Addressing Rules and Procedures

The following information explains each part in more detail. Additional information can be found in the Administrative Rules and Procedures, Appendix A.

Address Numbers

1. All structures are assigned a unique address.
2. Multiple structures on one lot receive an individual address assignment.
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 can extend no more than 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 addresses 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.
2. References to a number are prohibited (e.g. Ten, First, Sixth).
3. North, South, East, West or other directional cannot be used as the base name.
4. Abbreviations, punctuation, single alphabet characters and initials are prohibited.
5. References to Old, New, Little, Big or other descriptive terms are prohibited.
6. Phonetic duplicates are prohibited (e.g. Jim/Gem, Montvue/Montview, Lynndell/Lindal).
7. Streets within a subdivision cannot have base names beginning with the same word (e.g. Wood Lake and Wood Cove).

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.

Other road types such as boulevard and circle can be requested.

*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.