Locksmith Services in Knoxville, TN

Homes and locks in Knoxville

Knoxville-Knox County Planning publishes design guidelines for 11 city districts. In some, they reach the front door and whatever hangs in front of it.

Fourth and Gill, centered on the 700 block of Morgan Street, has more than 280 residential buildings, mostly frame Queen Anne and Craftsman houses. Its original doors were wooden, often with beveled or stained glass inserts. Many large houses became duplexes in the late 1920s and 1930s, and more became apartments after World War II, partly for University of Tennessee students, so one entrance may lead to several unit doors.

Old North Knoxville grew as a streetcar suburb, its grid streets parallel to Broadway or Woodland. North Knoxville incorporated as a town in 1889 and was annexed by Knoxville in 1897. Its guidelines count repairing the sash lock as routine window repair and ask owners to reuse serviceable window hardware (Windows item 8).

Fort Sanders was built over about 50 years from the 1880s, with doors generally of wood with recessed panels or glass. Between 1920 and 1940, brick apartments went up west of 17th Street.

Storefronts on Market Square

Every Market Square storefront is newer than its building's architectural style. Locks have a history here: T. A. Burrier, a lock and gunsmith, occupied part of the Fenton-Burrier Building, 33 and 35 Market Square, from 1882 until 1900.

Guideline item 7 says the entrance door shall have a full-view glass panel without moldings, cross bucks or window grills, and item 8 allows entry doors recessed behind the storefront. Describe the door when you ask for commercial locksmith help.

Car trouble in Knoxville

Old North Knoxville has only a few driveways or garages, most built after 1920. In Fort Sanders, parking historically sat on the street or off the alley, so give the alley as well as the street.

Neighborhood Codes Enforcement takes reports of inoperable vehicles illegally parked on public property for more than 48 hours, left unattended on public property for more than 30 days, or not moved under their own power in 15 days. Those limits matter if a lost key leaves a car on the street. See car key replacement.

Local rules worth knowing

• Certificates of Appropriateness: in Old North, exterior work that needs a building permit first needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Knoxville Historic Zoning Commission. Interior changes and work needing no permit are not reviewed.
• Old North, Windows items 9 and 10: burglar bars or security devices more visually intrusive than storm windows are not allowed, nor are security doors unless they are full-view glass painted to blend with the trim.
• Fourth and Gill, Entrances items 1, 5 and 7: preserve original doors, sidelights and transoms; security doors follow the storm-door guidance of a color-clad frame and full-view glass; solid six-panel or flush doors only on entrances not visible from the public street.
• Fort Sanders: its guidelines cover only additions, new buildings and demolition.
• Housing conditions: Neighborhood Codes Enforcement takes complaints about damaged or non-functional doors and windows inside a house, and vacant buildings with doors or windows that don't shut or lock.

This is general information, not legal advice. Before replacing an original street-facing door, talk with Historic Zoning Commission staff. Lock repair or rekeying leaves the door itself in place.

Requesting service in Knoxville

Give the neighborhood, nearest cross streets and the door type: house, unit in a converted house or storefront. For a car, say street, alley or garage. Tennessee Locksmith Pros takes service requests from homes, businesses and drivers in Knoxville.