Local zoning · Torrance

Torrance — Parking

Q: How many parking spaces does a single‑family home in Torrance need?

A typical single‑family dwelling must provide a private garage with capacity for two (2) cars on the same lot; flag‑lot properties have additional guest‑parking and setback rules described in § 93.2.1 .

Q: What are the multi‑family parking rates (apartments) in Torrance?

Multi‑family units require 2 spaces per unit for units with two bedrooms or fewer and 3 spaces per unit for units with three or more bedrooms (up to two of the three may be tandem where expressly allowed) — see § 93.2.3 and the tandem rules § 93.5.12 .

Q: Are there bicycle‑parking requirements or credits I can use?

Yes. For non‑residential development the code requires bicycle parking (short‑ and long‑term) at stated rates and allows bicycle parking to be used as an on‑menu mitigation credit to reduce vehicle spaces (ratios appear in the on‑menu mitigation table / Article 4). See the bicycle parking guidance and mitigation ratios in the code.

Q: What size are required parking stalls and driveways?

Minimum stall size for commercial parking: 8'6" wide × 19' deep ; employee/industrial stalls 8' × 19' . Driveway entrances serving fewer than 11 spaces: 10 ft minimum; serving 11 or more: 20 ft or two 10 ft drives — § 93.4.2 and § 93.5.7 .

Q: How many loading bays do I need for a new commercial building?

One off‑street loading space is required for occupancies requiring deliveries under 10,000 sq ft . The number scales with floor area — additional loading bays required at 20,000 sq ft increments up to thresholds and each required loading bay must be at least 10' × 25' with 14' vertical clearance — § 93.3.1 .

Q: Can I substitute EV charging, motorcycles or bike parking to reduce car parking counts?

Yes — the code explicitly allows motorcycle parking (up to 5% substitution), EV parking credit (each EV space can count as up to 4 parking spaces, up to a cap), and bicycle parking mitigation under overlay/TDM rules; use of these measures requires Director findings or overlay‑specific point approvals (see § 91.51.0150 and the on‑menu mitigation table).

Q: Do ADUs in Torrance require a new off‑street parking space?

Generally one (1) parking space per ADU is required; however, multiple exemptions exist (within 1/2 mile of transit, historic districts, conversions, etc.). The local ADU article lists these exemptions and conditions — confirm against the ADU article language on the code.

Q: If I change a building’s use, do I need to add parking?

Yes — when the change of use increases required parking the additional off‑street parking and loading facilities must be provided to meet the Chapter’s requirements; see § 93.4.16 (parking for change of use) and the applicable use rates in § 93.2.x .

Q: Are there exemptions for downtown Torrance?

Yes — the downtown Torrance area and Meadow Park redevelopment area have historic exemptions to the off‑street parking chapter for buildings that existed on specific historical dates; see § 93.1.2 for the downtown boundary and exemption conditions.

Q: Who approves exceptions or shared‑parking agreements?

The Planning Director may approve substitute locations for parking, shared‑parking agreements and certain exceptions subject to findings (e.g., proximity, recorded leases/agreements); for larger deviations a Planning Commission decision may be required — see § 93.4.13–93.4.14 and shared parking provisions in the overlay articles.

Parking under the Torrance local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of Torrance regulates parking (off-street parking), loading, and bicycle parking in the local zoning/land‑use ordinance. It pulls directly from the Torrance Municipal Code (Division 9 / Chapter 3 Off‑Street Parking and related overlay and ADU rules) and highlights the decision‑relevant numeric standards, exemptions, and administrative options you will actually use in site planning and entitlement work. Key controlling provisions include § 93.1.1, § 93.2.x (use-based parking), § 93.3.1 (loading), and development standards in § 93.4–93.6.

Note: when the page mentions related topics the first time, those words link to Torrance menu pages for quick navigation: the word parking links to the city's zoning menu below and other planning topics are linked where first used.

First mention links: parking, setbacks/development standards, design review, overlays, ADUs, California Building Standards Code.

