Everything homeowners ask about building an ADU in Goodyear — answered with 2026 data.
Yes, ADUs are allowed in Single-family lots in every district where a single-family home is allowed (Zoning Ordinance §3.12.3.A.1; Ord. 2026-1652, effective August 5, 2026; ADUs are an accessory use under §3.12, not a Table 2.2.2 row). Excluded: lots in the territory in the vicinity of a military airport (Luke Air Force Base, A.R.S. §28-8461) or of an FAA-licensed, general aviation or public airport (Phoenix Goodyear Airport, A.R.S. §28-8486) with a noise level above 65 decibels (§3.12.3.A.2) in Goodyear, AZ. The maximum size for a detached ADU is The lesser of 75% of the gross floor area of the principal single-family dwelling or 1,000 sq ft (§3.12.3.A.8). Article 8 measures gross floor area from the exterior walls, excluding only underground parking, uncovered steps, portals and exterior balconies; the state statute's own definition is interior habitable area (A.R.S. §9-461.18(I)(2)) — ask the planner which figure they apply to your house. Attached ADUs can be up to Same cap — the lesser of 75% of the house's gross floor area or 1,000 sq ft. Goodyear has an ADU-friendliness score of 7/10. Check our full Goodyear ADU rules page for complete zoning details.
ADU construction in Goodyear typically costs $150,000-$280,000. The cost per square foot averages $175-$350. Garage conversions are more affordable at $80,000-$150,000, while prefab ADUs cost $150,000-$300,000. Permit fees add 'Detached Casita or Guest House' (Fee Schedule p.11): permit per Valuation Table 1-A ($1,416 plus $8 per $1,000 over $100,000), plan review 65% of the permit, $86 planning and zoning, $102 application — about $3,184 on a $150,000 valuation, $3,844 on $200,000. Paid at issuance in Accela to your budget. See our detailed Goodyear ADU cost guide.
Detached ADUs in Goodyear can be up to The lesser of 75% of the gross floor area of the principal single-family dwelling or 1,000 sq ft. Attached ADUs are limited to Same cap — the lesser of 75% of the house's gross floor area or 1,000 sq ft. Junior ADUs (JADUs) have a cap of Not a category in Arizona — the Zoning Ordinance has no junior ADU designation, and Article 8 carries no ADU definition at all (the state definition in A.R.S. §9-461.18(I)(1) applies). Goodyear's separate 'guest house' category (§3.12.4) is not an ADU: it needs a 15,000 sq ft lot, is capped at 50% of the main building and 20 ft in height, and may never be rented. Maximum height is The same building height as the principal single-family dwelling on the lot (§3.12.3.A.6) — in practice the district limit of 30 ft in AG, AU and every R1 district, 20 ft in MHS (Table 2.2.3). Not the 12-ft cap that applies to ordinary accessory buildings outside the house's setbacks (§3.12.2.I.4); state law bars a stricter ADU height than the house's (A.R.S. §9-461.18(B)(5)). You are allowed up to 2 per lot — one attached plus one detached ADU on a qualifying lot.
Rear setback: 5 ft (§3.12.3.A.5) — the ceiling state law allows (A.R.S. §9-461.18(B)(6)). The general accessory-building rule sends any building with sleeping facilities to the principal-building setbacks (§3.12.2.I.5 — 15 to 30 ft rear in the R1 districts), but §3.12.3 is the ADU-specific provision and matches the state cap; ask the planner to confirm in writing. Setbacks are measured to the roof overhang, not the wall (§3.12.2.J). Side setback: 5 ft (§3.12.3.A.5) — the state-law ceiling (A.R.S. §9-461.18(B)(6)); measured to the furthest horizontal projection, including the roof overhang (§3.12.2.J). On a corner lot the street-side setback follows the house (§3.12.3.A.6): 20 ft in R1-10, 15 ft in R1-7, 10 ft in R1-6 through R1-C (Table 2.2.3). Front setback: The same front and street-side setback as the principal single-family dwelling (§3.12.3.A.6). Table 2.2.3: 10 ft front in R1-10, R1-7, R1-6, R1-4 and R1-A (measured to patios and livable space), 5 ft in R1-C, 20 ft in AG and AU; a front-facing garage sits 20 ft back in every district. Note that garage conversions may be exempt from setback requirements if the existing structure is already within the setback area.
None required — the ADU 'may include, but is not required to have, a parking area or attached garage' (§3.12.3.A.7); the city may not require extra parking or a fee in lieu of it (A.R.S. §9-461.18(B)(3)). Many cities and states have been relaxing ADU parking requirements in recent years. In California, no additional parking is required for ADUs near transit.
Not required — §3.12.3 is silent on occupancy, and state law bars Goodyear from prohibiting separate long-term leasing of the house or the ADU or requiring any familial or other relationship between occupants (A.R.S. §9-461.18(B)(1)-(2)). The city's short-term rental licence page adds no owner-residency condition for ADUs either (the A.R.S. §9-500.39(B)(9) option that Scottsdale and Tempe use). Note that owner-occupancy rules vary by state law — California and several other states have eliminated this requirement for standard ADUs.
The ADU permit review timeline in Goodyear is typically Staff targets (Review Times page, updated February 12, 2026): 5 business days prescreen, 15 for the first review and 10 per resubmittal of a detached casita; an attached unit filed as an Addition/Alteration is 5/6/6. Targets, not the SB 1598 maximums in the city's Administrative Manual. Plan check: Full residential plan review by Building Safety under Goodyear's adopted building and fire codes; the unit must be self-contained with a bedroom and bathroom and may include a kitchen (§3.12.3.A.7). Third and later reviews cost $97 per hour; expedited review doubles the plan-review fee. State law bars a commercial building code or a fire-sprinkler requirement for an ADU (A.R.S. §9-461.18(D)), and the unit may not sit on a public utility easement without the utility's written consent (§9-461.18(E)). Pre-approved plans availability: None available yet. Goodyear's SMART library (Streamlined Municipal Approved Residential Types, under A.R.S. §9-461.20) reserves three ADU plan classes — SMART41 (200 sq ft), SMART42 (600 sq ft) and SMART43 (1,000 sq ft), each needing three elevation options — and all three were still 'Seeking Submittals' on September 20, 2026, past the statute's July 1, 2026 date. A posted plan is not a permit: you need the plan author's permission and a site-specific application with a site plan, grading, utility connections, energy compliance and a geotechnical report.
Average ADU rental income in Goodyear: 1-bedroom units rent for $1,450-$1,800/month, 2-bedroom units for $1,700-$2,100/month. Short-term rentals: Yes, with a Goodyear Short-Term Rental licence: renting any part of the property for under 30 days needs the $250 calendar-year licence (expires December 31, no proration), a state TPT licence, an emergency contact who c. Expected ROI: 6-11% gross rental yield.
The minimum lot size for an ADU in Goodyear is No ADU-specific minimum lot size — any lot with a single-family home qualifies (§3.12.3.A.1); the district minimums (4,500 sq ft in R1-4 up to 10,000 sq ft in R1-10, Table 2.2.3) govern the lot, not the ADU. The guest-house category's 15,000 sq ft minimum (§3.12.4) does not apply to ADUs. A lot of 1 acre or more unlocks a third unit (§3.12.3.A.9). This applies to detached ADUs — garage conversions and JADUs may have different or no lot size requirements.
Garage conversions are one of the most popular and affordable ADU options. In Goodyear, a garage conversion typically costs $80,000-$150,000. The key advantages are lower cost (no foundation work), potential setback exemptions, and faster permitting. Read our complete garage conversion guide.
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