Noise Ordinances in Goodyear, AZ

If you live in Goodyear or are thinking about moving there, noise ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Goodyear has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of noise ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Barking Dogs

Goodyear makes it unlawful to harbor or keep an animal or fowl that disturbs the peace with loud noise at any time of day or night, under City Code § 7-1-3. The rule applies around the clock with no decibel test or warning-notice step, and a violation is punishable under the city's general penalty article.

Key details: Governing section: Goodyear City Code § 7-1-3, Noises. Standard: Disturbs the peace by loud noise, any time. Decibel test: None specified in the code. Related provision: § 7-1-4(C) animal nuisance standard. Max penalty: $2,500 fine / 6 months jail, per day.

A violation of Section 7-1-3 is punishable under Goodyear's general penalty article, Article 1-8: a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,500 for an individual or up to $20,000 for a business, or up to six months in jail, or both, and each day the noise nuisance continues counts as a separate offense.

Leaf Blower Rules

Goodyear requires leaf blowers to be operated only on a stabilized surface and bans blowing landscape debris into a public roadway, under City Code Section 11-1-26(D). A separate noise section limits when gas- or battery-powered blowers can run near homes, and violating the dust control rule is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Key details: Governing section: City Code Section 11-1-26(D). Surface requirement: Stabilized surface only. Debris rule: Cannot blow debris into public roadway. Related hours rule: Section 11-1-8(D), residential zones. Penalty: Class 3 misdemeanor, fines up to $500.

Operating a leaf blower on an unstabilized surface, or in a way that blows debris into a public roadway, is a Class 3 misdemeanor under Section 11-1-26(G), carrying fines up to $500 plus surcharges and fees, probation up to one year, and imprisonment up to 30 days. Running blower equipment outside the hours allowed by Section 11-1-8(D) in or near a residential zone is separately punishable under the noise ordinance's general penalty article.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Goodyear requires a permit from the Chief of Police before anyone can operate a sound truck, loudspeaker or sound amplifier mounted on a vehicle, under City Code § 11-1-8(B). Without that advance permission, running any vehicle-mounted amplifier, radio or phonograph loud speaker that emits loud and raucous noises is a citable offense, separate from the general nuisance and unreasonably-loud-volume rules that apply elsewhere in the section.

Key details: Requires: Chief of Police permission first. Covers: Sound trucks, vehicle-mounted loudspeakers/amplifiers. Standard: Emits 'loud and raucous noises'. Not covered: Non-vehicle amplified sound (falls under (C)). Default penalty: Up to $2,500 fine / 6 months jail.

Operating a vehicle-mounted sound truck, loudspeaker or amplifier without the Chief of Police's prior permission is enforceable under the citywide misdemeanor penalty in Article 1-8, up to a $2,500 fine for an individual or $20,000 for a business, or up to six months in jail, with each day of unauthorized operation charged separately. The City may alternatively pursue the violation as a civil code violation under Chapter 18.

Compared to other cities, Goodyear takes a harder line on amplified music & outdoor sound. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Construction Hours

Goodyear limits when construction, landscaping and repair work can run near homes. City Code § 11-1-8 bars work within a residential zoning district, or within 500 feet of one, before 6 a.m. (7 a.m. in cooler months) and after 7 p.m. on weekdays, and pushes the start to 7 a.m. on weekends and City holidays, unless the City Manager issues a permit for different hours.

Key details: Weekday hours (Apr 15-Oct 15): 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Weekday hours (Oct 16-Apr 14): 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Weekend/holiday start: 7 a.m., stop 7 p.m.. Buffer zone: Within 500 ft of residential district. Exempt: Commercial/industrial districts, golf courses.

The City Manager may revoke a construction-hours permit under § 11-1-8(I) on a complaint showing significant disturbance from the work, and the permit holder or an aggrieved neighbor can appeal a grant or denial to the City Manager, who must schedule a hearing within 10 calendar days of a written appeal; the City Manager's decision is final. Working outside the permitted hours without authorization defaults to the citywide Article 1-8 misdemeanor penalty, up to $2,500 for an individual or $20,000 for a business, or up to six months in jail.

Vehicle Noise

Goodyear bans loud car stereos and mounted loudspeakers before you even get to a decibel meter. City Code § 11-1-8 makes it unlawful to run a sound truck or vehicle-mounted amplifier without Police Chief permission, and separately bans playing a radio, stereo or similar device at an unreasonably loud volume that disturbs a neighborhood, whether the vehicle is parked or moving.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 11-1-8(B)-(C). Sound trucks/PA: Need Police Chief permission first. Car stereos: Banned at unreasonably loud volume. Standard: No fixed decibel limit, judged case-by-case. Applies to: Parked or moving vehicles.

A violation of either the sound-truck permit rule in § 11-1-8(B) or the unreasonably loud device ban in § 11-1-8(C) is enforced under Chapter 11's general penalty structure referencing Article 1-8, and the City can also pursue it as a civil code violation under Chapter 18 as an alternative enforcement path. Because the standard is 'unreasonably loud' rather than a fixed decibel number, an officer's on-scene judgment and any neighbor complaint are what drive whether a citation issues.

Quiet Hours

Goodyear's noise ordinance sets no fixed nighttime schedule; instead City Code § 11-1-8 makes it unlawful at any hour for a business or a person to play music, a radio, television or other sound device loudly enough to disturb the peace and quiet of a neighborhood, family or person. Subsection (A) targets restaurants, hotels and places of public amusement; subsection (C) reaches any device anywhere, including inside a vehicle.

Key details: Standard: Unreasonably loud, disturbs peace. No fixed hours: Applies day or night, complaint-driven. Covers: Businesses (A) and any device (C). Added: Ord. 23-1596, passed 10-30-2023. Default penalty: Up to $2,500 fine / 6 months jail.

Noise violations under § 11-1-8 do not carry a stated penalty of their own, so they default to the general misdemeanor penalty in Article 1-8: a fine of up to $2,500 for an individual, up to $20,000 for a business enterprise, or up to six months in jail, with every additional day of ongoing noise counted as a new offense. Officers may also pursue the matter as a civil code violation under Chapter 18 as an enforcement alternative.

Aircraft Noise

Aircraft noise is federally preempted. Goodyear is near Phoenix Sky Harbor and Goodyear Airport (GYR). No local aircraft noise ordinance.

Key details: Federal Preemption: FAA controls airspace/aircraft noise. Goodyear Airport: GYR: general aviation airport in city. Local Authority: None over aircraft noise. Topic: Aircraft Noise.

No local violations for aircraft noise due to federal preemption. Failure to disclose Luke AFB proximity in real estate transactions violates Arizona disclosure law. Non-compliant construction in noise zones violates adopted building standards.

The rules around aircraft noise in Goodyear lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Goodyear's noise ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Goodyear is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Goodyear can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.