Report a Code Compliance Violation 

The Division of Code Compliance investigates possible City Code violations after receiving a complaint from a resident. When reports of suspected code violations are received, they are given to Code Compliance staff who will then open a case and investigate the code violation.

The behind-the-scenes activities of the Division are usually not observable. Understanding the legal processes the Code Compliance Division follow will help you understand the time it takes to resolve issues.

Investigations

Code Compliance Officers investigate all reports. If the officer finds violations, the property owner is issued a notice to bring their property into compliance. Residents in violation of a City Code often voluntarily bring their property into compliance when they are made aware there is a problem. Most people want to do the right thing.

Unfortunately, not all citizens immediately respond when alerted to a violation on their property. Voluntary compliance can be a matter of money, health, or time. Involuntary compliance is sometimes a matter of legal persuasion. It is the goal of Code Compliance that every citizen in Goodyear voluntarily complies with the codes.

A Time to Comply

The practice of due process is designed to protect the rights of all citizens by allowing property owners in similar situations an equal amount of time to bring their properties into compliance. The amount of time allowed depends on the violation. Typically, time frames run from 10 to 30 days. Violations that are deemed an immediate threat to public health and human safety will require quicker resolution.

Then What?

When a property owner fails to voluntarily bring their property into compliance during the time granted, Code Compliance may issue a Final Notice. This notice will allow additional time in which to comply.

Summons to Appear

When a property owner has failed to comply after all written notices, during the time granted, Code Compliance may issue a civil citation. This citation is a summons to appear in court. In court, the property owner is given a chance to plea and/or present their case. The court then has the power to impose a fine and order the violation corrected.

To report violations, please visit our Report a Violation page or call 623-882-7815.

The city of Goodyear's codes are designed to protect the public's health and safety while ensuring every citizen the right to a clean, enjoyable neighborhood. Persistent dog barking that is disturbing to neighbors may be considered a violation regardless of the time of day. If you need to report a barking dog, please contact the Goodyears Code Compliance Division at 623-882-7815 or use Report A Problem.

Code Compliance plays a key role in addressing concerns related to the noise ordinance. If a dog is barking persistently or exhibits behavior that seems unusual, it may be regarded as a potential nuisance. In such cases, an inspector will reach out to the dog's owner to discuss the matter amicably. The complainant who raised the concern can download the barking dog petition HERE, which they, along with at least one other affected neighbor, can fill out. After completing the petition, we kindly ask the complainant to return the completed packet for further review to CodeCompliance@goodyearaz.gov or return to Goodyear City Hall Front Desk. Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a peaceful community. Please take a moment to view our brochure concerning barking dogs.

If you have any questions regarding the process, please contact us 623-882-7815

Stray Animals and Animal Welfare Issues

To report a stray animal contact Maricopa County Animal Care and Control  at 602-506-7387.  If you witness an animal being abused or living in an unsafe conditions contact the Arizona Humane Society at 602-997-7585 ext. 2073

Animals within the City

It is important that we be considerate by maintaining our pets as required by City Code. Allowable pets kept within city limits are permitted as long as they do not cause, create, contribute to, or become a nuisance due to:

• The presence of flies, insects, vermin, odors, dust or other obnoxious material. The City Code requires that manure or droppings be removed from the property at least twice weekly.
• Dogs are not permitted to be off-leash when they are off of your property. The City Code requires that dogs be restrained by a leash, not more than six feet in length, and of sufficient strength to control the action of the dog on public streets, public parks, or public property.
• No more than four household pets are allowed per property. The city of Goodyear restricts residents from keeping, harboring, or maintaining more than four pets per household. Often times, too many pets lead to unsanitary conditions.

• Contact a veterinarian or pet store for options on how to control animal health and safety issues.

Travel Trailers and Recreational Vehicles (RVs) on Your Property

Recreational Vehicles (RVs), motor homes, boats, utility trailers, travel trailers, campers, or work trailers must be parked within an enclosed garage or in the side or rear yards on a paved surface behind a solid six-foot fence. They may be parked in the driveway for loading and unloading for up to 48 hours only. 

