of not more than one hundred fifty feet, the lot length shall be not greater than three times the lot width.
				5.	Intensity of Use:
					a.	For each single family dwelling, and building accessory thereto, served by a sanitary sewer system there shall be a lot area of not less than seven thousand five hundred square feet.
					b.	For each two family dwelling and building accessory thereto served by a sanitary sewer system, there shall be a lot area of not less than fifteen thousand square feet.
					c.	For those dwellings and buildings accessory thereto not served by a sanitary sewer system there shall be a minimum lot area of twenty thousand square feet per dwelling unit; however, a greater area may be required based on recommendations by the Health Department because of inadequate percolation.
					d.	For churches and other main and accessory buildings, other than dwellings and buildings accessory to dwellings, the lot area shall be adequate to provide the yard areas required by this Section and the off-street parking areas required in Article 5, Section 7, provided, however, that the lot area for a church shall be not less than thirty thousand square feet.
				6.	Maximum Lot Coverage:
					a.	Dwellings and buildings accessory thereto shall cover not more than thirty percent of the lot area.
					b.	Churches and other main and accessory buildings, shall cover not more than twenty-five percent of the lot area.

	F.	HEIGHT REGULATIONS:		No main building shall exceed two and one-half stories or thirty-five feet in height, except as provided in Article 5, Section 5. Accessory buildings shall not exceed fifteen feet in height.

	G.	OFF-STREET PARKING:		As regulated in Article 5, Section 7.

	SECTION 2a			R-1A LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
A.	GENERAL DESCRIPTION:	This is a residential district to provide for low to medium population density. The principal use of land may range from single-family to low density multiple-family apartment uses. Certain uses which are more compatible functionally with intensive residential uses than with commercial uses are permitted. The recreational, religious, educational, facilities and other related uses in keeping with the residential character of the district may be permitted on review by the Planning Commission. Internal stability, attractiveness, order and efficiency are encouraged by providing for adequate light, air, and usable open space for dwellings and related facilities and through consideration of the property functional relationship to each use permitted in this district.


B.	PERMITTED PRINCIPAL AND ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES:	Property and buildings in an R-1A, Low Density Residential District shall be used only for the following purposes:
		1.	Any use permitted in R-1, Single-Family Residential District
		2.	Two-family dwellings
		3.	Garage apartment accessory to a principal dwelling. The finished, heated floor area of a garage apartment shall not exceed eight hundred fifty (850) square feet or fifty percent (50%) of the finished, heated floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is less. Garage apartments shall not have accessory uses or structures.
		4.	Accessory uses, subject to the provisions of Article 5, Section 4.
		5.	Accessory buildings and structures, subject to the provisions of Article 5, Section 4. The total of the following area calculations shall not exceed the building area of the principal building.
		5.
			a.	Building area of accessory buildings, excluding garage apartments as regulated in subsection 4. above.
			b.	Area covered by the roofs of accessory structures which are not buildings.
				For single and two-family dwellings, the total of the preceding area calculations shall not exceed 750 square feet.
				Recreational improvements that can be construed as structures but do not contain covered or enclosed areas (including, but not limited to: swimming pools; tennis courts and patios) shall be exempt from this provision.

C.	USES PERMITTED ON REVIEW:	The following uses may be permitted on review by the Planning Commission in accordance with provisions contained in Article 7, Section 5.
		1.	Any use permitted on review in an R-1, Single Family Residential District.
		2.	Multiple-family dwelling provided the site has vehicular access to a collector or arterial street as shown on the adopted City of Knoxville Major Thoroughfare Systems Plan.
		3.	Fraternities, sororities, and denominational student headquarters.
		4.	Nursing home or home for the aged.
		5.	Medical facility.
		6.	A lodge hall, or assembly hall for a non-profit veterans or service organization.
		7.	Private day nurseries and kindergartens, as regulated in Article 5, Section 3.
		8.	Single-family attached dwellings and single-family semi-detached dwellings as regulated in Article 5, Section 3.
		9.	Commercial telecommunications towers.
		10.	Assisted living facility.
		11.	Bed and breakfast inns, provided that they are located in an historic overlay district, subject to the requirements of Article 5, Section 3.G.9.
Ca.	PROHIBITED USES:	(Added by Ordinance 5894, 5-6-75)
		1.	Storage facilities for Class 1 flammable and combustible liquids (as defined by the National Fire Prevention Code) having an aggregate total of more than fifteen gallons, but excluding storage facilities which are part of a motorized vehicle or pleasure craft. These requirements do not apply to storage on a construction site where such materials are to be used.

