Torrance, California Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave

Last updated August 23, 2023

Torrance Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

City Code of Ordinances

In the City of Torrance, any residence, or portion thereof, within a legally approved residential structure that is occupied, intended for occupancy, or designed for occupancy, for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less is considered a short-term rental. Short-term rentals are permitted in the vast majority of the City, including the Coastal Zone:
  • In commercial zones, short-term rentals are permitted in residences with or without a host living on-site. 
  • In residential zones, short-term rentals are permitted in residences solely as a home share with a host living on-site.
Home sharing means an activity whereby a host provides lodging for guests in their residence while the host lives on-site, as an incidental use of the residence, for the duration of each rental period.  A host is defined as the property owner or person engaged in home sharing.

For more information on short-term rental regulations, please review Torrance Municipal Code Section 92.43.

Business License Requirements

The City of Torrance requires a business license to operate a short-term rental and a short-term rental permit.

Building and Housing Standards

Torrance has rules and regulations that specify minimum building, design, maintenance standards, habitability, health, and safety requirements. Some rules and regulations that apply to residential and non-residential properties may apply to your listing. Consult the City of Torrance Community Development Department for more information.

Tourist and Local Taxes

The short-term rental operator is required to remit the Uniform Occupancy Tax.  For information on how to remit the Uniform Occupancy Tax, please contact the Revenue Division.

Other Rules

It is also essential to understand and abide by other contracts or rules that bind you, such as leases, condo boards, co-op rules, HOA rules, or rules established by tenant organizations. Please read your lease agreement and check with your landlord if applicable. Visit the City of Torrance for more information.
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  • Short Term City Rating
    5.8
  • Competition

    5.2
  • Real Estate Cost

    2.8
  • STR Regulations

    8.0
  • Seasonality

    5.6
  • Rental Rates

    7.5

Torrance, California Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
147,067
STR License Required
Yes
Tourist Season
County
Los Angeles
Airports
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Long Beach Airport (LGB)
Review our Torrance California short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Torrance?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our Torrance rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Torrance rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Torrance.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Torrance Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Torrance guests.

Interested in other California cities?

Check out the California Airbnb rules directory 

What makes Torrance a great place to invest?

  1. Torrance, California is known for its beautiful beaches and scenic coastline, making it a popular destination for beachgoers and water enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, or surfing at beaches like Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach, both of which offer a variety of amenities and attractions for visitors.
  2. The city is also home to the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, which offers a variety of cultural and artistic events, including theater performances, dance recitals, and art exhibitions. The center is a great place for visitors to experience the best of Torrance's cultural scene.
  3. Torrance is also known for its vibrant nightlife, with a variety of bars, clubs, and live music venues that offer a range of entertainment options for visitors. Whether you're in the mood for a night of dancing, live music, or drinks with friends, Torrance has something for everyone.
  4. For outdoor enthusiasts, Torrance is home to a variety of parks and natural areas, including the Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve, a protected wetland area that offers hiking trails, birdwatching, and other outdoor activities.
  5. The city is also a great place for sports fans, with a variety of professional sports teams that call Torrance home, including the LA Galaxy soccer team. Visitors can catch a game at one of the city's many sports venues, or attend a sporting event or competition at one of the local sports complexes.

Torrance Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Torrance?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Torrance has decreased -4% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $665, which is higher than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$1,107,927

-4% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$665

-6% YoY

Average Monthly Rent

$2,883

4% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Torrance, California

Word Cloud for Torrance, California Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Torrance short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in Torrance has a description approximately 1,288 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 2,458 listings in Torrance, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Beach, Place, Los Angele, Quiet, Car, Manhattan Beach, Beautiful, LAX, Perfect, and Spacious.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Torrance?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Torrance involve going to the Beach, Surfing, the City Centre, Museums, and Swimming. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Beach

Surfing

City Centre

Museums

Swimming

Outlet Shopping

Adventure Activities

Marina

Boating

Health Spa

Whale Watching

Theme Parks

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Torrance, including SoFi Stadium, World Cruise Center, Kia Forum, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Redondo Beach Pier. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Regional Landmark

Redondo Beach Pier

Included on 61% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Kia Forum

Included on 60% of listings

Regional Landmark

Del Amo Fashion Center

Included on 59% of listings

Well Known Attraction

SoFi Stadium

Included on 55% of listings

Regional Landmark

Dignity Health Sports Park

Included on 54% of listings

Regional Landmark

Hollywood Park Casino

Included on 54% of listings

Regional Landmark

Hustler Casino

Included on 49% of listings

Well Known Attraction

World Cruise Center

Included on 47% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Aquarium of the Pacific

Included on 46% of listings

Regional Landmark

Porsche Experience Center

Included on 46% of listings

Regional Landmark

Hermosa Beach Pier

Included on 44% of listings

Regional Landmark

Manhattan Beach Pier

Included on 43% of listings

What’s the weather like in Torrance, California?

The weather is about the same as the national average, with an average high temperature of around 71°, while the average low is about 57°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 13 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Torrance are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

50° Low 66° High

Precipitation
8.0"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
39%

Spring

March through May

55° Low 69° High

Precipitation
3.0"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
27%

Summer

June through August

63° Low 75° High

Precipitation
0.1"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
4.8 days
Cloudiness
11%

Fall

September through November

60° Low 74° High

Precipitation
1.6"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
2.4 days
Cloudiness
19%