Knoxville Home Seller Disclosure Requirements (2026)
Tennessee Code §66-5-201 et seq. requires the Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure. Knoxville's limestone karst geology (sinkhole risk and foundation issues in some Knox County areas), Tennessee River TVA dam-controlled flooding context, lead paint in the city's historic residential neighborhoods, and radon from the East Tennessee mountains and foothills define the Knoxville-specific disclosure landscape.
Tennessee Disclosure Framework
TCA §66-5-201 requires the Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure. Sellers provide at or before the buyer's offer; buyers have 3 business days to rescind after receipt.
Tennessee's form uses "Yes/No/No Knowledge" format and covers: structural conditions, mechanical systems, environmental hazards, flooding, neighborhood and governmental matters, and other material facts.
Karst Geology and Sinkhole Disclosure
Knox County and most of East Tennessee are underlain by the Knox Dolomite and associated carbonate rock formations — a classic karst geology. Carbonate rocks dissolve in slightly acidic groundwater over geological time, creating voids, caves, and sinkholes.
Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure asks about "settling, slippage, sliding, or other soil problems." If your property has experienced:
...you must disclose it.
The Knox County GIS has some karst hazard mapping available. The Tennessee Division of Geology maintains state-wide geologic information. If you're in a known karst zone, buyers' inspectors may recommend geotechnical assessment.
Tennessee River and TVA Flood Zone Disclosure
The Tennessee River through Knoxville is managed by TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority). Fort Loudoun Dam, just west of Knoxville, creates Fort Loudoun Lake — the reservoir that forms Knoxville's waterfront. Watts Bar Lake (east of Knoxville) and Melton Hill Lake (northwest) are adjacent TVA reservoirs.
TVA dam operations generally prevent catastrophic Tennessee River flooding in Knoxville (unlike the pre-TVA era). However, FEMA flood zones still exist along:
The Tennessee RPCD asks about flooding. Disclose any flooding during your ownership, including any water intrusion from creek tributaries during heavy rain events, even if the main river didn't flood.
Lead Paint in Knoxville's Historic Neighborhoods
Knoxville's most walkable and character-rich neighborhoods are also its oldest:
Federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure required for all pre-1978 homes. Knoxville's historic neighborhoods essentially universally qualify.
Radon in East Tennessee
East Tennessee has elevated radon in some areas. The mountain geology of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Valley and Ridge province, and associated crystalline and carbonate rock formations produce radon in portions of Knox, Blount, Sevier, and Anderson counties.
The Tennessee RPCD asks about radon. Disclose any testing results. If untested, buyers in East Tennessee routinely request radon testing as a contract contingency.
Oak Ridge National Lab Area Context
Anderson County (Oak Ridge) has specific environmental history from the Manhattan Project and Cold War nuclear weapons production at the Oak Ridge Reservation. The Y-12 National Security Complex and ORNL facilities have historic contamination issues that DOE and Tennessee have been working to remediate for decades.
Properties in Oak Ridge and adjacent communities should understand the Oak Ridge environmental legacy. The DOE Oak Ridge cleanup program maintains public information. Properties not directly adjacent to DOE facilities don't typically have direct property-level impacts, but buyers in the Anderson County market are often aware of the legacy and may ask about proximity.
Tennessee No Transfer Tax
Tennessee sellers pay no state real estate transfer tax. Tennessee's excise tax on real estate was repealed. County recording fees apply but are minimal.
KAAR MLS — Greater Knoxville Coverage
KAAR (Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS®) MLS covers Knox, Blount, Anderson, Union, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier, Campbell, Claiborne, and Scott counties. This includes the entire Smoky Mountain vacation rental market (Sevier County's Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville) as well as the primary Knoxville metro.