Los Angeles County HOA Guide
Torrance HOA Guide: Local Rules for Boards and Owners
Torrance has about 138,000 residents, and the Census Bureau puts its owner-occupied rate at 55.0%. The city runs its own municipal water system, so water questions go to the city rather than a separate district.
This guide collects the city rules a Torrance board runs into most often, and points you to the How2HOA guide that explains what to do about each one.
Local rules on this page were checked against the City of Torrance website, the Torrance Municipal Code on its code publisher and the Census Bureau on October 26, 2026. Two city water pages disagree about which watering rules are in force, so this page tells you to confirm with the city. We found no city page about HOAs, and two city pages (Water Services and Trees) would not open. We could not confirm anything about special tax districts, rebate amounts or whether a short-term rental permit needs HOA approval. Confirm the current rule before you act on it. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
At a glance
HOAs in Torrance at a glance
We did not find a city page that explains or lists homeowners associations or asks for CC&R approval. A few facts still shape how a Torrance board works:
Because the city has no HOA office, your CC&Rs and state law are your main guides. City ordinances apply on top of them.
Local rules
Rules that apply in Torrance
Three layers of rules apply to a Torrance association. State law comes first, mainly the Davis-Stirling Act. City ordinances apply to every property, whether or not it is in an HOA. Your governing documents can then be stricter than the city in most areas, and state law limits them in a few. The city does not enforce your CC&Rs, and your CC&Rs do not excuse anyone from a city rule.
Short-term rentalsAllowed with a city permit, and in residential zones only as home shares with the host on site.
The city defines a short-term rental as a stay of 30 days or less, and the rules are in Torrance Municipal Code chapter 92.43. Rentals are allowed in most of the city, including the Coastal Zone:
- In commercial zones, with or without the host on site.
- In residential zones, only as a home share, meaning the host is on site and the rental is incidental.
- A short-term rental permit and a business license are required, and the Uniform Occupancy Tax applies.
Operating without a permit is declared a public nuisance. Each day is a separate offense, and the city can charge abatement costs (section 92.43.090).
The city’s page does not say whether an HOA’s permission is required, and we could not confirm it. Your CC&Rs may still ban or limit short-term rentals, so a city permit does not override them. Planning handles permits at (310) 618-5990, and Code Enforcement takes complaints at (310) 618-5929.
What to do about it: How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community walks through writing and enforcing a rental rule. For longer leases, see Renting Out Your Home in a Homeowners Association. For the California rules, see our guide to buying, selling and renting in a California HOA.
Parking and oversized vehiclesNo vehicle may stay on a city street 72 hours or more, and oversized vehicles are banned from public streets.
Private streets and property are covered separately. Section 61.3.3 lets the city apply the Vehicle Code to private roads by resolution under Vehicle Code sections 21107.5 or 21107.7. Section 61.6.28 bars parking on private property without the owner’s consent and sets sign rules for towing under Vehicle Code section 22658(a). Ask the city whether a resolution covers your private streets, and check your towing signs against the code before you tow.
We found no overnight parking permit program for residents.
What to do about it: How to Set Up a Towing Service in Your Homeowners Association and HOA Rules and Enforcing Violations. For the state rules on enforcement, fines and hearings, see California HOA enforcement, fines and disputes.
Parkway trees and hillside viewsThe city maintains parkway trees. The View Equity Ordinance applies only in the Hillside Overlay.
The city and its contractor maintain parkway trees. An owner can hire an approved contractor to trim the tree in front of the property under a no-fee permit. The owner gets 21 days’ notice before the city removes a tree, and the city does not trim for views. City tree trim and removal permits go through the Streetscape Division at (310) 781-6900.
The View Equity Ordinance applies only to residentially zoned and developed properties in the Hillside Overlay, when both properties are in the overlay and the vegetation is within 500 feet. The city does not enforce agreements made under it, and there is no height limit. The city’s FAQ does not mention HOAs or give a code section.
We did not find a protected private-tree ordinance, and the city pages we read do not cover trees on private property. Ask the Streetscape Division before removing a large common-area tree.
What to do about it: How to Hire a Contractor for Your Homeowners Association covers what to require of a tree service before work starts. Budget recurring tree work with Planning Your HOA Budget.
Water and AB 1572Two city pages describe different watering rules, so confirm which applies.
Torrance Municipal Water is part of the city’s Public Works department. Its Conservation Ordinance (Ordinance 3717, 2009) has four stages. The city’s two water pages disagree about which one is current, and we are not choosing between them:
Confirm with the city which rules apply before you set your irrigation schedule. The city’s main line is (310) 328-5310.
The city states that a 2023 state law, AB 1572, bars the use of drinking water on nonfunctional turf. For HOA common areas the date is January 1, 2029. For commercial, industrial and institutional properties it is January 1, 2028.
