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SCAM NOTICE:
We have been made aware of SCAM EMAILS being sent to BZA applicants. These emails are coming from the email address [email protected] and are asking for fee payment. These are NOT legitimate emails. Please do not reply to these emails or send payment. If you have received an email and would like to confirm that it is from our office, please feel free to reach out to Jen at [email protected].


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Click the link below to read the Zoning Ordinance:
City of Knoxville Zoning Ordinance Article 16, Section 16.3

The City of Knoxville Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the power and authority to grant variances from terms of this ordinance according to the procedure and under the restrictions set out in this section.

The purpose of the variance is to modify the strict application of the specific requirements of this ordinance in the case of exceptionally irregular, narrow, shallow or steep lots, or other exceptional physical conditions, whereby such strict application would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship which would deprive an owner of the reasonable use of his land.  

The variance shall be used only where necessary to overcome some obstacle, as highlighted above, which is preventing an owner from using his property as the zoning ordinance intended.  Please note that mere loss in value does not justify a variance; there must be a deprivation of beneficial use of land.


BOARD OFFICE

If you have comments or questions about an agenda item or about the Board of Zoning Appeals, please the City of Knoxville Zoning Office at 865-215-4311. 


BOARD MEMBERS

Five members are nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council to each serve a term of five years.


MEETING SCHEDULE

The Board meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building, unless otherwise posted.

The monthly Board meeting agenda is published as a public notice in the Legal Notices section of the Knoxville News Sentinel at least 10 days prior to the monthly Board meeting.


APPLICATION
DEADLINE
2024
MEETING DATES
 (by 12:00 Noon EST)  
 December 14, 2023 January 16
 January 11 February 20
 February 8 March 19
March 14  April 16
 April 11 May 21
May 9  June 18
June 13  July 16
July 11  August 20
August 8  September 17
September 12  October 15
 October 10 November 19
November 14  December 17


GENERAL INFORMATION

Please read the following prior to submitting a Board of Zoning Appeals application.

An applicant can request a variance from the Zoning Code requirements or can appeal an administrative official’s interpretation of the Zoning Code. 

Prior to submitting a variance application for your project, please reach out to a Zoning Examiner.

Applications are due by 12:00 Noon EST, on the deadline date, click here for meeting dates and application deadline information.  Incomplete applications will be returned for resubmission. 

Applicant Name is the individual submitting the application, not a company

Applicant Email is where all communications will be sent.

• Applications must be digital and signed by the applicant and they must be submitted as an attachment in a PDF or jpeg format, not embedded into the body of the email.

 

 • Applications must include site plans and elevations, or they will be deemed incomplete.  

• Applicant must describe the hardship conditions that apply to the variance request. Loss in value does not justify a variance; there must be a deprivation of beneficial use of land.

• Correspondence will be directed to the person listed as the applicant, please ensure this information is accurate.

Parcel#, City Council District # and Zoning District can be found in the "Maps" tab at KGIS.org  and these fields must be completed

• Due to size constraints, please limit your documentation only to information pertinent to your variance request.

• Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted as an attachment, not embedded into the body of the email.

• Completed applications may be submitted to our office in person or emailed to [email protected]

• Once the Public Notice is submitted to be published, no new documentation will be added to the packets.

• Once your application has been reviewed you will receive an email for payment.  The fee is $250 per variance request.  We accept Visa, Mastercard & Discover and checks made payable to: City of Knoxville

Applicants must remove the variance sign from the property after the meeting

MEETING INFORMATION


Applicants must attend the meeting in person, or send a representative, to speak to the application. If no one is in attendance for your variance application, the application will not be heard.  Some instances allow for attendance via ZOOM; however, if technology fails your meeting will be postponed to the following month.

Decisions of the Board of Zoning Appeals can be appealed to City Council within 15 days of the Board's decision. Permits may be issued after the appeal period has been exhausted.


MEETING SCHEDULE

The Board meets monthly on the third Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Small Assembly Room of the City County Building, unless otherwise posted.

The monthly Board meeting agenda is published as a public notice in the Legal Notices section of the Knoxville News Sentinel at least 10 days prior to the monthly Board meeting.

Please contact Jennifer Scobee at 865-215-2988 or [email protected] with questions about attending or for alternate attendance options.

Development Services Fee Schedule

 

BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Click here to view current board membership and to check for opportunities to serve on this board.