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Knox County BZA defers RV-occupancy waiver for caregiving family, offers building-permit options
Summary
The Board deferred for 60 days a request to allow occupancy of a recreational vehicle on a vacant lot to care for elderly homeowners, and agreed to defer enforcement for that period while the family explores options including moving a mobile home, combining lots or pulling a building permit.
The Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals on July 2026 deferred for 60 days a temporary waiver request that would permit a grandson to occupy a 28-foot recreational vehicle on the property adjacent to his elderly grandparents’ home so he can provide daily care.
Kimberly Waller spoke on behalf of her parents, saying the parents are 85 and 87, the RV is parked next to their residence and that the parcel previously hosted a mobile home and retains existing septic and electrical hookups. “My parents own this lot... we’re seeking a temporary waiver to allow their grandson to occupy his 28-foot recreational vehicle,” Waller said, noting she submitted a doctor’s statement describing medical needs.
Codes staff explained options that may avoid a permanent variance: a temporary occupancy permit tied to construction of a new home (typically one year, with renewal for cause) or placement of a HUD‑standards mobile home on the adjacent lot if it meets the one‑acre-per-dwelling requirement. Staff said such temporary-use permits generally require progress on construction within six months.
The county law director cautioned that the zoning code does not explicitly provide for a time-limited “medical hardship” variance, though historically the board has sometimes attached conditions to relief. “Is there such a thing as a temporary variance under our zoning code? No,” the law director said, adding the board could nonetheless choose to act and the decision could be litigated if contested.
Board members discussed options including combining the two adjacent lots to meet minimum-acreage requirements for a mobile home, pulling a building permit, or placing a mobile home on the separate acre so the RV occupancy becomes associated with active construction. To buy time, the board moved to defer the waiver for 60 days and to defer enforcement for the same period; the board set a follow-up date in September.
The board asked the family to return with a plan (for example, a building permit or a commitment to construction) or to pursue the mobile-home or lot-combination options discussed with staff. The board emphasized concerns about setting precedents but expressed sympathy for the caregiving situation.
The item was deferred to the September meeting and enforcement was deferred while the family works with staff to identify a lawful, constructive path forward.
