An address contains three main parts:
1. Address Number
2. Base Name
3. Road Type

Additional information can be found in the Addressing Guidelines and Procedures.

 

Address Numbers

  1. All occupiable structures require a unique address.
  2. Multiple structures on one lot each receive an individual address.
  3. An address is assigned based on a structure's location and its access to the street.
  4. Buildings on the south and east sides of streets receive even numbers.
  5. Building on the north and west sides of streets receive odd numbers.
  6. Block numbers are assigned to road sections extending between intersections. A block range is approximately 1,000 feet.
  7. The address number must be in sequence with surrounding addresses. 
  8. No half (1/2) numbers are allowed.
  9. Buildings with apartments or multiple suites must have interior addresses as well as a street addresses (e.g. 1021 Jones Way, Apartment 401). See Assigning Interior Addresses.
  10. If six or more buildings or lots utilize a private driveway or joint permanent easement, it must be named.
    See Naming of Easements.

Base Name

  1. The base name may contain a maximum of two words and 26 characters. The base name shall be easy to read, pronounce, and spell.
  2. References to a number are prohibited (e.g. Ten, First, Sixth).
  3. North, South, East, West or other directionals cannot be used as the base name.
  4. Abbreviations, punctuation, single alphabet characters and initials are prohibited.
  5. Phonetic duplicates are prohibited (e.g. Jim/Gem, Montvue/Montview, Lynndell/Lindal).
  6. Streets within a subdivision cannot begin or end with the same word (e.g. Wood Lake and Wood Cove).
  7. Prohibited words include: Old, New, Big, Little, Short, Long, Creek, Park, and Trail.

Road Types

  1. Streets running east and west are called drives or avenues.
  2. Streets running north and south are called streets or roads.
  3. Dead-end public streets are called lanes.
  4. Private drives or easements serving six or more addresses are called ways. Addressing will not approve a private street ending in Park.

Standard Road Type Abbreviations

  • ROAD TYPE  ABBREVIATION
  • AVENUE  AVE
  • BOULEVARD**  BLVD
  • CIRCLE**  CIR
  • COURT**  CT
  • DRIVE  DR
  • FREEWAY***  FWY
  • HIGHWAY***  HWY
  • LANE  LN
  • PARKWAY***  PKWY
  • ROAD  RD
  • STREET  ST
  • TRAIL**  TRL
  • WAY                                                                                  WAY
    • **May require approval by the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission.
    • ***Applies to existing and proposed streets constructed by the Department of Transportation.

Optional

Additionally, an address can contain...

  • Street Prefix N - S - E - W

  • Sub Address Suite, Apartment, Unit