D.	AREA REGULATIONS:	All buildings shall be setback from street right-of-way lines and lot lines to comply with the following yard requirements:
		1.	Front Yard:
			a.	For single, two-family, and multiple family dwelling, the minimum depth of the front yard shall be twenty-five feet; and in no case shall an accessory building be located to extend into the front yard.
			b.	Churches and other main and accessory buildings, other than dwellings, shall have a front setback of thirty-five feet.
		2.	Side Yard:
			a.	For single story dwellings located on interior lots, side yards shall be not less than eight feet in width; however, the sum of the two side yards shall be not less than twenty feet. For dwellings of more than one story, there shall be side yards of not less than twelve feet each.
			b.	For unattached buildings of accessory use, there shall be a side yard of not less than eight feet; provided, however, that unattached one-story buildings of accessory use shall not be required to setback more than five feet from an interior lot line when all parts of the accessory building are located more than ninety feet behind the front property line.
			c.	Churches and other main and accessory buildings, other than dwellings and buildings accessory to dwellings, shall set back from all side lot lines a distance of not less than thirty-five feet.
		3.	Rear Yard:
			a.	For main buildings, other than garage apartments, there shall be a rear yard of not less than twenty-five feet.
			b.	Garage apartments may be located in the rear yard of another dwelling, but shall not be located closer than ten feet to the rear lot line. Unattached buildings of accessory use shall not be located closer to any rear lot line than five feet.
		4.	Lot Width:
			a.	For single and two-family dwellings, there shall be a minimum lot width of seventy-five feet at the front building line.
			b.	For multiple family dwellings, there shall be a minimum lot width of one hundred feet at the front building line.
			c.	For lots having a width of not more than one hundred fifty feet, the lot length shall not be greater than three times the lot width.
		5.	Intensity of Use:
			a.	For each single family dwelling and building accessory thereto served by a sanitary sewer system, there shall be a lot area of not less than seven thousand five hundred square feet.
			b.	For each two family dwelling and building accessory thereto served by a sanitary sewer system, there shall be a lot area of not less than ten thousand square feet.
			c.	For multiple-family structures served by a sanitary sewer system there shall be a lot area of not less than twelve thousand square feet for the first two dwelling units, plus three thousand square feet for each additional dwelling unit. For those structures which provide off-street parking within the main structure, the lot area requirement may be reduced two hundred square feet for parking space.
			d.	For dwellings and buildings accessory thereto not served by a sanitary sewer system there shall be a minimum lot area of twenty thousand square feet per dwelling unit; however, a greater area may be required based on recommendations by the health department because of inadequate soil percolation.
				Multi-family dwellings not served by a sanitary sewer system shall be permitted only on review by the Planning Commission based on the recommendations of the health department.
			e.	When a garage apartment is located in the rear yard of a two-family or multiple-family dwelling, the lot area shall not be less than one thousand five hundred square feet more than is required by the two-family or multiple-family dwelling.
			f.	For churches and other main and accessory buildings, other than dwellings in buildings accessory to dwellings, the lot area shall be adequate to provide the yard area as required by this section and the off-street parking area as required in Article 5, Section 7; provided, however, that the lot area for a church shall not be less than thirty thousand square feet.
		6.	Maximum Lot Coverage:
			Main and accessory buildings shall cover not more than thirty percent of the lot area.

