Reminders for Conducting Business Outdoors

Knoxville has a temperate climate making the outdoors an enjoyable part of the consumer experience. The City of Knoxville values the importance of our commercial corridors and for businesses to thrive with and in their community as valuable neighbors.

While this is not a comprehensive list, here are a few reminders of regulations in the City:

General Loud Noise – Have consideration for neighbors.

Please assure your business is operating at a noise level that does not disturb nearby residential neighbors or cause discomfort to those nearby. 

• The City’s noise ordinance covers a variety of areas including unreasonably loud, unusual, disturbing, or unnecessary noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood. 

• Between the hours of midnight and 7 am the noise must be kept at a lower level. 

• More details on the noise ordinance can be found here.

Food Trucks – Require licensure.

• Business owners should ensure all food trucks operating on business premises display an up-to-date City of Knoxville Mobile Food Unit permit. This permit is required to operate within City limits, and validates that a food truck as proper Health Department, Fire, and Electrical inspections as well as signed an indemnification agreement with the City. 

• Food trucks are not allowed to use amplification devices (like a speaker for announcing order numbers) or serve alcohol.

• Food trucks cannot operate in City of Knoxville right-of-way’s outside of designated areas. They can operate on private property with permission of the owner. 

• More details on food trucks can be found here.

Outdoor Patios – Serving food and alcohol outdoors, dogs outdoors, and patio permits.

• If alcohol is being served and/or consumed outdoors, the City requires the area be adjacent to the primary building, operated by the business, “fenced in” or have a defined perimeter with a barrier and appropriate exits.  

• If a business provides alcohol, sold or given, the business must have a beer or liquor license. 

• Entertainment outdoors is allowed depending on the type of business and zoning with adherence to appropriate noise levels. Some zoning may require a permit, details can be found here. 

• Businesses interested in adding outside patio space would go through the standard building permit process.

• Dogs can be allowed in some outdoor patio areas. The details and application can be found here.

If you have questions regarding a specific situation, please feel free to call 311 or 865-215-4311.