How Goodyear Handles Property Maintenance: A Practical Guide
Goodyear maintains 119 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with property maintenance. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Goodyear falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Vacant Lot Maintenance
Goodyear bans using an unpaved vacant lot for vehicle parking unless the surface is paved or otherwise stabilized to control dust, under the city's fugitive dust ordinance. Owners can be required to fence, barricade or post the lot against trespassers, and a violation is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Key details: Rule: no vehicle parking/use on unpaved vacant lots. Required: paving or City Engineer-approved stabilization. Owner may be required: fencing/barricades/no-trespassing signs. Exempt: permitted construction, utility work, county dust permit. Penalty: Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500 fine, 30 days.
Allowing unauthorized vehicle parking or use on an unpaved vacant lot, or operating a leaf blower off a stabilized surface, is a Class 3 misdemeanor under § 11-1-26(G), carrying fines of up to $500 plus surcharges and fees, probation of up to one year, and up to 30 days in jail under A.R.S. §§ 13-802(C), 13-902(A)(7) and 13-707(A)(3). The city can also treat ongoing fugitive dust as a public nuisance and abate it at the violator's expense.
Property Blight
Goodyear property owners, tenants and landlords must keep buildings, lots and vacant land free of garbage, weeds over six inches and accumulated debris, and must remove dilapidated structures that endanger public health and safety, under City Code § 10-4-4. Code Enforcement issues a notice and order to comply, and the City can abate the hazard itself and place a lien on the property if the owner does not.
Key details: Governs: Debris, weeds over 6 inches, dilapidated structures. Who's covered: Owners, tenants, landlords, managers. Notice period: 30 days to comply before city abates. Appeal window: 14 days (notice) / 30 days (assessment). Abatement surcharge: 5% added to inspection cost.
A property-maintenance violation is enforceable both civilly and criminally under Article 1-8 and Chapter 18 (§ 10-6-1(C)), with a misdemeanor conviction carrying up to a $2,500 fine for an individual or $20,000 for a business, or up to six months in jail, and each day of noncompliance charged as a separate offense. Unpaid abatement costs become a recorded lien against the property under § 10-6-4(E) and § 10-6-5.
The Bottom Line
Goodyear's property maintenance 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.
All of the above reflects Goodyear's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.