08/13/2026
ATTENTION KNOX COUNTY...
For more details, read our overview here:
The proposed changes to Knox County’s Unified Development Ordinance are something cattle producers, farmers, and agricultural landowners need to be paying close attention to. The latest draft proposes moving property currently zoned Agricultural into a Rural Residential classification, which raises important questions about the future of farmland and development in rural areas of the county.
For cattle producers, this is about more than what happens on their own property. Increased residential development around working farms can bring more traffic, greater development pressure, and potential conflicts between agricultural operations and new residential neighbors.
We understand that Knox County is growing and that growth has to be planned for. At the same time, agriculture and the rural character of these communities deserve a seat at the table. Once productive farmland is converted to development, that land is very difficult to bring back into agricultural production.
This proposal is still in the draft stage, so now is the time for producers and landowners to educate themselves. We encourage members of the agricultural community in Knox County to look at the proposed zoning for their property, understand what these changes could mean for their farm and surrounding community, and make their voices heard as the county moves through this process.
