What does the Torrance zoning code allow on an R-3 lot?
Ike Mbelu, Principal Partner · Last checked
On this page: The short answer · What the city code requires · What state law adds · What it means on your lot
The short answer
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§91.7.9
One unit per 1,600 square feet, 35 feet
Torrance's zoning code is Division 9 of the Torrance Municipal Code. The R-3 zone allows apartments at one unit per 1,600 square feet of land, about 27 an acre. Height is 35 feet, but a third story needs a conditional use permit. TMC §91.7.2 and §91.7.9. On a typical LA County lot, that is three or four units.
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What the city code requires
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01
Setbacks
Front yard area equal to a uniform 20 feet. Rear 10 feet. Interior sides 10 percent of lot width, 3 to 5 feet. TMC §91.7.4 to §91.7.6.
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02
Lot size
Minimum lot is 6,000 square feet, 80 feet deep and 50 feet wide (60 on an exterior lot). TMC §91.7.3.
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03
Open space
Half a square foot per square foot of unit, capped at 600 per unit, half of it private. TMC §91.7.11.
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04
Parking
Two spaces per unit up to two bedrooms, three above that. One and a half per unit enclosed, plus a visitor space per five units. TMC §93.2.3.
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05
Approval path
A third story, counting a garage under the units, needs a conditional use permit under Chapter 5. TMC §91.7.2.
What state law adds
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01
ADUs on a multifamily lot
New building: up to two detached ADUs. Existing building: up to eight detached, capped at the unit count, plus conversions up to 25 percent of units. Gov. Code §66323. See Torrance ADU rules.
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02
No parking minimum near transit
Within half a mile of public transit, the city can't impose a minimum parking count. Gov. Code §65863.2(a). More in AB 2097 in Los Angeles.
What it means on your lot
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01
50 by 120, 6,000 sf
About three units at two stories, plus two detached ADUs on a new building.
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02
60 by 125, 7,500 sf
About four units, before a density bonus. With two-bedroom units, roughly eight spaces, six enclosed, plus one visitor stall.
Approximate arithmetic, not legal advice. Compare Gardena and Hawthorne. Mapped Housing Corridor Overlay sites allow 20 to 44 units an acre in Sub-Area 2, TMC §91.51.050. More on building in Torrance.
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