E.	USABLE OPEN SPACE:	For multiple-family structures there shall be usable open space provided for each dwelling unit of not less than four hundred square feet.

F.	HEIGHT REGULATIONS:	No main building shall exceed three stories or thirty-five feet in height, except as provided in Article 5, Section 5. Accessory buildings shall not exceed fifteen feet in height.


G.	OFF-STREET PARKING:	As regulated in Article 5, Section 7.

SECTION 2b		R-1E SINGLE FAMILY EXCLUSIVE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
A.	GENERAL DESCRIPTION:	This is a restrictive residential district intended to be used for established single family residential subdivisions and areas immediately adjacent to such development intended for low population densities. These areas are intended to be defined and protected from the encroachment of uses not performing a function necessary to the single family residential environment.


B.	PERMITTED PRINCIPAL AND ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES:	Property and buildings in an R-1E Single Family Exclusive Residential District shall be used only for the following purposes:
		1.	Detached single family dwellings, but not including trailer houses or mobile homes.
		2.	Utility substations, easements, alleys and rights-of-way, and transportation easements, alleys and rights-of-way.
		3.	Accessory uses, subject to the provisions of Article 5, Section 4.
		4.	Accessory buildings and structures, subject to the provisions of Article 5, Section 4. The total of the following area calculations shall not exceed the building area of the principal building, or 750 square feet, whichever is lesser:
			a.	Building area of accessory buildings.
			b.	Area covered by the roofs of accessory structures which are not buildings.
				Recreational improvements that can be construed as structures but do not contain covered or enclosed areas (including, but not limited to: swimming pools; tennis courts and patios) shall be exempt from this provision.
		5.	Signs, as regulated in Article 5, Section 10.
		6.	Agricultural crops, but not the raising of farm animals or poultry.

Ba.	USES PERMITTED ON REVIEW:	1.	Commercial telecommunications towers.

C.	PROHIBITED USES:	1.	Storage facilities for Class 1 flammable and combustible liquids (as defined by the National Fire Prevention Code) having an aggregate total of more than fifteen gallons, but excluding storage facilities which are part of a motorized vehicle or pleasure craft. These requirements do not apply to storage on a construction site where such materials are to be used.
		1.

D.	AREA REGULATIONS:	1.	Front Yard:
			a.	For dwellings, the minimum depth of front yard shall be twenty-five feet and in no case shall an accessory building be located or extend into the front yard.
		2.	Side Yard:
			a.	For a single story dwelling located on an interior lot the side yards shall be not less than eight feet in width.
			b.	For dwellings of more than one story there shall be a side yard requirement of not less than twelve feet.
			c.	Unattached buildings of accessory use shall not be located closer to a side yard line than five feet.
		3.	Rear Yard:
			a.	For main buildings there shall be a rear yard of not less than twenty-five feet.
			b.	Unattached buildings of accessory use shall not be located closer to any rear lot line than five feet.
		4.	Intensity of Use:
			a.	For each dwelling and building accessory thereto, served by a sanitary sewer system, there shall be a lot area of not less than seven thousand five hundred square feet.
			b.	For dwellings and buildings accessory thereto, not served by a sanitary sewer system, there shall be a minimum lot area of twenty thousand square feet; however, a greater area may be required based on recommendations by the Health Department.
		5.	Maximum Lot Coverage:
			a.	Dwellings and buildings accessory thereto shall cover not more than thirty percent of the lot area.

E.	HEIGHT REGULATIONS:	No main building shall exceed two and one-half stories or thirty-five feet in height, except as provided in Article 5, Section 5. Accessory buildings shall not exceed fifteen feet in height.

F.	OFF-STREET PARKING:	As regulated in Article 5, Section 7.

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Article 4: Specific Districts Regulations Section 2, 2a and 2b

R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

Article 4: Specific Districts Regulations
Section 2, 2a and 2b