The Knoxville City Council discussed a request by a resident regarding camping ordinances, particularly related to special events, at its meeting last week. The council decided to not allow for the special request, as the request would not comply with city code. Interim City Manager Heather Ussery says this decision is about setting a precedent.

“The property owner at this specific property had requested to speak to council regarding the regulations that are outlined in city code, and if they had to meet those. The ultimate decision by city council was that they would be enforcing those regulations. We’re trying to enforce the code overall in the city when it comes to camping. There’s a lot of camping that pops up throughout the year for special events, and we’re trying to regulate those as much as possible.”

Campgrounds within the city must include amenities such as electricity, water, and sewer, paved driveways, among other requirements, and the request was to have some of these requirements waived.