Everything homeowners need to know about building an accessory dwelling unit in Torrance - size limits, setbacks, permits, and how the city's own standards layer on top of California's statewide ADU law.
Last verified: August 2026
7/10 · ADU-friendly
1,000 sq ft*
Max ADU size
18 ft*
Max height
Not required
Owner-occupancy
By-right
Permit type
This page summarizes Torrance Municipal Code Section 92.2.10 (Accessory Dwelling and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units) and California's statewide ADU law (Government Code Sections 66310-66342) for general reference only, and it is not legal advice. Regulations change; always confirm current requirements with Torrance Community Development before designing or applying for permits. See sources below.
Zoning & size requirements
What you're allowed to build
ADU type
Max size
Max height
Notes
Detached or attached (city standard track)
1,000 sq ft, a flat cap regardless of bedroom count
18 ft one-story / 23 ft two-story citywide; 16 ft one-story in the Hillside Overlay or Coastal Zone; attached units up to 25 ft / 2 stories
Set under TMC 92.2.10(E), effective under Ordinance No. 3954 (August 2025)
Detached, new construction (state-guaranteed floor)
800 sq ft, with 4 ft side and rear setbacks
16 ft
Must be ministerially approved regardless of other local standards, per TMC 92.2.10(G)
Junior ADU (JADU)
500 sq ft
Same as the primary structure
Built within the existing walls of the home or an attached garage; combinable with an ADU
Allowed zoning districts
ADUs and JADUs are permitted on any residentially zoned or mixed-use lot with a proposed or existing dwelling, citywide, subject to the "Designated" and "Limited Designated" area maps referenced in TMC 92.2.10. Parcels in the Coastal Zone also need a Coastal Development Permit, waiver, or exemption from the California Coastal Commission filed with the building permit application. Confirm your parcel's zoning and coastal status with Community Development before designing.
Additional standards
Setbacks, parking & other rules
Setbacks
4 ft side and rear on both the standard and state-guaranteed tracks; detached units on the standard track also need a 15 ft front setback and 6 ft of building separation from other structures on the lot. No setback is required for converting an existing structure to an ADU.
Parking
1 space per ADU, supplementing the house's existing parking, but waived within a half-mile of transit, in a historic district, for conversions of existing space, when the city can't offer a residential parking permit, when a car-share vehicle is within a block, or when the ADU is submitted with a new single-family or multifamily home. No replacement parking is required for a demolished garage or carport.
Units per lot
1 ADU + 1 JADU on a single-family lot, combinable; new multifamily lots get up to 2 detached ADUs, existing multifamily lots up to 8 (not exceeding the existing unit count), plus conversion of up to 25% of non-livable space
Owner-occupancy
Not required for ADUs, permanently eliminated statewide by AB 976 effective January 1, 2024, and removed from Torrance's own ordinance by Ordinance No. 3954 in August 2025. JADUs generally still require the owner to occupy either the primary residence or the JADU, per state law.
Building code
Must meet the California Residential Code as locally adopted by Torrance
Coastal Zone
A Coastal Development Permit, waiver, or exemption from the California Coastal Commission is required as part of the building permit application for parcels in the Coastal Zone
Ordinance history
How Torrance's ADU rules got here
2017Statewide by-right ADU law takes effect. California Government Code Section 65852.2 begins requiring cities, including Torrance, to approve most ADUs ministerially, without discretionary review.
2022Torrance adopts Ordinance No. 3911. Adopted December 6, 2022, it updated TMC Sections 92.2.10 and 92.2.11 for the prior round of state ADU reforms.
Sep 2024HCD finds the ordinance non-compliant. A findings letter dated September 5, 2024 identified 10 issues, including an unlawful one-ADU-per-lot cap, an owner-occupancy provision missing the government-agency exception, JADU design-standard conflicts, and an ADU deed-restriction covenant state law doesn't allow. The city had until October 5, 2024 to respond.
2024Owner-occupancy eliminated statewide. AB 976 permanently bars California cities from requiring owner-occupancy for standard ADUs, and SB 1211 raises the detached-ADU cap on qualifying multifamily lots to 8 units.
Aug 2025City Council adopts Ordinance No. 3954. Introduced August 5 and adopted August 19, 2025, it rewrote Section 92.2.10 in full and repealed the standalone JADU section, folding both together and addressing owner-occupancy, front setback, height, coastal zone, and design-standard issues HCD had flagged.
Worth knowing: it took the city about a year, from HCD's September 2024 findings letter to Ordinance No. 3954's adoption in August 2025, to rewrite its ADU standards. Public records don't show HCD issuing a fresh sign-off on the rewrite as of this writing. That gap doesn't change what homeowners are entitled to build, though: the statewide law guarantees a ministerial approval path regardless of where a local ordinance stands.
Permit process
How Torrance ADU permitting works
1
Pre-application check
Confirm your zoning district, Designated/Limited Designated Area status, and whether your parcel is in the Coastal Zone or Hillside Overlay with Community Development, (310) 618-5990.
