Backyard Chickens in Knoxville, Tennessee

Can you keep chickens in Knoxville?

Thinking about raising backyard hens in Knoxville, Tennessee? The Scruffy City allows up to six permitted hens per household under its Domesticated Chickens ordinance — just remember, roosters aren't invited to this coop party. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the official city ordinance to get you started on the right foot (or talon).

Yes – with conditions

Yes. The City of Knoxville allows residents to keep domesticated hens with an approved permit. Under the City Animals Ordinance, Chapter 5, Article IV, Section 5-107, up to six (6) hens may be kept per lot (or per multifamily complex without individually owned back yards), for personal use only. Only female hens are allowed — roosters and other fowl/poultry species are prohibited. An annual permit from the city's Animal Control unit is required, with a $25.00 fee.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $25
Setback from property line: 10 ft.

Peggy knows Knoxville

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Per the City of Knoxville's official 'Application for Permit to Keep Domesticated Hens' (implementing Chapter 5, Article IV, Section 5-107):

Only female hens are allowed; no roosters or other poultry/fowl species are permitted.
Hens must be kept for personal use only — selling eggs, breeding for commercial purposes, and slaughtering chickens are all prohibited.
Hens must be kept in a fenced hen run at all times; the enclosure must be either covered, or at least 42 inches high with hens wing-clipped to prevent escape. Hens must be secured in the henhouse during non-daylight hours.
A covered, predator-resistant henhouse is required in addition to the run.
Minimum space: 2 sq ft per hen in the henhouse (max 100 sq ft henhouse) and 6 sq ft per hen in the run.
Henhouses and enclosures may not be located less than 10 feet from any abutting property line, and are not permitted in front yards.
Henhouses must be enclosed on all sides with a roof and lockable doors; windows/vents must be covered with predator- and bird-resistant wire with openings under 1 inch.
Construction materials must be uniform (matching walls, roofing, window materials) and the henhouse must be well-maintained.
Food must be stored indoors or in weather-resistant, animal-proof containers; uneaten food removed daily.
Manure must be properly stored/contained if composted, or removed if not; the area must be kept free of trash and droppings.
A permittee granted an 'education exemption' may keep up to 13 additional hens for up to 6 months within a 12-month period.
Applicants must own the property or get the property owner's written approval, occupy the property as a primary residence, and submit a site map plus photos/drawings of the coop and run with the application.
Civil violations may draw fines up to $50 per day.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Knoxville

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 7a/7b

Knoxville sits in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a to 7b, with a humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) climate featuring hot, humid summers and mild winters. Coops should prioritize summer shade and ventilation while also blocking winter drafts, since temperatures can occasionally dip into the single digits Fahrenheit.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossumSnake

Common backyard chicken predators in the Knoxville area include hawks (especially red-tailed and Cooper's hawks), raccoons, foxes, coyotes, opossums, and snakes. Secure coops should use hardware cloth rather than chicken wire, bury fencing aprons to deter digging, and include covered runs to block aerial attacks from hawks.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Buff Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Australorp, Rhode Island Red

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Knoxville

▸How many hens can I keep in Knoxville?

Up to six (6) hens per lot are allowed, regardless of how many dwelling units are on the lot. Multifamily complexes without individually owned backyards are also capped at six hens per complex, with limited exceptions for education-exemption permittees.

▸Are roosters allowed in Knoxville?

No. Only female hens are permitted under the city ordinance; roosters and other poultry or fowl species are not allowed.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Knoxville?

Yes. You must obtain an annual permit from the city's Animal Control unit (administered via the Young-Williams Animal Center of East Tennessee), which costs $25.00 per year and runs from issuance through December 31, renewing annually thereafter.

▸How far must my coop be from my property line?

Neither the henhouse nor the fenced enclosure may be located less than 10 feet from any abutting property line, and they are not allowed in front yards at all.

▸Can I sell eggs from my Knoxville backyard flock?

No. Hens must be kept strictly for personal use; selling eggs, commercial breeding, fertilizer production for sale, and slaughtering chickens are all prohibited under the ordinance.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Knoxville or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 2, 2026.