The city refers customers to the Metropolitan Water District’s SoCal Water$mart rebates, for both residential and commercial customers. The city page gives no rebate amounts and no HOA-specific program, so confirm what an association can claim before you plan a project around it.
What to do about it: put the turf conversion in your numbers with Planning Your HOA Budget and Understanding HOA Reserve Studies, then compare landscape bids with the Vendor Comparison Worksheet. For the California rules behind these projects, see California HOA maintenance and repair responsibilities and California HOA reserves.
Fire hazard mapsPart of Torrance has parcels in CAL FIRE’s 2025 recommended maps. The zone level and city adoption are unconfirmed.
The city’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone page says part of Torrance has parcels affected by CAL FIRE’s 2025 recommended maps for Local Responsibility Areas, issued March 24, 2025. The city expects future building and vegetation requirements, citing California Building Code Chapter 7A and Public Resources Code section 4291.
The page does not say what zone level applies or whether the city has adopted the maps, and we could not confirm either. We also did not find a fire agency phone number or annual weed abatement dates. If your community is near open or hillside land, ask the city whether your parcels are affected before you plan landscape or roof work.
What to do about it: How to Minimize Homeowners Association Liability, and for coverage questions, Rising HOA Insurance Costs in California and the FAIR Plan. For what the association’s insurance has to cover, see California HOA insurance requirements.
Noise and work hoursConstruction is allowed 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Torrance sets residential noise limits by region (TMC 46.7.2). Region 3 is 50 decibels by day and 45 at night, and Region 4 is 55 and 50, with day running 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The page we read does not tell you which region your community is in, so ask Code Enforcement at (310) 618-5929.
What to do about it: Managing Outside Vendors for Your HOA.
Is this a lot for a volunteer board to track?
City rules, state law and your own documents all change, and someone has to keep up. If your Torrance board is deciding between managing itself and hiring help, start with Self-Managed vs. Professional HOA Management, or tell us about your community and we will send you options from affiliated management companies.
Compare HOA management optionsQuick answers
Questions Torrance board members ask
Are short-term rentals legal in Torrance?
Yes, with a city permit and a business license. In residential zones only as home shares with the host on site. Your association can still restrict them in its own documents. See How to Handle Short-Term Rentals in Your Community.
Does a short-term rental permit require HOA approval?
We could not confirm that. The city’s page does not say. Check your CC&Rs and ask Planning at (310) 618-5990.
Can a car stay parked on the street for a week?
No. The code bars parking on a city street for 72 or more consecutive hours, and police can tow after 72 hours.
Can an owner park a large RV on the street?
Not if it is over 20 feet long, 7 feet wide or 8 feet high. Oversized vehicles are banned from public streets, with a 24-hour permit available from the Police Traffic Division at (310) 618-5557.
Which watering rules apply to our common areas?
The city’s own pages disagree between Permanent Baseline and Level 1, so confirm with the city at (310) 328-5310 before setting your schedule.
When must we stop using drinking water on common-area turf?
The city says January 1, 2029 for HOA common areas under AB 1572. Plan the cost with the Annual HOA Budget Checklist.
Is our community in a fire hazard zone?
The city says part of Torrance has parcels affected by CAL FIRE’s 2025 recommended maps, but its page does not give the zone level. Ask the city about your parcels.
Calendar
A Torrance board’s year
The 2029 turf date comes from the city. The other items are general good practice, not legal requirements.
Keep the year on track: use the Board Meeting Checklist and the Annual HOA Budget Checklist.
Who to call
Torrance contacts for HOA boards
| Office | Phone | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| City main line | (310) 328-5310 | General questions and water rule confirmation |
| Code Enforcement / Environmental Division | (310) 618-5929 | Code complaints, short-term rental complaints and noise |
| Planning Division | (310) 618-5990 | Short-term rental permits |
| Business license | (310) 618-5828 | Short-term rental business license |
| Revenue Division | (310) 618-5830 | Occupancy tax |
| Police Traffic Division | (310) 618-5557 | Oversized vehicle permits |
| Streetscape Division | (310) 781-6900 | City tree trim and removal permits |
Keep going
Where to go next on How2HOA
Sources for this guide
These sources open in a new tab.
City of Torrance: Short-term rentals; Torrance Municipal Code, Title 6; Torrance Municipal Code, Chapter 46.6; Oversized vehicle permits; Tree maintenance; View Equity Ordinance FAQ; Water Services; Torrance Conservation Ordinance; Water Conservation; Fire Hazard Severity Zone; Hours of construction; Code Enforcement Unit.
Other agencies: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Torrance.
California law: AB 1572 (2023).
Professional management
Thinking about management help?
Tell us about your community and we will send you options from affiliated management companies.
Compare HOA management optionsBrowse all HOA topicsThis page is general educational information, not legal, financial or insurance advice. City ordinances and state law change, and your association’s governing documents control many of these questions, so check the current code and talk with your association’s attorney or another qualified professional about your situation.