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Compare on Amazon →Backyard Chickens in Knoxville, Tennessee
Chickens are legal in Knoxville — here's exactly what the ordinance requires.
Quick legal answer
Are backyard chickens legal in Knoxville, Tennessee?
Yes — subject to local rules
- Hen limit
- Up to 6 hens
- Roosters
- Not allowed
- Permit
- Required — Permit fee required; confirm current amount with animal control
- Setback
- Henhouses must comply with Knoxville zoning rules; covered predator-resistant henhouse and fenced enclosure required
- Zoning
- Domesticated hens are allowed with a permit; hens must be secured in the henhouse during non-daylight hours; roosters are prohibited
Last verified: May 2026
View Knoxville ordinance ↗Ordinances and zoning rules change. Confirm the current requirements with your municipality before buying birds or building a coop.
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What the Knoxville Rules Say
Knoxville Municipal Code Section 5-107 regulates domesticated chickens. The reviewed official code page requires hens to be kept for personal use, secured within a henhouse during non-daylight hours, and provided with a covered, predator-resistant henhouse plus a fenced enclosure.
The commonly cited limit under Knoxville’s domesticated hen rule is 6 hens. Roosters are not allowed.
The code also requires proper ventilation, sanitation, and construction that resists access by rodents, wild birds, and predators.
What This Means in Plain English
Knoxville allows backyard hens, but the flock needs to be permitted, small, and well-contained. Plan for no more than 6 hens, no roosters, and a clean enclosure built for predators and weather.
Practical Considerations
Permit
Start with the animal control permit process before buying birds. Permit rules can be enforced if the coop creates health, safety, odor, or nuisance issues.
Coop and Run
Plan at least 2 square feet per hen in the henhouse and 6 square feet per bird in the fenced enclosure, matching the common Tennessee urban-hen standard used in Knoxville’s code language.
Personal Use
Hens are for personal use. Do not plan on breeding, selling eggs commercially from the backyard, or keeping roosters.
Getting Started
- Confirm the current Knoxville permit process.
- Plan for 6 hens or fewer.
- Do not keep roosters.
- Build a covered, predator-resistant henhouse and fenced enclosure.
- Keep hens secured at night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have chickens in Knoxville, TN?
Yes. Knoxville allows domesticated hens with permit and enclosure requirements.
How many hens can I have in Knoxville?
The commonly cited limit is 6 hens.
Are roosters allowed in Knoxville?
No. Knoxville does not allow roosters under the domesticated hen rule.
Matched next steps
Recommended Setup for Knoxville's Rules
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Galvanized Feed Storage Can
Pest controlRodent-resistant feed storage that helps prevent pests, odors, and nuisance complaints.
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After checking the rules
Next Steps for Knoxville Chicken Keepers
Verification Notice
This page was last verified against Knoxville's municipal code in May 2026. Ordinances change — always confirm current rules with your local city clerk before purchasing birds or building a coop.
View Knoxville Municipal Code ↗Get Backyard Chicken Updates for Tennessee
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