2
Prepare your plan set
You'll need a site plan, floor plans and elevations for the ADU, and, if you're using the 1,000 sq ft standard track, floor plans of the existing home.
3
Submit your building permit application
Torrance reviews ADUs ministerially at the building-permit stage; include Coastal Development Permit paperwork with your submission if your parcel is in the Coastal Zone.
4
Ministerial plan review
State law requires a decision within 60 days of a complete application; the permit is deemed approved if the city misses that deadline.
5
Building permit & inspections
Pull your building permit, begin construction, and schedule the standard framing, plumbing, electrical, and final inspections.
Ask about Torrance's Pre-Approved ADU Program, which offers plans that have already cleared city review for a faster path than a fully custom design. Fees and timelines are approximate - confirm current figures with Community Development.
Budgeting
What it costs to build an ADU in Torrance
Garage conversion
Roughly $80,000-$195,000, the least expensive path since the shell already exists
New detached ADU
Roughly $170,000-$370,000+ for a code-compliant, freestanding unit; South Bay land and labor costs push Torrance toward the upper end of the statewide range
Permit fees
Reported at roughly $6,000-$12,000 total, covering plan review, permit processing, and development impact mitigation; ADUs under 750 sq ft are exempt from impact fees under state law
Coastal Development Permit (if applicable)
Adds its own fee and review time for Coastal Zone parcels; budget extra time alongside the standard building permit
These are general ranges from local contractor estimates and regional reporting, not quotes - actual cost depends heavily on lot conditions, site access, finishes, and whether your parcel needs a Coastal Development Permit. Basement conversions are uncommon in Torrance's largely slab-built housing stock, so most homeowners are choosing between a garage conversion and new detached construction.
Before you apply
Tips for a smooth approval
Decide which size track fits your project. The 800 sq ft state-guaranteed track has looser setbacks than the 1,000 sq ft standard track, so pick a lane before you finalize your floor plan.
Check Coastal Zone status early. A parcel in the Coastal Zone needs a Coastal Development Permit, waiver, or exemption filed with your building permit application, which can add its own timeline.
Confirm your Designated/Limited Designated Area status. Community Development can tell you which map your parcel falls under before you invest in design work.
Ask about the Pre-Approved ADU Program. Plans that have already cleared city review can move through permitting faster than a fully custom design.
Make sure you're working from Ordinance No. 3954. Torrance's rules changed materially in August 2025, and some older online guides and contractor sites still describe the 2022 version.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need to live on the property to build an ADU in Torrance?
No. California's AB 976 permanently eliminated owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs statewide as of January 1, 2024, and Torrance removed the requirement from its own ordinance through Ordinance No. 3954 in August 2025. Junior ADUs generally still require an on-site owner, with limited exceptions for government agencies, land trusts, or housing organizations.
How many ADUs can I build on one lot?
On a single-family lot, 1 ADU plus 1 JADU in addition to the primary dwelling, and they can be combined. Multifamily lots can convert up to 25% of existing non-livable space and add new detached units, with state law allowing up to 8 detached ADUs on qualifying existing multifamily lots.
Do I need extra parking for an ADU?
Usually one space, unless your project qualifies for an exemption, such as being within a half-mile of transit, in a historic district, or a conversion of existing space. A demolished garage or carport space doesn't need to be replaced.
How long does the permit process take?
State law requires a ministerial decision within 60 days of a complete application, and the permit is deemed approved if Torrance misses that deadline. Confirm current timelines with Community Development.
What's the maximum size for a detached ADU in Torrance?
1,000 sq ft under the city's standard track, or 800 sq ft under the state-guaranteed track with looser 4 ft setbacks. Height runs up to 18 ft for one story citywide (16 ft in the Hillside Overlay or Coastal Zone).
How much does an ADU cost to build in Torrance?
Garage conversions tend to run roughly $80,000-$195,000, and new detached units roughly $170,000-$370,000 or more, based on local contractor estimates and regional reporting. Permit fees are reported at roughly $6,000-$12,000 on top of construction cost.
Is Torrance's ADU ordinance fully compliant with state law?
The city rewrote its ordinance in August 2025 (Ordinance No. 3954) specifically to address the 10 issues HCD flagged in a September 2024 findings letter. We haven't found a public record of HCD confirming the rewrite resolved every issue. Either way, homeowners are entitled to state law's ministerial approval path regardless of where the local ordinance stands.
What if my property is in the Coastal Zone?
You'll need a Coastal Development Permit, waiver, or exemption from the California Coastal Commission filed with your building permit application. This is separate from, and in addition to, the standard ADU review.
Is there a faster way to get an ADU approved in Torrance?
Ask Community Development about the city's Pre-Approved ADU Program, which offers plans that have already cleared city review and can move through permitting faster than a fully custom design.