What the ordinance requires (top-line)

Off‑street parking is required for new buildings, changes of use, and substantial improvements unless an explicit exemption applies — § 93.1.1.
Downtown Torrance (historic boundary) and the Meadow Park Redevelopment Project area have special exemptions — § 93.1.2.
Parking demand is set by use‑type (single‑family, duplex, multi‑family, and many commercial uses) in Article 2; multi‑family and single‑family rates are tested below — § 93.2.1–§ 93.2.3.
Off‑street loading standards (how many loading bays and their minimum dimensions/clearances) are in § 93.3.1.
Layout, minimum stall size, access, driveway widths, tandem parking rules, paving, lighting, screening and landscaping of parking areas are in § 93.4–93.6 and related development sections. Important numeric standards (stall size, driveway width, grades, wheel stops, buffer from windows) are cited below.

District-by-district breakdown (Torrance-specific)

Below are the districts and overlays most relevant to parking design and requirements. Each subsection gives the purpose/typical uses, the parking rules that apply, key dimensional/operational standards, and where that district/overlay applies (when the code states it).

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: single‑family detached homes (standard residential zone).
Parking requirement: private garage with capacity of not less than two (2) cars per dwelling unit (this is the local standard for single‑family lots) — § 93.2.1.
Key dimensional/operational notes: garage doors must not be located within required front yard or create new parking in front setbacks; flag‑lot special rules require guest parking and 20‑ft setback for garage drive‑up parking — § 93.2.1.
Where it applies: city‑wide wherever land is zoned R‑1 (see the zoning map); specific overlay rules (e.g., Torrance Tract Overlay) can modify review requirements — verify parcel zoning on the map. Not all zone boundary maps are reproduced here (Verify with the jurisdiction).

R-2 (Two‑Family / Duplex)

Purpose / typical uses: two‑family (duplex) residential.
Parking requirement: private garage space for at least four (4) cars (two‑car capacity per dwelling) — § 93.2.2.
Key notes: tandem parking limitations and exceptions are governed by §§ 93.5.12 and overlay articles (see ADU and overlay sections). Tandem parking is generally restricted except where specific code exceptions apply.

R-3 (Multiple‑Family Residential)

Purpose / typical uses: multi‑family apartment developments.
Parking requirement: two (2) parking spaces per unit for units with two bedrooms or less; three (3) parking spaces per unit for units with three or more bedrooms (with up to two of the three allowed in tandem) — § 93.2.3.
Design standards: guest parking requirements, internal circulation, setbacks and landscaping standards in Division 9 apply; the Housing Corridor Overlay (if used) replaces some numerical rates (see HCO below) — § 91.51.0130.

Commercial / Industrial districts (examples of use‑based rates)

Purpose / typical uses: retail, offices, manufacturing, warehouses, food service, etc. Parking is allocated by use type rather than by district. Representative rates:
- Medical/dental clinics / medical professional offices: 1 space per 250 sq ft — § 93.2.19.
- Warehouse/storage: 1 space per 1,500 sq ft plus 1 per 250 sq ft of office — § 93.2.33.
- Shopping centers (≥5 acres & ≥200 stalls): 1 space per 250 sq ft gross floor area, with rules for restaurant allowances — § 93.2.45.
- Food halls and other newer categories are specifically listed (e.g., § 93.2.46 Food Halls: 1 per 100 sq ft dining plus 1 per 250 sq ft remaining area).
Loading (applies to commercial/industrial): minimum loading bays and dimensions: one off‑street loading space for each separate occupancy under 10,000 sq ft; additional spaces at set thresholds; each loading space minimum 10 ft × 25 ft with 14 ft vertical clearance — § 93.3.1.

Housing Corridor Overlay (HCO)

Purpose / typical uses: an overlay that modifies development standards in identified corridors to enable specific housing forms.
Parking rules: the HCO replaces some numerical parking provisions — the HCO sets its own minimums (e.g., 0.5–1 parking spaces per dwelling unit depending on sub‑group) and allows tandem parking where specified — § 91.51.0130 and § 91.51.0150 (parking reductions and substitutions).
Reductions / TDM: the overlay includes explicit parking reduction mechanisms (motorcycle, EV credits, shared parking reductions, bicycle spaces used as mitigation) — § 91.51.0150.

Specific overlays / special districts affecting parking (examples)

Hawthorne Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan (HBCSP) / Commercial/Residential Transition Overlay (C/RTO) and the Torrance Tract historic overlay can modify parking location, landscaping, screening and review triggers; see the overlay articles in Division 9 (e.g., Article 47 HBCSP / C/RTO) — verify overlay maps and text in the code — § 91.47.x, § 91.49.x.

