In short
- 633 ADU permits since 2018.
- 87 in 2025, down 28% from 2024.
- Typical permit time: 190 days from application to permit (median of 603 permits with both dates recorded).
About this data
- Source: California HCD Housing Element Annual Progress Reports. The state data does not say whether an ADU is detached, attached, a garage conversion or a JADU, so most records show as 'unknown'. Permit valuations are not published in this source. Timelines use the application date the city reported to the state, matched to the permit where possible; some cities report their planning application date, so timelines can include planning review. Each project is counted once, in its building-permit year (or completion year when no permit date was reported).
Permits by year
Permits by year and type (table)
| Year | All ADU permits | Garage conversions | Detached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 13 | — | — |
| 2019 | 39 | — | — |
| 2020 | 40 | — | — |
| 2021 | 80 | — | — |
| 2022 | 125 | — | — |
| 2023 | 128 | — | — |
| 2024 | 121 | — | — |
| 2025 | 87 | — | — |
“—” means the source for that year does not report ADU type.
Read more: ADU types explained
ADU rules in Torrance
State law check: HCD found the 2022 ordinance noncompliant (September 5, 2024), including its one-ADU limit and deed restriction; the city rewrote it (Ord. 3954, August 19, 2025). We haven't seen HCD's review of the new ordinance.
| Rule | Torrance's code | State law guarantees |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum size | 1,000 sq ft, attached or detached. State-law detached ADU 800 sq ft. Junior ADU 500 sq ft. | At least 850 sq ft (1,000 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms) must be allowed; an 800 sq ft detached ADU always is. Conversions of existing space have no size cap. Junior ADU: up to 500 sq ft. |
| Height | Detached: 18 ft (1 story) or 23 ft (2 stories). Attached: 18 ft (1 story) or 25 ft (2 stories). Hillside Overlay and Coastal Zone: detached 16 ft, one story. | Detached: at least 16 ft (18 ft within ½ mile of transit, plus 2 ft for a matching roof). Attached: 25 ft or the zone's limit, whichever is lower. |
| Setbacks | 4 ft side and rear (attached: the house's rear setback); detached 15 ft front; 6 ft between buildings. None for conversions. | No more than 4 ft side and rear; none for conversions of existing space. |
| Parking | 1 space per ADU (tandem on the driveway is fine) unless exempt (transit, conversions, car share and others); no replacement parking. | At most 1 space; none within ½ mile of transit and in several other cases. No replacement parking when a garage is converted. |
| Owner living on site | None for ADUs. Junior ADU: the owner lives in the house or the junior ADU, with a recorded covenant. | None for ADUs. A junior ADU that shares a bathroom with the house requires the owner to live in one of them. |
| How many on a single-family lot | One converted ADU, one new detached ADU (800 sq ft) and one junior ADU. | One ADU converted from existing space, one junior ADU and one new detached ADU (up to 800 sq ft). From January 1, 2027: two new detached ADUs (a city then needn't allow a junior ADU on that lot). |
| Short-term rentals | Not for less than 30 days, for ADUs and junior ADUs. | No guarantee: cities may require rentals of more than 30 days, and junior ADUs can't be short-term rentals. |
- Objective design standards: covered entry not on the house's front elevation, enclosed stairs, no balconies or roof decks, materials and roof pitch matching the house.
- Coastal Zone: a Coastal Commission permit, waiver or exemption goes with the building permit.
- The city posts pre-approved ADU plans (440 to 798 sq ft) bought from the designers.
Where local rules conflict with state law, state law controls. Sources: Torrance Municipal Code § 92.2.10 (Ord. 3954, Aug 19, 2025) · Ord. 3954 second reading (Aug 19, 2025) · HCD findings (Sep 5, 2024) · HCD findings (Dec 13, 2021); HCD's list of review letters; California ADU rules. Verified Sep 30, 2026. Rules change and every lot is different: confirm with the city before you design.
How long permits take
| Type | Median days, application to permit | Middle half | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unclassified | 190 | 126 – 304 | 603 |
Middle half: the range covering the middle 50% of permits (a quarter were lower, a quarter higher).
Read more: How long ADU permits take in Los Angeles (and other cities) · How long ADUs take to build
From permit to completion
Of the 373 ADU permits Torrance reported issuing from 2020 through 2023, 279 (75%) have a completion reported to the state. For those, the median time from permit to completion was 14 months.
The state reports don't record expired or cancelled permits, and a completion the city hasn't reported looks the same as an unfinished project, so the share is a floor. Years with incomplete reports are left out.
What neighbors declared as cost
Cost data (declared permit valuations) is not published for this area in these sources.
Read more: How to choose an ADU builder
An ADU builder serving Torrance? Feature your business on this page.
Questions about ADUs in Torrance
How many ADUs have been permitted in Torrance?
Public records show 633 ADU permits in Torrance from 2018 through 2025. 87 in 2025, down 28% from 2024. These counts come from the city's reports to the state, which place a project in its completion year when no permit date was reported.
How long does an ADU permit take in Torrance?
Among the 603 ADU permits in Torrance with both dates recorded, half were issued within 190 days of the application; the middle half took 126 to 304 days. That includes plan-check corrections and resubmittals, not just the review itself.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Torrance?
California law allows ADUs on most lots with a house, including in Torrance, but what you can build depends on your lot, local rules and utilities. This site shows permits, not eligibility. See California ADU rules.
Where do I apply for an ADU permit in Torrance?
Apply with the City of Torrance's Building & Safety Division, which reviews ADUs through the building permit and posts pre-approved ADU plans. Official ADU page.
How current is this?
- State annual progress reports: through 2025 (published once a year)
How our data works · Download the data · Free to reuse with credit to SoCal ADU Tracker (socaladutracker.com), under CC BY 4.0.