Note 1: The Land Development Manual (LDM) is intended to assist interested parties (developers, engineers, property owners, city personnel) with procedures for land development within the City of Knoxville. The LDM focuses primarily on the role of the Engineering Department with regards to plan and plat requirements, review process, inspections, etc. Land development is also regulated by the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) and the City of Knoxville Plans Review & Inspections Division; see Chapter 2 for a more complete discussion.
Note 2: Most users are encouraged to use this website to obtain the entire LDM or particular portions that they may be interested in. The various portions of the Land Development Manual are in Adobe Acrobat [PDF] format.
Note 3: Please contact the Engineering Department, Room 480 in the City County Building, with written comments or suggestions. Be specific concerning the page number and location. Comments may also be e-mailed to
bedalton@knoxvilletn.gov.
Note 4: The entire Land Development Manual can be downloaded as a single PDF file with bookmarks to easily navigate document. If bookmarks are not visible in the PDF file, then choose menu item "Show Bookmarks". It is highly recommended that a user have a cable connection for the document to successfully download.
| Entire Land Development Manual |
| File: |
Knoxville LDM Manual [PDF] |
| Size: |
11,598 kb; 389 pages |
| Last Update: |
November 2018 |
Main Text of Land Development Manual
| File name |
Rev. Date |
Title |
| LDM SPINE [PDF] |
06/03 |
Label to insert into spine for a 3" binder |
| LDM COVER [PDF] |
02/02 |
Cover page to insert into a binder |
| LDM TITLE [PDF] |
04/07 |
Title Page |
| LDM REV [PDF] |
11/18 |
Revisions Page |
| LDM TOC [PDF] |
04/18 |
Table of Contents |
| LDM LIST [PDF] |
10/14 |
List of Figures and Tables |
| LDM ABBR [PDF] |
10/14 |
List of Abbreviations and Acronyms |
| LDM CH 01 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 1 – Introduction |
| LDM CH 02 [PDF] |
05/04 |
Chapter 2 – Plan and Plat Review Process |
| LD FIG 2-2 [PDF] |
05/04 |
Figure 2-2: Site Development Review |
11" x 17" |
| LD FIG 2-3 [PDF] |
05/04 |
Figure 2-3: Plat Submittal Review |
11" x 17" |
| LD FIG 2-4 [PDF] |
05/04 |
Figure 2-4: Construction Inspections |
11" x 17" |
| LDM CH 03 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 3 – Available Resources |
| LDM CH 04 [PDF] |
02/02 |
Chapter 4 – Property Regulations |
| LDM CH 05 [PDF] |
07/13 |
Chapter 5 – Permitting Requirements |
| LDM CH 06 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 6 – Small Single Family Residential |
| LDM CH 07 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 7 – Large Residential and Commercial |
| LDM CH 08 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 8 – Overall Stormwater Planning |
| LDM CH 09 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 9 – Stormwater Design |
| LDM CH 10 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 10 – Stormwater Detention and Quality |
| LDM CH 11 [PDF] |
02/13 |
Chapter 11 – Floodplain Design |
| LDM CH 12 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 12 – Street Design Criteria |
| LDM CH 13 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 13 – Site Construction Administration |
| LDM CH 14 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 14 – Site Construction Activities |
| LDM CH 15 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Chapter 15 – Definitions and References |
Appendix A - Stormwater Engineering Division Forms
| File name |
Rev. Date |
Title |
| LD App A [PDF] |
04/18 |
Index sheet for Appendix A |
| LD Form A [PDF] |
11/18 |
Permit Application |
| Form B |
|
Property Owner Acknowledgement
Withdrawn April 2018
|
| LD Form C [PDF] |
04/18 |
Fee Computation Worksheet |
| Form D |
|
Information Worksheet for CPMSF (Covenants)
Withdrawn April 2018
|
| LD Form E1 [PDF] |
01/10 |
Site Development Review Checklist |
| LD Form E2 [PDF] |
04/08 |
Site Development Submittal Checklist |
​Form F
|
12/13 |
Plat Review Checklist
Withdrawn April 2018
|
| LD Form G [PDF] |
03/10 |
Site Inspection Checklist |
| LD Form H [PDF] |
01/17 |
Development Certification Checklist |
| Form I |
|
Construction Right-Of-Way Permit
Withdrawn April 2018
|
| Form J |
|
Floodplain Development Permit
Withdrawn April 2018
|
| Form K |
|
Site Development Permit
Withdrawn April 2018
|
| Form L |
|
Notice of Violation (NOV) Form
Withdrawn April 2018
|
| LD Form M1 [PDF] |
01/18 |
Special Pollution Abatement Permit |
| LD Form M2 [PDF] |
01/18 |
SPAP - Food Handling & Processing Facilities |
| LD Form M3 [PDF] |
01/18 |
SPAP - Vehicle & Equipment Facilities |
| LD Form M4 [PDF] |
01/18 |
SPAP - Vehicle Wash Facilities |
| LD Form M5 [PDF] |
01/18 |
SPAP - Large Parking Lot Facilities |
| LD Form N [PDF] |
04/18 |
FEMA Elevation Certificate and Instructions (U.S. Government Form OMB No. 1660-0008) |
| LD Form O [PDF] |
01/18 |
Notice of Intent (NOI) Form |
| LD Form P [PDF] |
03/13 |