No more than two (2) recreational vehicles, travel trailers, un-mounted camper shells, accessory trailers, work trailers, inoperable or unlicensed vehicles, boats and the like can be stored in either the rear or side yards. If your property orientation does not allow for proper storage, the recreational vehicle must be stored in a public storage lot.

Unattached Travel Trailers and Recreational Vehicles (RVs) on the Street

Unattached trailers, motor homes, boats, utility trailers, travel trailers, campers, or work trailers may not be left parked in the street. These unattached vehicles/trailers may not be stored in view.

Leaf Blowers

Leaf Blower Retails: Code requires any person who rents or sells lead blowers to provide the buyer or renter with instructional printed materials approved by the Arizona Department of Environment Quality (ADEQ).

Landscape Contractors: Code requires any person operating a leaf blower for compensation to successfully complete dust minimization training approved by ADEQ.

Use of Leaf Blower:

• Code prohibits blowing landscape debris (grass clippings, leaves, etc.) into public roadways.
• Code prohibits using leaf blowers on bard soil. They can be used on stabilized surfaces such as: concrete, asphalt, grass, gravel, and finished landscape.
• Code prohibits City employees and/or contractors from operating leaf blowers (except in vacuum mode) on High Pollution Advisory Days.
• Violations are a Class 3 misdemeanor, carrying fines of up to $500, one-year probation, and imprisonment of up to 30 days.

ATV Usage

Code requires any person who rents or sells (in the normal course of business) off-highway vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, or off-road recreational motor vehicles to provide the buyer or renter with printed materials approved by ADEQ.

Goodyear City Code prohibits vehicle operation on an unpaved surface that is not a public road, private street, or lawful easement. This includes vehicles such as: Off-highway vehicles (OHVs), Off-road recreational motor vehicles (ORRMVs) and All-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Code prohibits ATV use on any unpaved surface on High Pollution Advisory Days.

Fences should be maintained in a condition of reasonable repair. Any fence that has become deteriorated or dangerous must be restored to its original condition.

The Zoning Ordinance regulates the type and height of fences on residential and agricultural property. Here are some of the requirements:

• Maximum height in the front yard is three (3) feet.
• Maximum height in the rear yard is six (6) feet.
• Fences made of combustible materials must be set back from property lines a minimum of four (4) feet if used as a perimeter fence. Gates made of combustible materials that are no wider than twelve (12) feet are an exemption to this setback requirement.

Generally, fences less than six (6) feet in height do not require building permits; however, exceptions may be applicable. Contact the Development Counter at 623-932-3004 for questions on requirements.

Graffiti Hurts

Act of graffiti vandalism are of great concern to the city of Goodyear. Spray painting public and private property without permission hurts everyone: businesses, homeowners, schools, and citizens. We have a new ordinance which:

• Requires graffiti to be removed within 48 hours
• Makes possession of graffiti implements an illegal act for those without permission and under the age of 18
• Requires spray pain and other graffiti implements to be locked up or monitored by retailers.

Help to Prevent Graffiti

Get educated - Learn about graffiti vandalism, how it impacts your community, and who is responsible for the prevention and cleanup.

Keep up appearances - Make an effort to maintain the appearance of your neighborhood. Remove graffiti promptly. Studies show that removal within 24 to 48 hours results in a nearly zero rate of reoccurrence.

Build in prevention  - Incorporate shrubs, thorny plans, and vines to restrict vandals access to walls, fences, sheds, garages, and other graffiti targets. Add or improve lighting around your property. Be the eyes of your neighborhood - get with your neighbors to form a neighborhood watch or community group to police your neighborhood. May HOAs form self-help groups to assist with clean-up of issues surrounding abandoned houses.

Report It

• If you see graffiti in progress, contact the Goodyear Police Department at 623-932-1220. This report may be taken over the phone or an officer may be sent to the location. It is important for law enforcement to document and track this activity through police reports.
• To report graffiti that needs removal, please contact Code Compliance at 623-882-7815 or report a problem.

