Accessory Dwelling Unit / Detached Guest House / Casita Permit in Goodyear, Arizona
VerifiedGoodyear does not publish a separate 'ADU permit' application distinct from its standard building permit process; a detached guest house, casita, or accessory dwelling unit is permitted as a Residential Building Permit under the 'Detached Casita or Guest House' fee and review-time category. Separately, the City has established the SMART (Streamlined Municipal Approved Residential Types) pre-approved plan program under A.R.S. Section 9-461.20 and SB 1529 (2025), which includes a dedicated Class 4 ADU track (SMART41/42/43, at 200/600/1,000 sq ft) — as of this review, that ADU plan class is still listed 'Seeking Submittals' with no pre-approved plans yet posted to the library.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- A detached guest house, casita, or accessory dwelling unit requires a standard building permit under the 'Detached Casita or Guest House' Residential Fees category; plan review is billed at 65% of the Table 1-A permit fee, plus the Table 1-A permit fee itself, an $86 Planning and Zoning fee, and a $102 application fee
- The City's SMART program allows a design professional to pre-submit a non-site-specific ADU plan set (Class 4: SMART41 at 200 sq ft, SMART42 at 600 sq ft, SMART43 at 1,000 sq ft, each requiring at least 3 elevation options) for City pre-review and listing in the SMART Pre-approved Plan Library
- Using a posted SMART plan still requires a site-specific permit application (site plan, grading info, utility connection details, energy compliance documentation, geotechnical report) — a pre-approved plan is not itself a construction permit
- Property owners using a SMART plan must independently obtain usage rights from the plan's author; the City does not grant or broker usage rights
- As of this review (2026-07-03), all SMART Class 1-4 plan types (including the ADU Class 4 track) show status 'Seeking Submittals' — no plans had yet been approved/posted, so the SMART pre-approved pathway was not yet operational for ADUs; the standard Detached Casita/Guest House building permit route remains the only verified, currently-usable path
Required documents
- Required
Building Permit Application (Detached Casita/Guest House)
Submitted online through Accela Citizen Access (ACA), same process as other detached residential structures
- Optional
SMART Pre-Application Meeting Request
For design professionals wishing to submit a non-site-specific ADU plan (Class 4: SMART41/42/43) for City pre-review and inclusion in the SMART Pre-approved Plan Library
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Detached Casita or Guest House (plan review) | 65% of Permit Fee, plus Table 1-A permit fee, $86 Planning and Zoning, $102 Application | City of Goodyear Development Services Fee Schedule, Residential Fees |
Review timeline
5–15 business days
Goodyear’s published plan-review target
Inspection process
- 1
Foundation/Footing
Before concrete pour for the detached structure
- 2
Framing
Structural framing per approved plans
- 3
Final
Final inspection for occupancy of the accessory structure
Tips
- Detached Guest House, Casita, or Accessory Building has a Plan Review Target Time Frame of 5/15/10 business days per the Review Times page (updated 2/12/2026) — the same target as Detached Garage or Carport.
- SMART Class 4 (ADU) plans are sized 200, 600, or 1,000 square feet per unit (SMART41/42/43); each class requires at least 3 distinct elevation options from the submitting design professional.
- SMART plan posting explicitly does NOT constitute City endorsement, and the City requires potential indemnification from users of SMART plans as permitted by law.
- Contact the Development Center directly with parcel information if interested in using a SMART plan once one becomes available for the desired class.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Goodyear have an ADU-specific permit or program?
- Goodyear does not have a permit type called 'ADU permit' distinct from its standard building permit — a detached guest house, casita, or ADU is permitted as a 'Detached Casita or Guest House' under the standard Residential Building Permit fee and review-time schedule. Separately, the City has established SMART (Streamlined Municipal Approved Residential Types), a pre-approved plan program under A.R.S. 9-461.20 and SB 1529 (2025) with a dedicated Class 4 ADU track (200/600/1,000 sq ft), but as of this review no ADU plans had yet been approved and posted to the SMART library — the class was still listed 'Seeking Submittals.'
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
- City of Goodyear Development Services — Building Safety Division — official building department
- SMART: Streamlined Municipal Approved Residential Types | City of Goodyear
- Development Services Fee Schedule (PDF, 10/13/2023) | City of Goodyear
- Review Times | City of Goodyear
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Goodyear building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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