Notice of Termination (NOT) Form |
| LD Form Q [PDF] |
01/18 |
NOI/SWPPP Review Checklist |
| LD Form R [PDF] |
03/19 |
Stormwater Monitoring Report Form |
| LD Form S [PDF] |
04/18 |
Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control (EPSC) Plan for Small-Single Family Lots
|
Appendix B - Ordinances
| File name |
Rev. Date |
Title |
| LD App B [PDF] |
02/13 |
Index sheet for Appendix B |
| LD ORD 12 [PDF] |
02/18 |
Flood Damage Prevention and Control |
| LD ORD 14 [PDF] |
05/14 |
Horticulture (Tree Protection Ordinance) |
| LD ORD 22.5 [PDF] |
01/18 |
Stormwater (Stormwater & Street Ordinance) |
| LD ORD 23 [PDF] |
10/14 |
Streets and Sidewalks |
| Links to the City's Ordinances for land development can be found in the Index Sheet for Appendix B at LD App B [PDF] |
Appendix C - Policies
| File name |
Rev. Date |
Title |
| LD App C [PDF] |
04/18 |
Index sheet for Appendix C |
| LD EP 01 [PDF] |
02/02 |
Access Control for Traffic and Driveways |
| LD EP 02 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Covenants - CPMSF (permanent maintenance agreement) |
| LD EP 03 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Creek Restoration and Channel Maintenance |
| LD EP 04 [PDF] |
02/02 |
Drainage Easements |
| LD EP 05 [PDF] |
01/18 |
Easements for Stormwater Control and Water Quality Facilities |
| LD EP 06 [PDF] |
01/18 |
Maintenance Access for Stormwater Management Facilities |
| LD EP 07 [PDF] |
06/15 |
Maintenance Responsibility for Stormwater Drainage Systems |
| LD EP 08 [PDF] |
01/18 |
Declaration Document Process |
| LD EP 09 [PDF] |
07/14 |
Performance and Indemnity Agreements (bonds) |
| LD EP 10 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Retaining Walls |
| LD EP 11 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Sediment Disposal for Detention Basin Maintenance |
| LD EP 12 [PDF] |
06/06 |
Sinkhole Development |
| (Policy #13) |
|
(withdrawn May 2004) Sixty-Day Letter |
| LD EP 14 [PDF] |
06/12 |
Stormwater Enforcement Response Plan |
| LD EP 15 [PDF] |
06/06 |
Stormwater Message for Curb Irons and Manhole Lids |
| LD EP 16 [PDF] |
01/18 |
Stormwater Pipe Materials |
| LD EP 17 [PDF] |
07/14 |
Survey Control System Requirements |
| LD EP 18 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Underground Stormwater Facility Maintenance |
| LD EP 19 [PDF] |
06/03 |
Underground Stormwater Facility Recordkeeping / Reporting |
| LD EP 20 [PDF] |
09/14 |
No-Rise Certification for Floodway Encroachment |
| LD EP 21 [PDF] |
10/12 |
No-Fill Line |
| Policy #22 |
|
Stream Buffer Zone (Restricted-Use)
Withdrawn February 2013 |
| LD EP 23 [PDF] |
06/03 |
List of Studied Streams |
| LD EP 24 [PDF] |
03/06 |
Appealed Concept or Use-On-Review Plan |
| LD EP 25 [PDF] |
10/09 |
Post-Construction Water Quality Control for Proprietary Flow-Through Best Management Practices (BMP's) |
| LD EP 25-A [PDF] |
01/18 |
Policy 25 List A - Sizing Guidelines |
| LD EP 26 [PDF] |
12/09 |
Utility Construction and Maintenance |
| LD EP 27 [PDF] |
01/18 |
Qualified Local Program Construction General Permit |
| LD EP28 [PDF] |
09/16 |
Utility Access Driveways |
Revisions
November 19, 2018 - Revised Form A (Permit Application) within Appendix A.
April 20, 2018 - Withdrew Form B (Property Owner Acknowledgement), Form D (Information Worksheet for CPMSF (Covenants), Form I (Construction Right-Of-Way Permit), Form J (Construction Right-Of-Way Permit), Form K (Site Development Permit), and Form L (Notice of Violation (NOV) Form) within Appendix A. Revised Appendix A Index Sheet, Form C (Fee Computation Worksheet), Form N (FEMA Elevation Certificate and Instructions), and Added Form S (Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control (EPSC) Plan for Small-Single Family Lots) within Appendix A and Revised Appendix C Index Sheet within Appendix C.
February 28, 2018 - Revisions to the Flood Damage Prevention and Control Ordinance (Chapter 12 of City Code) in Appendix B to reflect Ordinance O-22-2018 effective February 27, 2018.
January 22, 2018 - Revised Form M1 (SPAP – General Permit), Form M2 (SPAP - Food Handling & Processing Facilities), Form M3 (SPAP - Vehicle & Equipment Facilities), Form M4 (SPAP - Vehicle Wash Facilities) and Form M5 (SPAP - Large Parking Lot Facilities), Form O (Notice of Intent (NOI)), and Form Q (NOI/SWPPP Review Checklist) within Appendix A; Policy 5 (Easements for Stormwater Control and Water Quality Facilities), Policy 6 (Maintenance Access for Stormwater Management Facilities), Policy 8 (Declaration Document Process), Policy 16 (Stormwater Pipe Materials) and Policy 25-A (Policy 25 List A - Sizing Guidelines in Appendix C; and the Stormwater and Street Ordinance in Appendix B to reflect Ordinance O-281-2017 effective December 22, 2017.
January 20, 2017 - Revised Form H (Development Certification Checklist) within Appendix A.
September 9, 2016 - Added Policy 28 (Utility Access Driveways) within Appendix C.
July 1, 2016 -
Revised Policy 8 (Partial Plat Process) within Appendix C.
For a complete list of revisions,
click here.