Graffiti Removal

To select the appropriate method for graffiti removal, consider the surface, costs, environmental impacts, and any local restrictions. Removal methods include:

• Paint out - on painted surfaces, painting over graffiti is a low-cost removal method. Be sure to color match the paint to the surface. A patchwork of pain or a large block of a different color paint is an ideal canvas and will invite more graffiti.
• Chemical removal* - this method employs some type of solvent to remove graffiti.
• Power washing* - this removes graffiti by applying hot water under pressure. Power washing may be used after applying a paint solvent to the graffiti area. An abrasive, such as baking soda, may also be added to the water to remove a thin layer of the surface, and with it, the graffiti.

*To ensure safety, consult a graffiti removal service or work with the city if this type of cleanup is required.

Traffic View and Rights-of-Ways

Property owners must keep their landscaping maintained to ensure there is no obstruction of the view of traffic or traffic signs and signals. Trees, hedges, and bushes should be trimmed back to allow a clear view of oncoming traffic, stop signs, and street lighting.

Sidewalks also must be kept clear of landscaping and other objects that may block the way of pedestrians. Frequent violations include trash cans left on the sidewalk and portable basketball hoops blocking pedestrian right-of-way. These items must be placed so they do not encroach or impede sidewalks or public right-of-way. Code prohibits blowing landscaping debris into public roadways.

Property Maintenance

The City cannot force any person owning, leasing, or otherwise having control of the property to landscape their property. The City does not intervene in aesthetics or landscaping appearances. However, properties must be maintained and free of uncontrolled vegetation. Any person owning or occupying any building or property is required to remove all trash, weeds, refuse, or accumulation of filth or debris from the property. Landscaping and irrigation systems must also be maintained.

Weeds and Grass

Weeds and grass on residential lots must not be more than six inches high or hang over the sidewalk or the public right-of-way. Property owners are responsible for any weed growth in the sidewalks and alleyways adjacent to the property.

To report a violation, contact the Code Compliance Office at 623-882-7815. Due to difficulty in locating property owners, violations on vacant and foreclosed homes may take months or longer to resolve.

Stagnant (Green) Pools

The Maricopa County Environmental Services Department has jurisdiction over situation involving green pools. To report a stagnant pool, please call 602-506-6616.

Backwashing Swimming Pools

It is unlawful to backwash swimming pools or allow large amounts of water to flow into a City street or alley. Causing the escape of a flow of water in such quantity may cause flooding, impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or cause damage to public streets or right-of-ways in the City. For information on properly draining pools within Goodyear, please visit the Public Works Pool Water site.

Please contact Building Safety at 623-932-3004 for information on properly securing your pool.

State Requirement

In August 1999, the Arizona Legislature passed the Residential Rental Property Statute (A.R.S. 33-1902), which requires all property owners to register their residential rental property. Registering rental property gives public safety agencies a way to contact owners when emergencies or problems occur on their property.

If you own rental property, please contact the Maricopa County Assessor's Office at 602-506-8511 or visit the Assessor's Website to determine the requirements for registration. Failure to register a residential rental property carries a mandatory civil penalty of $1,000 plus $100 for each additional month the property is not registered. For questions about this process or problems with a rental property near you, contact the Code Compliance Office at 623-882-7815.

Goodyear Ordinance

The Goodyear City Council approved a Goodyear Residential Rental Property Ordinance (Article 11-1-21) that falls in line with the State adopted law.

The Ordinance, which establishes minimum health and safety standards for rental properties, applies to both the interior and exterior of a dwelling. This applies to any apartment, single-family home, or mobile home that is rented or leased for a fee.

Let's Protect Our Streets!

Water is not to escape or flow within the right-of-way from sprinklers, pools, or irrigation. This wastes water, can create hazardous conditions, and can cause damage to streets. It is unlawful to willfully or negligently permit or cause the escape of a flow of water in such a quantity as to cause flooding, to impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or cause damage to the public streets of the City.

Backwashing your pool or letting your sprinklers spray excessively into the streets damages our public rights-or-way. By keeping street repairs to a minimum, the City saves money. By not over watering your landscaping, you can conserve water.

