QUICK FACTS: HOME OCCUPATIONS (City of Knoxville)

A Home Occupation is a gainful occupation conducted in a dwelling unit or residence. Home Occupations in the City must be approved by MPC through the Use On Review process. Home Occupation requests in the County must be approved administratively by the Knox County Department of Code Administration (215-2325).

Materials that must be submitted by the standard deadline:
  •  A completed application form
  •  Review fee
  •  Ten (10) copies of the development plan. Each copy must contain:
    •
      • Proposed use
      • Off-street parking and loading plan
      • Circulation diagram to indicate ingress/egress and the movement of vehicles, goods, and people
      • Building footprint (include floor plan)
      • Proposed signage
      • Conformance to required setbacks
      • Written statement of operations (include hours of operation, deliveries, and projected customer traffic)

    The following regulations apply:
  • No more than one (1) person, other than family members residing in the dwelling, shall be engaged in the proposed occupation
  • The Home Occupation must be incidential and subordinate to the residential use by its occupants
  • The Home Occupation may not exceed 25% of the total floor area of the residence
  • The Home Occupation can not be conducted in an accessory building
  • No change to the exterior of the dwelling, no outdoor storage of goods and materials, and no other visible evidence of the occupation
  • No equipment or process can be used which increases noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, and electrical interference
  • No sales of goods, merchandise, or services other than those produced on premises
  • No additional traffic can be generated than would normally be expected in the residential neighborhood
  • The Home Occupation is limited to one (1) non-illuminated sign, not exceeding two (2) square feet in size, and mounted flat against the dwelling.
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    Home Occupation requests must:
  • Be compatible with the character of the neighborhood
  • Not significantly injure the value of adjacent properties
  • Be consistent with the General Plan, One Year Plan, Sector Plans, and other adopted plans
    •

    Home Occupations permitted, subject to approval by MPC:
  • Artist, sculptor, author
  • Barber shop and beauty shop
  • Dressmaker, milliner, seamstress, tailor, interior decorator
  • Professional office for a physician, dentist, lawyer, engineer, architect or accountant
  • Teaching, including tutoring, musical instruction or dancing, but limited to one pupil per teacher at any given time
  • Computer programming and word processing
  • Telephone answering service
  • Cooking and preserving
  • Any other similar use which the Planning Commission deems to be a home occupation

    • Specifically Prohibited as a Home Occupation:

    Tea Room, Tourist Home, Real Estate Office, Convalescent Home, Mortuary Establishment, Animal Hospital, Repair Shop, Catering Service

    Home Occupation requests may be:

    A. Approved - MPC approval becomes effective after the 15-day appeal period has expired. (After the appeal period, the applicant may apply for a building permit, if needed.)

    B. Approved with Conditions - The Planning Commission may impose conditions regarding the location, character, or other features of the proposed use as it deems appropriate. (After the appeal period, the applicant may apply for a building permit, if needed, subject to any conditions approved by MPC.)

    C. Denied

    Appeal of MPC Decisions on Home Occupations:

    Appeals are heard by City Council. The appeal must be filed with MPC within 15 days from the date of the MPC public hearing.

     

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    Disclaimer

    This is not a legal document. It does not replace or amend the existing regulations governing the Home Occupation review process. Requirements for Home Occupations and Use On Review are detailed in the City of Knoxville Zoning Ordinance, Article 5, Sections 3 and 12, Article 7 Section 5. For additional information, contact the MPC staff, by telephone at 215-2500 or by FAX at 215-2068.