Permit records and Certificates of Occupancy exist for most developments or properties located in the City of Knoxville. These records, in conjunction with other historical records, are used to determine how a property is currently classified to be used in accordance with the locally adopted codes and ordinances. Proposed improvements and tenant changes can be affected by the legal classification of a building or property. To assist the public with ensuring that property to be purchased or used complies with current codes and ordinances, a zoning officer may be requested to document a properties current zoning designation, current legal use classification and/or provide verification that a proposed business/use would be permitted. To initiate a request, please submit a research and records request.
Complete the form below. Complete applications should be submitted to the Plans Review and Inspections general email account (bldginspections@knoxvilletn.gov) for processing.
Document Request Form - Zoning and Use Verification(PDF, 191KB)
A member of the administrative staff will review the application and be in contact with the applicant within 1-2 business days. This correspondence may include clarification of the request, additional information for the application, or payment/invoicing details.
Once the submitted application is approved for processing, an invoice will be generated which you will pay using the ACA portal. We can accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover for payments not exceeding $5,000. Digital checks may be used for payments greater than $5,000 or paper checks may be delivered to the office for processing. The fee schedule for research requests are as follows:
Zoning and Use Verification are billed per parcel number at a rate of $50 per parcel. An initial payment of $50 per parcel is required to begin work associated with the request.
Typically, requests will be completed after no more than 14 business days. Staffing levels, request volume, and the complexity of requests may contribute to deviations in estimated turn-around times. When the request is completed you will receive an email with the results.
Results will be returned in the form of a zoning letter with any copies of any requested supporting documentation, as available. Please note that some details may not be available depending on the age of the project/time of construction.
Research options include:
In person services are currently unavailable. We are working hard to provide in-person options for our customers. Please check back soon as we are regularly adding new features and/or services. For additional help please contact a technician at 865-215-3669 or email bldginspections@knoxvilletn.gov.