Animal Ordinances in Goodyear, AZ: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Goodyear or are thinking about moving there, animal ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Goodyear has 6 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of animal ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Chickens & Livestock

Goodyear bans keeping horses, cattle, goats, swine, pigeons or poultry within city limits unless a zoning permit allows it, under City Code § 7-1-4. Household pets are capped at four per residential property, including no more than one potbellied pig up to 100 pounds, and manure must be cleared at least twice a week.

Key details: Governing section: Goodyear City Code § 7-1-4. Livestock/poultry: Banned citywide unless zoning permits it. Household pet cap: 4 per residential property. Potbellied pig exception: 1 pig, max 100 lbs, within the 4-pet cap. Manure removal: At least twice weekly, off premises.

Violating Section 7-1-4, whether by keeping prohibited livestock or poultry without zoning permission, exceeding the four-pet cap, or failing the twice-weekly manure removal standard, is punishable under Article 1-8's general penalty: up to $2,500 in fines for an individual or up to $20,000 for a business, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of the violation a separate offense.

Compared to other cities, Goodyear takes a harder line on chickens & livestock. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Cat Rules

Goodyear does not license cats the way it licenses dogs, but any impounded cat must be held at the pound at least 72 hours before it can be sold or disposed of, and owners can reclaim one during that window by paying pound fees. An unvaccinated cat that bites someone faces a mandatory quarantine.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 7-2-10(B), (C). Cat licensing: Not required (dogs only, § 7-2-5). Minimum pound hold: 72 hours. Bite quarantine: 7 days minimum if unvaccinated. Penalty: Misdemeanor under Article 1-8.

Failing to comply with any provision of Article 7-2, including the impoundment and reclaim procedures for cats, is a misdemeanor under § 7-2-15, punishable under the general penalty schedule in Article 1-8. Removing or attempting to remove an impounded cat outside the article's procedures, or interfering with the enforcement agent while it responds to a cat call, is a separate offense under §§ 7-2-12 and 7-2-13.

Bird Protection

Goodyear's City Code makes it unlawful to keep pigeons or poultry anywhere inside city limits unless a zoning permit allows it. The same section caps household pets at four per residential lot, requires manure to be scooped from pens twice weekly, and forbids animal odors or noise that create a nuisance. Violators face municipal misdemeanor penalties under Article 1-8.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 7-1-4. Pigeons/poultry: Banned without a zoning permit. Household pet cap: 4 pets, plus 1 potbellied pig. Manure removal: At least twice weekly. Penalty: Misdemeanor under Article 1-8.

Keeping pigeons, poultry or unpermitted livestock is enforceable as a misdemeanor under Article 1-8, the City Code's general penalty chapter, and code enforcement or the Police Department's enforcement agent can order the animals impounded or removed. Letting droppings pile up past the twice-weekly removal schedule, or letting any kept animal create a nuisance through odor, noise or vermin, is a separate violation of the same section and can be cited independently of the keeping violation itself.

Compared to other cities, Goodyear takes a harder line on bird protection. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Exotic Pets

Goodyear City Code Section 7-1-4 limits keepable pets to dogs, cats, potbellied pigs and service animals, which effectively bars keeping lions, primates, and other exotic animals as household pets within city limits.

Key details: Lawful pets: Dogs, cats, potbellied pigs, service animals. Max household pets: 4 per residential property. Potbellied pig weight cap: 100 pounds, 1 per property. Wild animal exhibitions: Require Chief of Police permit. Penalty reference: Article 1-8.

Keeping an animal outside the household-pet and service-animal allowance violates Section 7-1-4 and carries the penalty referenced under that section, "Penalty, see Art. 1-8." Section 7-1-1 makes it unlawful to allow a dangerous or vicious animal to run at large, and such an animal is subject to immediate impoundment by the enforcement agent; Section 7-1-2 lets police or the enforcement agent kill a dangerous animal when necessary to protect life or property. Holding an animal exhibition or parade without a Chief of Police permit is also unlawful under Section 7-1-1.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Goodyear actively enforces its exotic pets requirements.

Dog Leash Laws

Goodyear requires every dog off its owner's property to be on a leash, chain, rope or cord no longer than six feet, or confined to a suitable enclosure. City Code § 7-2-9 also requires a valid license tag on any dog over four months old and tightens the rule further inside a declared rabies quarantine area.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 7-2-9. Max leash length: 6 feet. License tag required: Dogs over 4 months old. Minimum pound hold: 72 hours. Owner liability: Full liability for injury/damage.

Allowing a dog at large is a misdemeanor under § 7-2-15, carrying the general penalty schedule set out in Article 1-8. Owners are separately liable in full for any injury to a person or damage to property their dog causes while at large, under § 7-2-16, regardless of whether a citation was also issued. A dog running loose is impounded on sight and held a minimum of 72 hours before disposition.

Veterinary Clinic Zoning

Goodyear confines veterinary clinics and emergency animal hospitals to fully enclosed, soundproof buildings and keeps outdoor exercise yards at least 100 feet from homes. Overnight boarding is allowed only as incidental care for animals under treatment and capped at 25 percent of the clinic's floor area, while emergency hospitals may run around the clock if they add noise mitigation near residences.

Key details: Building type required: Fully enclosed, soundproof. Outdoor exercise setback: 100 feet from residential use. Overnight boarding cap: 25% of gross floor area. Inter-suite noise limit: Under 45 decibels. Emergency hospitals: May operate 24 hours a day.

A clinic that boards animals outdoors, exceeds the 25 percent overnight-boarding cap, or skips the required soundproofing violates Zoning Ordinance Article 7's general enforcement provisions: civil sanctions of $100 to $1,000 per offense, or a class 1 misdemeanor with fines up to $2,500, up to six months in jail, and up to three years of probation, with each day of the violation a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Goodyear is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Goodyear, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Goodyear's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.