Key numeric standards & site design rules (decision‑relevant)

Topic	Standard / Rule	Code Reference
Off‑street parking required (general)	Required for new buildings, substantial improvements, or changes of use unless exempt	§ 93.1.1
Single‑family parking	Private garage capacity ≥ 2 cars per unit	§ 93.2.1
Multi‑family parking	2 spaces/unit (≤2‑bed); 3 spaces/unit (≥3‑bed; two may be tandem)	§ 93.2.3
Parking stall size (commercial)	Minimum 8'6" × 19' (commercial); 8' × 19' for employee/industrial stalls	§ 93.4.2
Driveway width (entrance)	10 ft minimum (<11 stalls); 20 ft or two 10 ft drives (≥11 stalls)	§ 93.5.7
Tandem parking	Generally not allowed to meet minimums except specific exceptions (multi‑family tandem allowances noted)	§ 93.5.12
Loading bay minimum	10 ft × 25 ft, 14 ft min. vertical clearance; quantity scales with floor area	§ 93.3.1
Parking lot landscaping	3–5% landscaped depending on lot size; buffer and wall requirements when abutting residential	§ 93.6.2 / § 93.6.1
Bicycle parking (non‑residential)	4 short‑term racks per first 50,000 sq ft, +1 per additional 50,000; long‑term lockers allowed	Code text in development‑standards/TDM measures (see Article 4 standards)
Shared parking / TDM reductions	Motorcycle, EV, bicycle and other on‑menu measures can reduce required spaces per overlay/Director findings	§ 91.51.0150 (HCO) and on‑menu mitigation table
EV charging / conversions	Charging stations have siting, setback, cord/clearance and screening requirements; conversion to charging may permit parking reductions with mitigation	EV rules and on‑menu conversion mitigation § referenced in EV chapter (see code)

(See Source References at the end for the file citations that contain the full code language.)

Practical guidance / interpretation notes

Follow the use‑based table in Article 2 (§ 93.2.x) first: determine required spaces by use (single‑family, duplex, multi‑family, medical, warehouse, shopping center, food hall, etc.) and then apply the layout/design rules in § 93.4–93.6.
If your property sits inside a named overlay (for example, the Housing Corridor Overlay), the overlay may replace numeric parking formulas — check § 91.51.0130 and § 91.51.0150. Overlay provisions are binding where they apply.
For ADUs: the city requires one (1) parking space per ADU, but there are multiple exemptions (e.g., within 1/2 mile of transit, historic districts, part of the primary residence/accessory structure, on‑street permit situations) — review the ADU article carefully — see ADU rules (§ 92.x / ADU article).
Bicycle parking and TDM measures are explicitly used as mitigation to reduce vehicle parking in larger non‑residential projects (on‑menu mitigation ratios listed in the code) — propose those measures early during entitlement.
Loading bays must be entirely on‑site and screened from public view; coordinate loading location with site circulation to avoid blocking stalls or aisles — § 93.3.1 and related development standards.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

Confirm zoning and overlays for the parcel (zoning map / overlay extent). Verify whether the Housing Corridor Overlay or other overlay applies. (Verify with the jurisdiction.)
Determine required number of spaces from Article 2 (use table) — apply § 93.2.x rules for the specific use(s).
Show parking layout on the plot plan and comply with § 93.4.1 (plot plan approval and layout).
Provide stalls at minimum dimensions (8'6" × 19' commercial; 8' × 19' employee/industrial) and show aisle widths and driveway entrances per § 93.4.2 / § 93.5.7.
Show loading bay(s) sized and located per § 93.3.1 (10×25 ft min, 14 ft vertical).
Provide required landscaping, walls and screening for parking lots that abut residential uses per § 93.6.1–93.6.2.
If proposing reductions (shared parking, EV credit, motorcycle, bicycle, other on‑menu measures), provide analysis and recorded agreements when required (see § 91.51.0150 and on‑menu mitigation table).
For ADUs, document whether an ADU parking exemption applies (transit proximity, historic district, conversion of garage, etc.) — see ADU rules.

