Goodyear, AZ Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Section 11-1-13(C)(3)
- Trigger
- Unsheltered storage over 14 days
- Offense level
- Class 1 misdemeanor
- Exception
- Active building permit for the material
- Abatement result
- City removal, billed cost, possible lien
Summary
Goodyear bans storing construction materials in the open yard for more than 14 days if the pile can breed insects or give shelter to rodents. City Code Section 11-1-13(C)(3) treats that condition as a public nuisance, punishable as a class 1 misdemeanor, unless the materials are covered by an active building permit for that property.
Storage of construction materials for a period in excess of 14 days in whole, broken or discarded condition in unsheltered areas of the yard and in which insects may breed or multiply or which provides harborage for rodents or which constitutes a hazard to the public health and safety. This subsection shall not apply to any construction material when a valid building permit exists for the property on which the construction material is located and the construction material is intended to be incorporated in the project for which the permit is issued.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1648, passed April 27, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 11-1-13(C)(3) of the General Code addresses conditions on private and public property that give rodents a place to live. " The exception is narrow: it applies only when a valid building permit exists for the property and the material is intended for that specific permitted project. A related clause in the same section, subsection (C)(5), separately bans storing bottles, cans, scrap metal, and other abandoned items in unsheltered areas unless kept in covered bins or metal receptacles approved by the county health officer. Any police officer, code enforcement officer, or designated sanitation official who personally sees the violation can issue a citation under subsection (D)(2).
If the property owner or occupant does not clear the material within a reasonable period, capped at 14 days, the City can remove it and bill the owner, with the unpaid cost becoming a recorded lien against the property under subsections (E) and (F).
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 11-1-13(C)(3) is a class 1 misdemeanor, enforceable by citation from police, code enforcement, or a designated sanitation official who personally observes the condition. Failure to abate within the notice period, up to 14 days, lets the City remove the material and bill the owner, and an unpaid bill becomes a property lien. The record owner can appeal the citation to the City Council, whose decision is final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for a rodent problem caused by stored materials in Goodyear?
Does having a building permit protect me from this rule?
What happens if I don't clear the material after a citation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Goodyear
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