City
Torrance
Torrance is a city record. City or town offices may handle local rules inside their limits, while county offices still handle records, taxes, courts, and many services.
Starting point
Confirm the address is inside local limits first.
If the address is inside Torrance, city or town offices may handle local permits, code, and services. If it is outside limits, county routing may be the better first stop.
A mailing city is not always the same as city government jurisdiction.
2025 population
138,391
Land area
20.516 sq mi
Water area
4.096 sq mi
Directory notes
Local layers to keep on the same page.
Confirm city or town limits.
A mailing address can use a nearby place name. If the address is outside limits, county offices may handle permits, code, and land-use routes.
County still matters.
Los Angeles County can still matter for assessor, tax collector, recorder, court, public health, social service, and election records.
Some layers are separate.
Water, sewer, fire, school, utilities, coast, earthquake maps, wildfire zones, parks, and trails may point outside city hall.
County layer
County shown for Torrance
Practical notes
Office, map, permit, and paperwork notes for Torrance
Place note · Cars and driving · Reviewed July 6, 2026
Torrance Transit has local routes, L.A. Express fares, and TAP
Torrance Transit riders should separate local routes, L.A. Express service, route schedules, fares, and TAP or pass questions.
Place note · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 4, 2026
Torrance permit applications can begin in the online portal
Torrance's online permit portal accepts applications, plan uploads, payments, and status checks for several kinds of city permits.
Place note · Home and property · Reviewed July 4, 2026
TorranceAlerts is a good setup before the busy day
TorranceAlerts can send emergency notices by phone, email, text, or app, and Torrance's preparedness pages help residents set up family contacts, documents, and home safety basics.
Place note · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 3, 2026
Torrance report links are split by problem type
Torrance residents should start with the city's report page or myTorranceCA app, then choose the closest issue type, such as graffiti, street trees, airport noise, large-item pickup, or other city requests.
Place note · Rules and licenses · Reviewed July 3, 2026
Torrance street issues can depend on who owns the road
Torrance maintains many local streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, parking lots, and stormwater basins, but some major routes use Caltrans, Los Angeles County, or Los Angeles reporting paths.
County layer · Home and property · Reviewed July 7, 2026
Glendale permits depend on the project type
Glendale separates simple residential online permits from larger building, planning, zoning, licensing, and neighborhood services questions.
Almanac notes
Stories and local context near Torrance
Place note · History and culture
The old Torrance library now holds the town's early story
Torrance Historical Society and Museum uses the former Post Avenue Library to tell the story of Old Torrance, the San Pedro Rancho, and the planned city that followed.
Place note · History and culture
Old Torrance was planned as a working city from the start
The Olmsted Tract in Torrance shows how the city began as a planned modern industrial city with homes, business blocks, transit, and industry arranged on purpose.
Place note · Outdoors
Madrona Marsh gives Torrance a rare wetland walk in town
Madrona Marsh is a City of Torrance preserve and nature center where local rules, hours, programs, and restoration work shape a simple nature visit.
County layer · Outdoors
El Dorado Nature Center gives Long Beach a quiet habitat pocket
El Dorado Nature Center sits between the San Gabriel River and the 605 Freeway, giving Long Beach trails, water, trees, and a calmer nature stop inside the city.
County layer · History and culture
Mentryville gives Santa Clarita an old oil-canyon story
Mentryville and Pico Canyon add an early California oil layer to Santa Clarita, with trails, old buildings, and the story of Pico No. 4.
County layer · History and culture
The Museum of Neon Art gives Glendale a glow-in-the-dark art stop
Glendale's Museum of Neon Art preserves historic neon signs and electric art, adding a bright Los Angeles County story to Brand Boulevard.
County layer · History and culture
A Playhouse mural turns Palmdale's stage into a city story
The 152-foot mural on the Palmdale Playhouse blends theater scenes with local details, including the old schoolhouse, Joshua trees, and a small B-2 silhouette.
County layer · History and culture
Alhambra's name began with a book and a family idea
Alhambra's name traces back to Benjamin Wilson's 1874 tract and a family reading of Washington Irving's stories about the palace in Granada, Spain.