Building on a custom lot in Goodyear means a grading and drainage plan reviewed against the city's custom-lot checklist. The excavation contractor's job is to make the ground match it.
From the custom-lot checklist
| Item | Goodyear rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum lot slope | 1% |
| Driveway slope | No more than 12% |
| Driveway width at the curb | Up to 16 feet |
| Cut and fill slopes | 3:1 maximum, or a 6-foot maximum cut or fill face |
| Retaining walls | Up to 6 feet, terraced with a 6-foot horizontal offset |
| Retaining plus privacy wall | Up to 7 ft 6 in combined, 6 ft on a common property line |
| Grading limits | None outside the building envelope or within the building setback line plus 5 feet |
| On-lot retention | Not allowed on lots under 1 acre |
| Stormwater paperwork | SWPPP and NOI if over 1 acre is disturbed; a BMP exhibit if under |
| Finished floor | 18 in above the site outfall, 12 in above the high-water elevation |
What it means for the excavation
- Pad height comes from the finished-floor rule, so cut or fill depth is set before digging.
- The 12% driveway cap can mean extra cut on a lot that sits above the street.
- Retaining walls go to Building Safety for their own permit and inspection.
- Machines stay inside the building envelope.
Sources
- City of Goodyear: Grading & Drainage, Custom Lots review checklist (revised July 23, 2018)
- City of Goodyear: Engineering Design Standards and Policies Manual, Chapter 3, Stormwater Management (2017)
Reviewed October 20, 2026. Rules, prices and contacts change, so check the source before relying on it.
Questions and answers
How steep can a driveway be on a Goodyear custom lot?
Goodyear's custom-lot checklist caps driveway slopes at 12%.
How high can a retaining wall be on a Goodyear custom lot?
The checklist caps retaining walls at 6 feet, terraced with a 6-foot horizontal offset.
Get your lot graded
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