The following information explains each part in more detail. Additional information can be found in the Administrative Rules and Procedures, Appendix A.
Address Numbers
- All structures are assigned a unique address.
- Multiple structures on one lot receive an individual address assignment.
- An address is assigned based on a structure's location and its access to the street.
- Buildings on the south and east sides of streets receive even numbers.
- Building on the north and west sides of streets receive odd numbers.
- Block numbers are assigned to road sections extending between intersections. A block range can extend no more than 1,000 feet.
- The address number must be in sequence with surrounding addresses.
- No half (1/2) numbers are allowed.
- 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.
- If six or more addresses or lots utilize a private driveway or joint permanent easement, it must be named.
See Naming of Easements.
Base Name
- The base name may contain a maximum of two words and 26 characters.
- References to a number are prohibited (e.g. Ten, First, Sixth).
- North, South, East, West or other directional cannot be used as the base name.
- Abbreviations, punctuation, single alphabet characters and initials are prohibited.
- References to Old, New, Little, Big or other descriptive terms are prohibited.
- Phonetic duplicates are prohibited (e.g. Jim/Gem, Montvue/Montview, Lynndell/Lindal).
- Streets within a subdivision cannot have base names beginning with the same word (e.g. Wood Lake and Wood Cove).
Road Types
- Streets running east and west are called drives or avenues.
- Streets running north and south are called streets or roads.
- Dead-end public streets are called lanes.
- Private drives or easements serving six or more addresses are called ways. Addressing will not approve a private street ending in Park.
Other road types such as boulevard and circle can be requested.
ROAD TYPE |
ABBREVIATION (2-4 CHARACTERS) |
ALLEY* |
ALY |
ARCADE* |
ARC |
AVENUE |
AVE |
BEND* |
BND |
BOULEVARD** |
BLVD |
CIRCLE** |
CIR |
COURT** |
CT |
COVE* |
CV |
DALE* |
DL |
DRIVE |
DR |
FREEWAY*** |
FRWY |
GLEN* |
GLN |
HEIGHTS* |
HTS |
HIGHWAY*** |
HWY |
INTERSTATE*** |
INT |
LANE |
LN |
LOOP* |
LOOP |
PARKWAY*** |
PKWY |
PASS* |
PASS |
PIKE* |
PIKE |
PLACE* |
PL |
PLAZA* |
PLZ |
POINT* |
PT |
RIDGE* |
RDG |
ROAD |
RD |
SQUARE* |
SQ |
STREET |
ST |
TERRACE* |
TER |
TRACE* |
TRCE |
TRAIL** |
TRL |
TURN* |
TURN |
VIEW* |
VW |
WAY |
WAY |
*Prohibited under the current addressing guidelines, but allowed previously.
**May require approval by the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission.
***Applies to existing and proposed streets constructed by the Department of Transportation.