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Knox County

Knox County Clerk (Business Tax Division and Commission Library)

In short

Knox County Clerk (Business Tax Division and Commission Library) issues 4 permits we publish for Knox County, last verified 2026-10-08. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
County Business Tax License (Standard or Minimal Activity)only if it applies to youKnox County Clerk (Business Tax Division and Commission Library)$15 county license (county-only; inside the City of Knoxville the separate city business license is also required)minimal activity license: renewed each year with the $15 fee by the expiration date on the license; standard license: the Clerk mails the updated license once the Department of Revenue reports the annual business tax paid2026-10-08
Certificate of Background Investigation and Zoning Compliance (Retail Food Store Wine License)only if it applies to youKnox County Clerk (Business Tax Division and Commission Library)$5.00 per person non-refundable Clerk administrative fee, plus a $15.00 Knox County Sheriff's Office arrest-record release feevalid unless there is a change of ownership or location (T.C.A. § 57-3-806(a))2026-10-08
Liquidation / Going-Out-of-Business Sale Licenseonly if it applies to youKnox County Clerk (Business Tax Division and Commission Library)$50 per original or renewal application, each covering 30 days; non-refundable30 days; renewable up to three times per location within one year2026-10-08
County Beer Permit (unincorporated area)only if it applies to youKnox County Clerk (Business Tax Division and Commission Library)$250 non-refundable application fee, plus the $100 annual beer privilege tax paid to the County Clerk (prorated by month for a new permit; due January 1)the permit continues until the business ends, changes ownership, relocates or changes its name (Code § 4-3); the $100 privilege tax is annual; employee and server permits are valid three years2026-10-08

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

County Business Tax License (Standard or Minimal Activity)

As published on the Knox County Clerk's Business Tax License page, 'Most businesses within Knox County must obtain a business license', the license should be obtained before engaging in business, and a mailed application goes with 'the fee of $15.00' to the Knox County Clerk's Office, Business Tax Division, P.O. Box 1566, Knoxville, TN 37901. The $15 is the statutory fee under T.C.A. § 67-4-723(a)(1), paid to the county clerk for taxpayers located in the county. The Tennessee Department of Revenue's registration page sets the minimal activity class at gross receipts over $3,000 and under $100,000 and the standard class at $100,000 or more, and says a business may not operate until its required license is obtained and posted. Per the Clerk's page, a minimal activity license is renewed each year with the $15 fee on or before its expiration date, and for a standard license the Clerk mails the updated license once the Department of Revenue reports the annual business tax paid. The $15 is the county license only: the Clerk's page states that businesses inside the City of Knoxville 'must also register with the City of Knoxville Department of Finance'. Apply online, in person at any Clerk location or by mail; questions to 865-215-2392.

Certificate of Background Investigation and Zoning Compliance (Retail Food Store Wine License)

As stated on the Knox County Clerk's Liquor Privilege Tax page, retail food stores may apply for a Retail Food Store Wine License issued by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission 'but must first obtain a Knox County Certificate of Background Investigation and Zoning Compliance'. The Clerk's application packet sets a 'Nonrefundable Administrative Fee: $5.00 per person', payable to the Knox County Clerk, and includes the Knox County Sheriff's Office release of local arrest record, which carries a '$15.00 fee' (cash, exact change, or check). Under T.C.A. § 57-3-806(a) the certificate comes from the county mayor or chair of the county commission when the store is outside the corporate limits of a municipality, and from the municipality when it is inside one, so this county certificate applies to grocery and retail food stores outside city limits; the statute says the certificate remains valid unless there is a change of ownership or location. Questions to (865) 215-3441.

Liquidation / Going-Out-of-Business Sale License

Knox County Code § 12-56 sets a fee of $50.00 for each original or renewal application for a liquidation sale license, forfeited if the application is disapproved, and the Clerk's Liquidation or Going Out of Business License page states 'The non-refundable fee for the permit is $50.00 for each thirty (30) day period'. Code § 12-51 defines 'County' for this article as the territory of the county exclusive of any incorporated towns or cities. Under §§ 12-54 and 12-55 a license lasts no more than 30 days and may be renewed no more than three times per location within one year, and § 12-53 requires the applicant to state that the business has operated at the location for at least six months. Per the Clerk's page, each application and renewal needs a complete inventory list, the certificate must be posted conspicuously, and advertising must carry the prescribed permit-number statement. Call the Business License Division at 865-215-2392.

County Beer Permit (unincorporated area)

Knox County Code § 4-3(a) makes it unlawful to sell beer 'within the unincorporated area of the county without a beer permit issued by the county clerk and approved by the beer board'. Under Code § 4-4(b) the applicant pays 'an application fee of $250.00 to the county clerk', none of it refundable, and the Clerk's Beer Permits page states 'The non-refundable fee for the permit is $250.00'; the same $250 is the application fee in T.C.A. § 57-5-104(a). Code § 4-4(l) requires the permittee to pay the state privilege tax under T.C.A. § 57-5-104, which sets $100 a year, remitted to the county clerk for businesses outside the incorporated limits of any city or town and prorated by month for a new permit. Per the Clerk's page, the County Commission meets on the 4th Monday at 4:00 pm, the applicant must be present, the application is notarized twice, and the applicant needs a Knox County business tax license. Code §§ 4-5 and 4-36 give new employees 30 days to complete a Sheriff-approved server training programme, and employee and server permits are valid three years. Call 865-215-3441 for filing deadlines.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Knox County
Phone
865-215-2392 (business licenses); 865-215-3441 (beer permits and wine certificates); 865-215-2385 (main office)

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Application for Background Investigation and Zoning Compliance Certificate for Retail Food Store Wine License (with Sheriff's arrest-record release)Knox County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  2. County Clerk — Beer PermitsKnox County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  3. County Clerk — Business Tax LicenseKnox County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  4. County Clerk — Liquidation or Going Out of Business LicenseKnox County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  5. County Clerk — Liquor Privilege Tax / Retail Food Store Wine LicenseKnox County Clerk · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  6. Knox County Code, Chapter 12 — Businesses (Article III, liquidation sales)Knox County, Tennessee (Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  7. Knox County Code, Chapter 4 — Alcoholic BeveragesKnox County, Tennessee (Municode) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  8. T.C.A. § 57-3-806 — Retail food store wine license; local certificateState of Tennessee (Tennessee Code Annotated) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  9. Tennessee Code § 57-5-104 — beer permit application fee and privilege taxState of Tennessee (Tennessee Code Annotated, via FindLaw) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  10. Tennessee Code § 67-4-723 — business tax license feeState of Tennessee (Tennessee Code Annotated, via FindLaw) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-08
  11. Tennessee Department of Revenue — business tax registration and licensingTennessee Department of Revenue · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Other offices serving Knox County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

Tennessee jurisdictions

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.