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Overlay overrides (HCO, HBCSP, etc.)	Overlays may replace numeric parking rules or require different reductions/points, producing a different required count	Confirm which overlay(s) apply to the parcel and which sections (e.g., § 91.51.0130–0150) control.
Tandem parking acceptance	Tandem is often prohibited from meeting minimums; some exceptions for multi‑family units exist	Check § 93.5.12 and unit‑type provisions (multi‑family tandem allowances in § 93.2.3).
ADU parking exemptions	State law and local ADU rules have specific exemptions (transit proximity, historic districts, garage conversions)	Review local ADU article and confirm with parcel‑specific transit distances and historic status; see ADU rules § 92.x (ADU article).
Bicycle parking counts and design	Bicycle credits are used for parking reductions but exact rack type (short‑ vs long‑term) affects credit	Use the on‑menu mitigation table for conversion ratios and show secure long‑term parking where required.
EV charging conversion reductions	Replacing stalls with EV infrastructure can trigger required mitigation/compensating measures	Follow the EV chapter rules and on‑menu mitigation; confirm whether reconstruction is partial or full (affects applicability).
Site‑specific circulation constraints	Driveway grade, sightlines, and aisle widths may force changes to parking geometry and reduce usable stalls	Demonstrate compliance with § 93.5.6–93.5.9 and submit plot plan for review.

Plain‑English Summary

Torrance requires off‑street parking tied to the specific use (single‑family, multi‑family, medical, warehouse, shopping, etc.) and enforces minimum stall sizes, drive aisle widths, loading bay dimensions and lot landscaping; overlays like the Housing Corridor Overlay can change the math and allow TDM (bicycle, EV, shared parking) credits — check the exact code sections (noted above) and overlay maps for parcel‑specific answers.

Source References

Torrance Municipal Code — Chapter 3, Division 9, Off‑Street Parking: § 93.1.1 et seq. (Off‑street parking required; downtown exemptions)
Article 2 (Use and Parking Spaces Required): § 93.2.1 – § 93.2.46 (single‑family, duplex, multi‑family, medical, warehouse, shopping centers, car wash, food halls, body art, etc.)
Article 3 (Off‑Street Loading): § 93.3.1 (loading bay quantities and min dimensions)
Article 4 (Standards of Development for Commercial & Industrial Parking Areas): § 93.4.1–§ 93.4.23 (plot plan approval, layout) and § 93.4.2 (stall size)
Article 5 / Development Standards: § 93.5.6 – § 93.5.16 (driveway width, tandem, paving, separation from windows, wheel stops, illumination)
Article 6 (Landscape regulations affecting parking lots): § 93.6.1–§ 93.6.3 (walls and planting, percent landscaping)
Housing Corridor Overlay (HCO) parking and reductions: § 91.51.0130 and § 91.51.0150 (minimums and reductions)
ADU parking rules and exemptions: ADU article (ADU parking = 1 space per ADU; exemptions listed in ADU text) — see the ADU article language (§ 92.x / ADU article) for complete rules.
Bicycle parking, on‑menu mitigation ratios and TDM measures for large non‑residential developments (bicycle racks and mitigation table) — see Article 4 development/TDM measures.
EV charging station design and conversion rules and mitigation: see EV charging chapter (requirements on setbacks, clearances and when conversion permits parking reductions).

