Yes. Goodyear allows one attached and one detached ADU (casita) by right on any single-family lot under Section 3.12.3 of the Zoning Ordinance adopted by Ordinance No. 2026-1652 on July 6, 2026 (in effect since August 5, 2026). The unit is capped at the lesser of 1,000 sq ft or 75% of the house's gross floor area, sits 5 ft from the side and rear lines, keeps the house's front setback, height and lot coverage, and needs no extra parking; there is no owner-occupancy rule, and the city cannot stop you renting the house and the casita separately (A.R.S. §9-461.18). It is a building permit through Accela, filed as 'Residential Construction – Detached Guest House, Casita, or Accessory Building', with a 15-business-day first-review target and city fees of about $3,200 on a $150,000 valuation before any impact fees. Two Goodyear-specific catches: lots inside the 65-decibel noise territory of Phoenix Goodyear Airport or Luke Air Force Base are excluded, and the casita cannot have its own address. Goodyear's separate 'guest house' category (§3.12.4) can never be rented, so permit a rental unit as an ADU.
In Goodyear you will also hear an ADU called a casita — Arizona's ADU statute (A.R.S. §9-461.18) and most local codes use it. The rules on this page apply either way.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3][4]
Yes — Goodyear allows ADUs. A detached ADU can typically be up to 1,000 sq ft under current Arizona and Goodyear zoning rules.
See what this means for your lot — ask Goodyear ADU builders for a quote →
| Allowed Zones | 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) |
| Max Size (Detached) | 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 |
| Max Size (Attached) | Same cap — the lesser of 75% of the house's gross floor area or 1,000 sq ft (§3.12.3.A.8). An attached unit is reviewed as an addition and counts toward the district's maximum building coverage: 40% in R1-10, 45% in R1-7, 60% in R1-6, R1-4 and R1-C, 75% in R1-A (Table 2.2.3) |
| Max Size (JADU) | 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 |
| Max Height | 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)) |
| Max Units | 2 per lot — one attached plus one detached ADU (§3.12.3.A.1). On a lot of 1 acre or more: one additional detached ADU if it is a Restricted-Affordable Dwelling Unit (rented to households at or below 80% of area median income, A.R.S. §9-461.18(I)(6)) under a deed restriction or development agreement recorded with Maricopa County and running with the land for at least 30 years (§3.12.3.A.9) |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3][4]
Goodyear requires a rear setback of about 5 ft for a detached ADU, and no additional parking is required. Owner-occupancy is not required — you can rent it out without living on the property.
| 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 |
| Parking Required | 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)) |
| Owner Occupancy | 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) |
| Min Lot Size | 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) |
Permit Process & Fees [5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
An ADU permit in Goodyear goes through a standard permit review. Typical timeline: 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. Permit fees: '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.
| Approval Process | A building permit through Accela Citizen Access — application type 'Building Applications', project type 'Residential Construction – Detached Guest House, Casita, or Accessory Building' (an attached unit files as 'Addition/Alteration'). Required uploads: a cover sheet listing the current codes, a site plan showing existing structures, setbacks, lot coverage and heights, foundation, floor, roof and framing plans, elevations of all sides with materials and colours, and an electrical plan (Residential Detached Accessory Building Submittal Guide, 01/2024). By right — no hearing, use permit or design review; applications filed on or after August 5, 2026 are reviewed under §3.12.3 |
| Review Timeline | 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 |
| Permit Fees | '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 |
| Impact Fees | The Development Impact Fee schedule (effective April 1, 2024) has no ADU line: a single-family unit pays $4,205 north of the Gila River ($1,647 fire, $1,360 parks, $1,198 police) or $3,573 south of it. The fee schedule's casita line carries no impact-fee asterisk while custom homes do, yet the same schedule says all new construction is subject — ask Development Services (623-932-3004) for a Project Fee Estimate before budgeting. Water and wastewater development fees ($12,706 north / $15,257 south for a 3/4-inch meter) apply only if you add a meter |
| 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 | 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 |
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Construction Costs [12][13][14]
Building an ADU in Goodyear typically costs $150,000-$280,000 ($175-$350 per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $80,000-$150,000.
See what this means for your lot — ask Goodyear ADU builders for a quote →
| Average Build Cost | $150,000-$280,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $175-$350 |
| Garage Conversion | $80,000-$150,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $150,000-$300,000 |
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Rental Income Potential [15][16][17][18]
A 2-bedroom ADU in Goodyear rents for around $1,700-$2,100/mo, an estimated 6-11% gross rental yield.
