Sign Regulations in Goodyear, AZ

If you live in Goodyear or are thinking about moving there, sign regulations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Goodyear has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of sign regulations, and some of them might surprise you.

Freeway-Facing Signs

Goodyear will not let a business simply put up a big sign facing I-10: a freeway pylon sign needs a discretionary Use Permit approved by the City Council, not just a building permit, and the applicant carries the burden of proving it meets the City's design findings.

Key details: Approval required: Use Permit + City Council finding. Site Plan review: Required under Section 6.3. Guideline minimum acreage: 30 contiguous acres. Guideline freeway frontage: 1,000 feet minimum. Max distance from ROW: 200 feet (15-foot min setback).

A pylon sign built or displayed without the required Use Permit and Site Plan approval is unlawful under the Article 4 sign rules and can be declared a public nuisance subject to abatement. Zoning Ordinance violations generally carry civil sanctions of $100 to $1,000 per offense, or, if prosecuted criminally, a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to $2,500, three years of probation, or six months in jail; issuing a permit does not excuse noncompliance with other codes.

Compared to other cities, Goodyear takes a harder line on freeway-facing signs. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Window Signs

A Goodyear storefront cannot wrap its entire window in signage: window signs, whether permanent or temporary, are capped at 30 percent of each ground-floor window's area, and they are only allowed on ground floors in the first place.

Key details: Coverage cap: 30% of each ground-floor window. Eligible uses: Multi-family and non-residential only. Floor restriction: Ground-floor windows only. Illumination: Permanent signs may be lit, not animated. Mounting: Interior surface only, not exterior.

A window sign that exceeds the 30 percent per-window cap, is placed on an upper floor, is mounted outside the glass, or includes prohibited animation or electronic displays is a sign-code violation. Under the ordinance's general Article 4 enforcement provisions, a nonconforming sign can be declared a public nuisance subject to abatement, and Zoning Ordinance violations generally carry civil sanctions of $100 to $1,000 per offense or, if prosecuted criminally, a class 1 misdemeanor with fines up to $2,500.

Political Signs

Goodyear regulates political yard signs the same way it regulates every other temporary residential yard sign: one per property, capped at 6 square feet and 6 feet tall, no illumination, and no permit needed, with the rule written to be blind to what the sign says.

Key details: Signs per property: One yard sign. Max area: 6 square feet. Max height: 6 feet. Illumination: Not allowed. Permit needed: No, if within these limits.

A yard sign, including a political sign, that exceeds one per property, tops 6 square feet or 6 feet in height, or is illuminated does not qualify for the no-permit yard-sign allowance and can be treated as an unpermitted or nonconforming sign subject to removal. Under the ordinance's Article 4 enforcement rules, a noncompliant sign can be declared a public nuisance and abated, and Zoning Ordinance violations generally carry civil sanctions of $100 to $1,000 per offense or a class 1 misdemeanor charge with fines up to $2,500.

Digital Billboards

Goodyear bans billboards and off-site advertising signs outright citywide, while allowing only one on-site electronic message display per monument sign side under strict technical limits. Digital displays must stay static, dim automatically after dark, cap brightness at 300 nits, and shut off between 10 p.m. and sunrise near single-family homes.

Key details: Billboards: Prohibited citywide, § 4.6.6(B)(2). Off-site advertising signs: Also prohibited, § 4.6.6(B)(3). Digital displays allowed: One per monument sign side. Size cap: 24 sq ft or 50% of copy area. Change rate: No faster than once per 8 seconds.

Any sign not expressly permitted by Article 4.6 is prohibited under Section 4.6.6(A), so an unpermitted digital display or any billboard is unlawful on sight. Section 4.6.4(F) lets the Chief Building Official order correction of an unsafe or noncompliant sign within 48 hours, or remove it immediately without notice if it poses a hazard, billing all removal and repair costs to the sign or property owner.

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

The Bottom Line

Goodyear is tougher than many cities when it comes to sign regulations. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 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.

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.