Goodyear, AZ Special Events & Permits: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (2026)

8 of the Goodyear Zoning Ordinance governs outdoor seating that is accessory to a restaurant, bar, or similar establishment; it does not cover public plazas or common open space. The dining, patio, or seating area must be tied to a permitted use on the same site, and for state liquor-license spacing purposes the outdoor area counts as part of the licensed premises. Placement is restricted to private property: the area may encroach into a required setback by up to 10 feet but must still keep a minimum 5-foot buffer from every property line, and it can never sit within the public right-of-way.

The seating cannot block pedestrian or bicycle travel or create a health or safety hazard. Any roof over the dining area, whether fixed, retractable, or removable, must be opaque, and awnings, canopies, or similar shelters must be fire-treated or built from noncombustible material. A restaurant that installs a decorative barrier to separate diners from passing foot traffic must keep it under 40 inches tall, make it handicap-accessible, and design it to match the building's architectural facade. Decorative or accent lighting is allowed in the dining area, landscaping, awning, or canopy, but it still has to meet every City Code lighting requirement.

Because outdoor dining is regulated as a use standard rather than a stand-alone permit, compliance is checked through the Development Services Department when a restaurant applies for site improvements for the patio buildout. 2 of the Ordinance.