Sources

Retrieved passages

CBC § 93.1.2 (ARTICLE 1) High relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Section 93.4.12.) High relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (section shall) High relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Chapter 3) High relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Section would) High relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (ARTICLE 3) High relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Chapter 1) Medium relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Section 43.2.9) Medium relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Section shall) Medium relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Chapter shall) Medium relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Article 44) Medium relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (Article 2) Medium relevance
Torrance Zoning Code (ARTICLE 50) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Torrance Municipal Code — Chapter 3, Division 9, Off‑Street Parking: **§ 93.1.1** et seq. (Off‑street parking required; downtown exemptions) (Chapter 3)
Article 2 (Use and Parking Spaces Required): **§ 93.2.1 – § 93.2.46** (single‑family, duplex, multi‑family, medical, warehouse, shopping centers, car wash, food halls, body art, etc.) (Article 2)
Article 3 (Off‑Street Loading): **§ 93.3.1** (loading bay quantities and min dimensions) (Article 3)
Article 4 (Standards of Development for Commercial & Industrial Parking Areas): **§ 93.4.1–§ 93.4.23** (plot plan approval, layout) and **§ 93.4.2** (stall size) (Article 4)
Article 5 / Development Standards: **§ 93.5.6 – § 93.5.16** (driveway width, tandem, paving, separation from windows, wheel stops, illumination) (Article 5)
Article 6 (Landscape regulations affecting parking lots): **§ 93.6.1–§ 93.6.3** (walls and planting, percent landscaping) (Article 6)
Housing Corridor Overlay (HCO) parking and reductions: **§ 91.51.0130** and **§ 91.51.0150** (minimums and reductions) (§ 91.51.0130)
ADU parking rules and exemptions: ADU article (ADU parking = **1 space per ADU**; exemptions listed in ADU text) — see the ADU article language **(§ 92.x / ADU article)** for complete rules. (article language)
Bicycle parking, on‑menu mitigation ratios and TDM measures for large non‑residential developments (bicycle racks and mitigation table) — see Article 4 development/TDM measures. (Article 4)
EV charging station design and conversion rules and mitigation: see EV charging chapter (requirements on setbacks, clearances and when conversion permits parking reductions).
Torrance_ZoningCode.md

Frequently asked questions

How many parking spaces does a single‑family home in Torrance need?

A typical single‑family dwelling must provide a private garage with capacity for two (2) cars on the same lot; flag‑lot properties have additional guest‑parking and setback rules described in § 93.2.1.

What are the multi‑family parking rates (apartments) in Torrance?

Multi‑family units require 2 spaces per unit for units with two bedrooms or fewer and 3 spaces per unit for units with three or more bedrooms (up to two of the three may be tandem where expressly allowed) — see § 93.2.3 and the tandem rules § 93.5.12.

Are there bicycle‑parking requirements or credits I can use?

Yes. For non‑residential development the code requires bicycle parking (short‑ and long‑term) at stated rates and allows bicycle parking to be used as an on‑menu mitigation credit to reduce vehicle spaces (ratios appear in the on‑menu mitigation table / Article 4). See the bicycle parking guidance and mitigation ratios in the code.

What size are required parking stalls and driveways?

Minimum stall size for commercial parking: 8'6" wide × 19' deep; employee/industrial stalls 8' × 19'. Driveway entrances serving fewer than 11 spaces: 10 ft minimum; serving 11 or more: 20 ft or two 10 ft drives — § 93.4.2 and § 93.5.7.

How many loading bays do I need for a new commercial building?

One off‑street loading space is required for occupancies requiring deliveries under 10,000 sq ft. The number scales with floor area — additional loading bays required at 20,000 sq ft increments up to thresholds and each required loading bay must be at least 10' × 25' with 14' vertical clearance — § 93.3.1.

Can I substitute EV charging, motorcycles or bike parking to reduce car parking counts?

Yes — the code explicitly allows motorcycle parking (up to 5% substitution), EV parking credit (each EV space can count as up to 4 parking spaces, up to a cap), and bicycle parking mitigation under overlay/TDM rules; use of these measures requires Director findings or overlay‑specific point approvals (see § 91.51.0150 and the on‑menu mitigation table).

Do ADUs in Torrance require a new off‑street parking space?

Generally one (1) parking space per ADU is required; however, multiple exemptions exist (within 1/2 mile of transit, historic districts, conversions, etc.). The local ADU article lists these exemptions and conditions — confirm against the ADU article language on the code.

If I change a building’s use, do I need to add parking?

Yes — when the change of use increases required parking the additional off‑street parking and loading facilities must be provided to meet the Chapter’s requirements; see § 93.4.16 (parking for change of use) and the applicable use rates in § 93.2.x.

Are there exemptions for downtown Torrance?

Yes — the downtown Torrance area and Meadow Park redevelopment area have historic exemptions to the off‑street parking chapter for buildings that existed on specific historical dates; see § 93.1.2 for the downtown boundary and exemption conditions.

Who approves exceptions or shared‑parking agreements?

The Planning Director may approve substitute locations for parking, shared‑parking agreements and certain exceptions subject to findings (e.g., proximity, recorded leases/agreements); for larger deviations a Planning Commission decision may be required — see § 93.4.13–93.4.14 and shared parking provisions in the overlay articles.

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