To protect scarce water resources, the City passed a Water Waste Ordinance making it illegal to let hundreds of gallons run down the street or into someone else's property. Some of the following water waste violations cited by Code Compliance include:

• Water running uncontrolled from any faucet/outlet (indoor or outdoor)
• Water pooling greater than 150 feet in area off your property
• Water that disrupts pedestrian or motorized traffic
• Misdirected emitters spraying more than 10% on public property or rights-of-way
• Water discharges more than 1/4 inch into gutters, drains, or ditches

Storm runoff and water used for fire or other emergency responses, repairs, or testing and construction by the City and other local water providers are not considered water waste.

To report any water waste violation, contact the Public Works Department at 623-932-3010.

Weeds and Grass

Weeds and grass on residential lots must not be more than six inches high or hang over the sidewalk or the public right-of-way. Property owners are responsible for any weed growth in the sidewalks and alley ways adjacent to their property.

Property Maintenance

The City cannot force any person owning, leasing, or otherwise having control of property to landscape their property. The City does not intervene in aesthetics or landscaping appearances. However, properties must be maintained and free of uncontrolled vegetation. Any person owning or occupying any building or property is required to remove all trash, weeds, refuse, or accumulation of filth or debris from the property. Landscaping and irrigation systems must also be maintained. Property owners must also keep their landscaping maintained to ensure there is no obstruction of the view of traffic or traffic signs/signals. Trees and hedges should be trimmed back to allow a clear view of oncoming traffic, stop signs, and street lighting.

Due to difficulty in locating property owners, violations on vacant and foreclosed homes may take months or longer to resolve.

Container Rules

Trash must be bagged and placed in City containers and may be placed after 6 p.m. the day before regular collection and must be removed by 6 a.m. the day after collection.

At all other times, keep trash and recycling in City containers with the lids closed, out of view of the street. For more information visit Trash Dos & Don'ts or contact the Sanitation Department at 623-932-3010.

Property Maintenance

The City cannot force any person owning, leasing, or otherwise having control of the property to landscape their property. The City does not intervene in aesthetics or landscaping appearances. However, properties must be maintained and free of uncontrolled vegetation. Any person owning or occupying a building or property is required to remove all trash, weeds, refuse, or accumulation of filth or debris from the property. Landscaping and irrigation systems must also be maintained.

Due to difficulty in locating property owners, violation on vacant and foreclosed homes may take months or longer to resolve.

Including Garage & Yard Sale Signs

Keep Goodyear Beautiful

Goodyear City Codes exist to keep our neighborhoods in top standards so we can keep property values high in Goodyear. Many of these codes pertain to signs you often see along arterial streets or in neighborhoods - most of which are illegal.

For a complete list of sign rules, please read Article 7 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Temporary Signs

Temporary signs cannot be on City sidewalks or within the public rights-of-way. Signs can only be up between sunrise and sunset and must be removed daily prior to subset. The following signs are prohibited:

• Off-site signs (any advertising sign located off the property)
• Vehicle signs or signs mounted or painted on trailers, boats, or vehicles which are parked for display
• Signs attached to utility poles, street lights, traffic signals, trees, fences, fire hydrants, bridges, park benches, or other public property
• Portable or temporary signs which advertise a business, commodity, service, entertainment, etc.

Temporary signs do require a permit. Visit the Development Center site for more information.

Bandit Signs

Bandit signs are portable and/or temporary signs which advertise a business or commodity.

These illegal signs posted in the right-of-way, on utility poles, light poles, medians, trees, lawns, parkways, and on other public property clutter our roadways and provide a blighting influence to our neighborhoods. These illegal signs are normally found clustered at busy intersections and along main thoroughfares.

Garage and Yard Sales

Goodyear only allows garage/yard sales four (4) times a year per household. If you want to put up signs for your garage/yard sale, the requirements are:

1. Garage/yard sale signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet.
2. Such signs shall not be up longer than three (3) days.
3. Signs may not be located upon City sidewalks or within the public rights-of-way. If they are, they are subject to confiscation by the City. Signs may only be on private property.
4. Signs may be placed, in the permitted area, only between sunrise and sunset. Signs shall be removed daily prior to sunset, or they shall be subject to confiscation by the City.

The garage/yard sale sign should be just that, a sign. It should be on a stick. Paper signs attached to telephone poles or utility poles, street signs, etc. and cardboard boxes are considered trash, not signs, and will be removed.