The city previously told the RV dealer that its 130-foot flagpole violated the city's 44-foot height restriction for non-building structures.
The city previously told the RV dealer that its 130-foot flagpole violated the city's 44-foot height restriction for non-building structures.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that the flagpole and flag violated Sevierville zoning codes. Only the flagpole violates city zoning codes.
Authorities in Sevierville seem to be tired of asking an RV dealer to change its overly large flagpole. The city warned the company that the flagpole violated zoning codes and would need to be changed, but its CEO publicly refused.
Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World, said on social media that the company's "standard" flagpole is 130 feet tall and its flag is 40 feet by 80 feet. He said the company would not take down the overly-tall flagpole, despite violating city zoning codes.
WBIR reached out to Lemonis for an interview, but the company did not confirm a time before this story was published.
Sevierville has warned the company and Lemonis several times that the flagpole violated its zoning rules. The city's Department of Code Enforcement told the company it could not legally build the flagpole in a letter dated Jan. 30.
It said a request for a variance to build the 130-foot flagpole was denied in February 2024, because the property was in an Arterial Commercial zone, which limits the maximum height of structures other than buildings to 44 feet. The letter told the company it had 30 days to remove the flagpole before the city could start seeking legal action or cite the company.
Sevierville began citing the company on March 5 for failing to comply with its zoning rules. The citations were for $50 each day that the flagpole was out of compliance. It also filed a lawsuit in Chancery Court asking for a judge to issue an injunction that would require Camping World to be compliant with the city.
A separate case in the city court was dismissed recently. The chancery court case could still move forward.
Sevierville did not say in any of its statements with WBIR that it intended for the American flag to come down, only that it wanted the company to follow zoning rules. It also said that after the CEO's posts on social media, city staff received several calls and emails centered around the flag and the company's freedom of expression.
The city released a statement in February clarifying that the flagpole, not the flag, violates city ordinances.
"Excessively tall structures can create visual distractions for motorists, pose potential safety hazards, and impact the scenic views that are a vital part of what makes Sevierville a destination for residents and visitors alike," the statement said.
In the same statement, the city clarified its support for patriotism and condemned calls and emails that city staff were receiving.
"City of Sevierville is not, and never will be, against patriotism. True patriotism embodies respect for the values that unite our community—freedom of expression, responsibility, and civil discourse. Publicly attacking an employee for enforcing regulations is not a reflection of patriotism but a failure of basic human decency. Our employees do not create ordinances; they implement policies established by the organization. They deserve our protection and respect," the statement said.
Camping World faced similar lawsuits and zoning violations in Greenville, North Carolina. Brock Letchworth, a spokesperson with the city, said the company violated similar, but different rules in that state.
"The application would have met the maximum allowed under our ordinance, and what was installed exceeded that. It was a 130-foot flagpole and a 3,200 square-foot flag. Which, again, as I said, what our ordinance allows is a 70-foot flagpole and a 216 square-foot flag," Letchworth said.
He also said the company's behavior made city leaders skeptical of its intentions. Greenville, North Carolina, is also waiting to see whether they will meet Lemonis in court.