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,450-$1,800/mo |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,700-$2,100/mo |
| Short-Term Rental | 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. |
| Est. Annual ROI | 6-11% gross rental yield |
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- Ordinance No. 2026-1652, adopted unanimously by City Council on July 6, 2026 (motion by Councilmember Kaino, seconded by Councilmember Terry), adopted the City of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance dated July 1, 2026 and repealed Ordinance No. 99-655; it took effect August 5, 2026 and every planning application filed on or after that date must comply. ADU rules are §3.12.3; the earlier ordinance is marked 'no longer in effect'
- Goodyear first adopted ADU rules in December 2024 to meet the January 1, 2025 deadline in A.R.S. §9-461.18 (reported by The Arizona Republic on December 19, 2024); the 2026 rewrite carries them forward — the 75%/1,000 sq ft cap, 5-ft setbacks, no-parking rule and the 1-acre third unit are unchanged
- Arizona HB 2720, codified at A.R.S. §9-461.18, requires every municipality over 75,000 people to allow at least one attached and one detached ADU as a permitted use wherever single-family homes are allowed — Goodyear's population of 118,186 (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 estimate) puts it inside the mandate
- State law bars the city from requiring extra parking or in-lieu fees, exterior design matching, street improvements, a city-imposed restrictive covenant, or rear and side setbacks over 5 feet (A.R.S. §9-461.18(B)(3)-(8))
- Goodyear's SMART pre-approved plan program under A.R.S. §9-461.20 (SB 1529, 2025) lists ADU plan classes at 200, 600 and 1,000 sq ft, but the library held no approved ADU plan as of September 20, 2026 — the statute expected the first plans by July 1, 2026
- The city's Review Times page was updated February 12, 2026: a detached casita now carries a 5/15/10 business-day prescreen/first-review/resubmittal target
Tips for Building an ADU in Goodyear
- Check the airport noise territory first: parts of Goodyear near Phoenix Goodyear Airport and Luke Air Force Base are excluded from ADUs where noise exceeds 65 decibels (§3.12.3.A.2) — ask Development Services (623-932-3004) for a parcel check before paying for drawings
- Permit it as an ADU, not a guest house: the older guest-house category needs a 15,000 sq ft lot, three enclosed covered parking spaces on the main house, matching materials and colours, no separate utility services, and can never be rented (§3.12.4). The ADU section has none of those conditions
- Measure your house before you design: the cap is the lesser of 1,000 sq ft or 75% of your home's gross floor area, so a 1,200 sq ft house limits the casita to 900 sq ft. Article 8 measures gross floor area from the exterior walls, so ask the planner whether an attached garage counts
- Ask for a Project Fee Estimate before you commit: the Fees page has a Project Fee Estimate Request form, and it is the only way to learn whether the city will charge the $4,205 (north) or $3,573 (south) single-family impact fee on your casita — the published schedule has no ADU rate
- Your casita does not have to match the house — §3.12.3.A.4 lets it deviate from the exterior design, roof pitch and finishing materials, as state law requires; it still has to meet the adopted design guidelines
- Get the setbacks in writing: the ADU rule says 5 ft side and rear (§3.12.3.A.5), while the general accessory-building rule sends anything with sleeping facilities to the house's setbacks (§3.12.2.I.5). The state cap is 5 ft, and the city measures to the roof overhang, not the wall (§3.12.2.J)
- No separate address: the ADU shares the house's address (§3.12.3.A.3) — plan mail, deliveries and utility accounts around that, and expect to feed the unit from the house's meters unless you pay the water and wastewater development fees for a new one
- Watch the SMART library: once a 600 or 1,000 sq ft ADU plan is approved there, using it can shorten plan review — but you still need the plan author's permission and a site-specific permit with a geotechnical report
- Cost basis: the ranges are 2026 Phoenix-metro builder guides (mid-range detached casita $150,000-$250,000, custom $250,000-$400,000+, garage conversion $80,000-$150,000, $150-$400 per sq ft, permits and fees $3,000-$12,000, utility connections $8,000-$20,000); no Goodyear-specific price list exists, and West Valley bids often land toward the lower end
- Cost basis (2026-09-20 re-verification): short term allowed: 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 can reach the property within 1 hour and a complaint contact who answers within 24 hours, notice to adjacent and across-the-street neighbours before the first listing, the licence number on the listing, $500,000 of liability cover and guest sex-offender checks (city STR page). Neither §3.12.3 nor the STR page imposes an owner-residency condition on an ADU (an option under A.R.S. §9-500.39(B)(9)). Long-term: the city cannot stop you leasing the house and the casita separately on 90-day-plus or month-to-month terms (A.R.S. §9-461.18(B)(1), (I)(3)). The older guest-house category may never be rented (§3.12.4.A.4)
