TREE ORDINANCE

The purpose and intent of the City of Knoxville's Tree Ordinance is to encourage the preservation and protection of trees within the city because of the unique benefits they provide the community in assisting the natural control of solar heat, soil conservation, flood control, air pollution and noise; in providing a haven for community wildlife; and in providing citizens with psychological relief from the increasing complexities of the manmade urban environment. It is not intended to be punitive nor to cause hardships on those individuals and concerns exercising reasonable care and diligence to protect trees.

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TREES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY ORDINANCE PERMIT

The purpose and intent of the City of Knoxville's Trees on Public Property Ordinance is to increase public safety while encouraging the conservation, protection, and management of trees on public property within the city because of the unique benefits they provide the community in assisting the natural control of solar heat, soil conservation, flood control, air pollution and noise; in providing a haven for community birds and wildlife; in providing citizens with relief from aesthetic degradation of the manmade environment and in helping increase the economic appeal of a community. In furtherance of this purpose, this article also creates a city tree board and establishes an urban forester to achieve the objectives of this article.

Application for Trees on Public Property (fillable) - [PDF]
Application for Trees on Public Property (printable) - [PDF]