Reserve a New Street 

To propose a street or subdivision name, complete the Street Name and/or Subdivision Name Request and return it to the Addressing Department by email, mail or in person. Developers or property owners can reserve street and subdivision names within their development for up to 5 years. 
Name Request Form

Planning staff works closely with Knox 911 to make sure street and subdivision names are clear and concise for emergency personnel. Proposed street names may not be an exact or phonetic duplication of an existing street name within Knox County. Before submitting street names, review the list of active names to ensure the proposed name is not in use.

Proposed names must comply with City and County ordinances and the Addressing Guidelines and Procedures. Please review the General Addressing Guidelines and Procedures pertaining to base names before submitting your request.

• City of Knoxville Uniform Street Naming and Addressing Ordinance

• Knox County Uniform Street Naming and Addressing System Ordinance

• Addressing Guidelines and Procedures (PDF)

Request a Street or Subdivision Name Change

To request a name change within Knox County, follow the steps below and coordinate with Addressing Department staff. Changes to existing street or subdivision names are permissible with support from affected owners, approval from the Planning Commission, and City Council or County Commission.

1. Contact the Addressing Department for a Name Change Application
   Staff will explain the name change process to you and review your proposed name to confirm it is consistent with naming guidelines. Staff will provide you with a Name Change Request. This application must be used to canvas current property owners along the street.

2. Canvas your neighbors by going door-to-door
   Collect the signature of all affected property owners and obtain their opinion on the proposed name change (whether they agree or disagree). If a property owner cannot be reached, a good faith effort to contact them must be documented by the applicant.
   
   Note: Original signatures are required on the form (no faxes or photocopies).
   
   Planning staff will only accept applications when 75% of the abutting property owners are in favor of the proposed name change.

3. Return the form and fee to Knoxville-Knox County Planning
   The Name Change Request with original signatures and fee must be submitted to Knoxville-Knox County Planning.
   Deadlines and Fees

4. Attend required meetings
   Attend the Planning Commission meeting and other legislative meetings as required by the approval process.

5. Approved street and subdivision name changes
   Planning will send a letter to all property owners along the street notifying them of the street name change and any corresponding change in their address. Planning will also notify Knox 911 and the U.S. Postal Service. Residents, tenants, and property owners are responsible for notifying all correspondents about the street name change. This includes utility and phone companies, mortgage and insurance companies, Knox County Property Assessor, Department of Motor Vehicles, etc.
   
   If the existing subdivision name was identified on a previously recorded plat, a corrected plat or other document referencing the name change should be recorded with the Knox County Register of Deeds.
   
   Objections can be voiced at any time throughout this process. Planning Commission action regarding a name change may be appealed to the appropriate legislative body. Any aggrieved party to a name change in unincorporated Knox County has 30 days to appeal a Planning Commission decision. Within the City of Knoxville, appeals must be made within 15 days of the decision.

Request a New Address or Temporary Address

To request a new, official, or temporary address for a property located in Knox County, complete the Address Request Form and return by email, mail, or in person.
Address Request Form

New address assignments require submission of a site plan. The City of Knoxville and Knox County may require an address certification for a building permit. For a description of this process, see our overview of the Building Permit/Address Certification Procedure process.

In most cases, when a single address is requested, the process is completed the day the form is submitted and there is no fee. More complex projects, including apartments, business complexes and subdivisions may take several days or weeks to complete depending upon the number of addresses requested and other factors. There is an addressing fee for 5 or more address assignments.

A temporary address may be assigned if an official address is not appropriate for the request. Some examples of when a temporary address may be assigned include: utility cost estimates, driveway permits, BZA variance requests, and job construction trailers.

An address change may be required if an existing address does not meet current addressing guidelines. Review the section on Addressing Guidelines and Procedures for additional information. 

If you have questions regarding your zip code or the location of your mailbox, please contact the U.S. Postal Service. 

Certify an Address for Building Permits/Plans Review 

Address Certification

• All activities requiring a building permit need a certified address before a permit will be issued. Inspectors from the City of Knoxville and Knox County use these addresses to locate structures requesting inspection. 

When you're submitting a building permit application for...

• New construction: New addresses will be assigned

• Renovations / Alteration of Existing Structures: A review of the address(es) currently in use will take place

Submit Address Request Form

• Request an address certificate by completing the Address Request Form. The applicant will be provided with a PDF containing the official address and Planning's certification stamp. This form should be included with your building permit application.