ADU Builders in Goodyear
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Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- City of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance dated July 1, 2026 (effective August 5, 2026) — §3.12.3 Accessory Dwelling Unit (p.122), §3.12.4 Guest House (p.123), §3.12.2 accessory buildings (pp.120-121), Table 2.2.2 residential uses (pp.10-11), Table 2.2.3 single-family standards (p.12), Article 8 definitions Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Zoning Ordinance — City of Goodyear (July 6, 2026 approval; August 5, 2026 effective date; prior ordinance no longer in effect) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- City Council Regular Meeting, July 6, 2026 — Minutes, Item 13: Ordinance No. 2026-1652 adopting the Zoning Ordinance dated July 1, 2026 and repealing Ordinance No. 99-655 (passed unanimously) city_council — Accessed 2026-09-20
- A.R.S. §9-461.18 — Accessory dwelling units; regulation; applicability; definitions state_statute — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Development Services Fee Schedule — City of Goodyear (dated 10/13/2023; user fees per Resolution 2022-2274, effective December 7, 2022): Valuation Table 1-A (pp.8-9), Residential Fees incl. 'Detached Casita or Guest House' (p.11), Planning and Zoning fees (p.34) fee_schedule — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Development Impact Fees — Update/April 2024 (effective April 1, 2024): residential per-unit fees by zone; water and wastewater development fees by meter size fee_schedule — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Fees for Development Services — City of Goodyear (eCheck at no fee from February 22, 2025; card fee 2.75%; Project Fee Estimate Request form) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Plan Review Target Time Frames — City of Goodyear Development Center (updated February 12, 2026) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Residential Detached Accessory Building Submittal Guide — City of Goodyear (01/2024): Accela project type 'Residential Construction – Detached Guest House, Casita, or Accessory Building' building_dept — Accessed 2026-09-20
- SMART: Streamlined Municipal Approved Residential Types — City of Goodyear (Class 4 ADU plans SMART41/42/43 at 200/600/1,000 sq ft, all 'Seeking Submittals') Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Development Resources — City of Goodyear (Accela Citizen Access guide, submittal guides, EZ Permits) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-20
- ADUs in Arizona: Rules, Costs, What to Know (2026) — Fenn Rogers Custom Homes, Mesa (updated May 12, 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- How Much Does It Cost to Build a Casita in Arizona? (2026 Guide) — Rise Above Remodeling, Phoenix industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- Prefab Modular ADU: 2026 Costs, Code Paths & Lot Fit — Dwelling Index (updated May 27, 2026) industry — Accessed 2026-09-20
- HUD FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler AZ MSA — ZIP 85338: 1BR $1,700, 2BR $1,980; ZIP 85395: 1BR $1,760, 2BR $2,050 (40th percentile, gross rent incl. utilities) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-20
- RentCafe — Average Rent in Goodyear, AZ (updated August 31, 2026: 1BR $1,440, 2BR $1,696; city average $1,652) Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-06
- Short-Term Rentals — City of Goodyear Finance Department (STR licence $250 per calendar year; requirements for rentals under 30 days) city_website — Accessed 2026-09-20
- U.S. Census Bureau — Vintage 2024 Population Estimates, sub-est2024.csv (Goodyear city, AZ: 118,186) Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-06
- The Arizona Republic (azcentral), December 19, 2024 — Goodyear ordinance allows accessory dwelling units News Source — Accessed 2026-09-06
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU in Goodyear?
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. 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. Owner-occupancy is not required, so you can rent out the ADU.
How much does an ADU cost in Goodyear?
ADU construction in Goodyear typically costs $150,000-$280,000. Garage conversions run $80,000-$150,000, and prefab ADUs cost $150,000-$300,000.
How much can I rent an ADU for in Goodyear?
Average ADU rents in Goodyear are $1,450-$1,800/mo for a 1-bedroom and $1,700-$2,100/mo for a 2-bedroom unit.
Do I need parking for an ADU in Goodyear?
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)). Check with Goodyear planning department for the latest Arizona ADU parking rules, as many states have relaxed requirements in recent years.
How long does it take to get an ADU permit in Goodyear?
The permit review timeline in Goodyear is 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. Permit fees: '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.
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