In 1991, the Knoxville City Council and Knox County Commission passed The Uniform Street Naming and Addressing Ordinance. The ordinance provided for the foundation of a common database containing accurate address data. It also gave the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) the authority to assign addresses that conform to the new regulations. MPC and the Knox County Emergency Communications District (E-911) are now linked by computer, each maintaining the accuracy of the address database and map.

Why be concerned about proper address assignment? Mail, water, electricity, gas, telephone, emergency and rescue services -- we expect all these services to be delivered promptly and efficiently. In life and death situations especially, you want an ambulance or other emergency service to arrive quickly. This can only happen if you have and use a correct address.

One measure being taken to ensure all new buildings are properly addressed involves the building permit application process. Before a building permit can be issued, the applicant must come to the MPC address counter on the fourth floor of the City County Building with the following information: the subdivision or development's name, the lot#, block, unit, and/or a CLT map parcel #. The applicant will be given a form with the property's address and a "certified address" stamp. This is the address that will be entered into the computers at the City Inspection Bureau or the Knox County Code Administration Department, MPC, and E-911. Maintaining a correct addressing database is a priority with all of these departments.

All new construction requiring a building permit is subject to these procedures. For subdivisions and development plans that require review by MPC, addresses and street names are approved as part of the MPC review process. There are other occasions when additional building permits are sought some time after the approval of the subdivision or development plan. In both cases, the building permit applicant must obtain a stamped certification form from MPC, and submit it to the City or County office where the application was filed before the permit can be issued.

Of all new construction requiring building permits and addresses, shopping centers, office buildings, apartment complexes, condominium units, and mobile home parks are of utmost concern. Every store (or unit) within a shopping center must have an individual address; each separate residence (unit) within an apartment complex, condominium community, or mobile home park must have an address. For emergency services to reach these units, they must have a proper address that has been certified by MPC.

The Knox County E-911 system has a grave responsibility to all citizens and a great need for reliable address information. Citizens are encouraged to do their best in obtaining and using correct addresses. If you have questions regarding the building permit application procedure, please contact Gretchen Beal at 215-2500.