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Chapter 2

Article 11 — ACCESSIBILITY TO BUILDING SITE AND LIVING QUARTERS

Torrance Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-07 · Torrance

92.11.1 BUILDING SITE TO FRONT ON PUBLIC STREET.

Each building site used for residential purposes shall front on a public street.

92.11.2 PRIVATE ROAD, WIDTH OF.

In case of a private road, the width of such road shall not be less than twenty-seven (27) feet and shall be exclusive of the required yard area.

92.11.3 ACCESS TO REAR LIVING QUARTERS.

Dwellings or living quarters located at the rear of buildings located on the front of an interior lot, shall have access to a street or private road by means of a passageway, not less than five (5) feet in width, nor less than the width required in the City Building Code and the State Housing Act, extending to the front property line and located on the same parcel of land upon which said buildings are located. In no case shall an alley be used as the only access to living quarters located at the rear of any building. No person shall divide any lot or parcel of land into separate parcels without complying with the foregoing provision.

92.11.4 ACCESS FOR FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLINGS.

(Added by O-1937; O-1938)

Interior fire hydrants shall be installed for every apartment building or group of apartment buildings of three (3) stories or less, when adequate Fire Department access is not provided by driveways of not less than twelve (12) feet in width with an overhead clearance of not less than twelve (12) feet.

Fire hydrants may be of two (2) types, wet or dry.

a) Wet fire hydrants:

    1. Wet fire hydrants shall have at least two (2), two and one half (2-1/2) inch Fire Department outlets. Each outlet shall have a shutoff valve.
    1. Wet fire hydrants may be connected to the domestic water supply.
    1. Wet hydrants shall have a discharge capacity of not less than five hundred (500) gallons per minute in addition to the domestic water requirements.
    1. Wet hydrants shall be so located that the area protected by the hydrants shall be not greater than a travel distance of two hundred (200) feet.

EXCEPTION: Fire Department authorities may modify the requirements of Section a-4) depending upon the accessibility for emergency purposes.

b) Dry fire hydrants or dry standpipe systems:

    1. Dry fire hydrants shall have at least two (2), two and one-half (2-1/2) inch Fire Department outlets. Each outlet shall have a shutoff valve.
    1. Dry hydrants shall be supplied by a pipe of sufficient size to discharge a minimum of five hundred (500) gallons per minute.
    1. A Fire Department connection shall be located on the street in front of the building to supply the dry hydrants.
    1. Dry hydrants shall be so located that the area protected by the hydrants shall be not greater than a travel distance of two hundred (200) feet.

EXCEPTION: Fire Department authorities may modify the requirements of Section b-4) depending upon the accessibility for emergency purposes.

    1. Dry hydrant system components shall be installed to the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association, Pamphlet 23.

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▸ Contents — Torrance Zoning Code
Torrance Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 1
  2. ▸ Chapter 2
    Overview
    1. Article 1 — CONTROLLED ZONING
    2. Article 2 — USES GENERALLY Revised 4/25 Revised 10/25
    3. Article 3 — HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS
    4. Article 4 — MINIMUM LOT AND BUILDING SITE AREAS
    5. Article 5 — YARDS
    6. Article 6 — EXPOSED EXTERIOR WALLS
    7. Article 7 — SPECIAL SETBACK LINE.
    8. Article 8 — ACCESSORY BUILDINGS
    9. Article 9 — ZONING APPLIED TO ANNEXED AREAS
    10. Article 10 — SPLITTING LOTS
    11. Article 11 — ACCESSIBILITY TO BUILDING SITE AND LIVING QUARTERS
    12. Article 12 — SIGNS
    13. Article 13 — FENCES, WALLS, RETAINING WALLS AND HEDGES
    14. Article 14 — AUTOMATIC REZONING OF SUBDIVIDED LAND
    15. Article 15 — GARAGE DOORS
    16. Article 16 — GARAGES FACING PUBLIC STREETS
    17. Article 17 — MOBILEHOMES AND MOBILEHOME PARKS
    18. Article 18 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
    19. Article 19 — UNAUTHORIZED SALE OF VEHICLES ON VACANT LOTS
    20. Article 20 — LIVING AREAS
    21. Article 21 — BUILDING DESIGN COMPATIBILITY
    22. Article 22 — NONCONFORMING USES, BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES
    23. Article 23 — ENFORCEMENT
    24. Article 24 — REAPPLICATION AFTER DENIAL OR WITHDRAWAL
    25. Article 26 — RECORDING CONDITIONS ON USE OF LAND
    26. Article 27 — EXTENSIONS OF TIME
    27. Article 28 — MODIFICATION OF CONDITIONS
    28. Article 29 — SUBDIVISION CONTROL
    29. Article 30 — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
    30. Article 32 — PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
    31. Article 33 — SPACING OF BLIGHT INDUCING ENTERPRISES
    32. Article 34 — AMENDMENT TO GENERAL PLAN
    33. Article 35 — NUISANCE ABATEMENT
    34. Article 36 — DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
    35. Article 37 — LARGE FAMILY DAY CARE PERMITS
    36. Article 38 — VACANT BUILDING AND LOT MAINTENANCE AND REGISTRAT…
    37. Article 39 — WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES
    38. Article 40 — UNATTENDED COLLECTION BOXES
    39. Article 41 — VIEW EQUITY
    40. Article 42 — GARAGE SALES
    41. Article 43 — SHORT TERM RENTALS
    42. Article 44 — SHARED MOBILITY DEVICES
  3. Chapter 3 — OFF STREET PARKING
  4. Chapter 4 — VARIANCES - WAIVERS
  5. Chapter 5 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
  6. Chapter 6 — REZONING - PRECISE PLAN.
  7. Chapter 7 — OIL.
  8. Chapter 8 — HELICOPTERS
  9. Chapter 9 — SCHEDULE OF FEES
  10. Chapter 10 — TRIP REDUCTION AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
  11. Chapter 11 — SIGNS Revised 4/25

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