Torrance, a mid-size South Bay city in Los Angeles County, has no local rent control ordinance — renters here rely entirely on California's AB 1482 Tenant Protection Act for rent increase caps and eviction protections.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most multi-family rentals with a certificate of occupancy issued before 2011 (rolling 15-year rule); single-family homes and condos are exempt under Costa-Hawkins
5% + LA Metro CPI, maximum 10% per year; current 2025 cap is approximately 8.8% for the Los Angeles region
AB 1482 requires just cause for eviction after a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months
Torrance sits in the South Bay subregion of Los Angeles County, bordered by Redondo Beach, Gardena, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. With roughly 150,000 residents and a significant share of renter households, the city has a mixed housing stock: a sizeable inventory of post-war apartment complexes built in the 1960s and 1970s alongside newer condominiums and single-family neighborhoods. Its proximity to major aerospace employers, El Camino College, and the Port of Los Angeles makes it a perennial draw for working renters, yet median rents have climbed steadily in tandem with the broader South Bay market.
Torrance has never passed a local rent stabilization ordinance. The city council has not pursued one, and even if it had, California's Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act would prohibit local rent control on single-family homes, condominiums, and units built after February 1, 1995. Instead, the primary protection for most Torrance renters is California's statewide AB 1482 Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which limits rent increases and requires landlords to have just cause before evicting a tenant who has lived in the unit for at least 12 months.
This article explains which Torrance rental units AB 1482 covers, how the rent cap is calculated using the Los Angeles-area Consumer Price Index, what qualifies as just cause for eviction, and where to find free legal help if your landlord has violated these rules.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Torrance?
AB 1482 applies to a residential rental unit in Torrance if its certificate of occupancy was issued 15 or more years ago. Because the rule is a rolling window, units that were newly built in 2011 became covered in 2026, and so on each year. As of 2026, this generally means multi-family units built before 2011 are covered — provided they are not otherwise exempt.
The following units are exempt from AB 1482 and have no rent cap or just-cause eviction requirement under state law:
Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner has received notice that the unit is not exempt (renters may be entitled to this notice)
Units built within the last 15 years — any Torrance rental with a certificate of occupancy issued in 2011 or later is not yet covered (rolling forward each year)
Owner-occupied duplexes — where the owner lives in one of the two units as their primary residence
Single-family homes owned by corporations or real estate investment trusts (REITs) — corporate-owned SFHs lose the Costa-Hawkins exemption and may be covered by AB 1482; tenants in these situations should verify coverage
Transient and short-term housing — hotels, motels, and short-term rentals
Government-subsidized affordable housing — units subject to deed restrictions or regulatory agreements with stricter rent rules of their own (e.g., Section 8 project-based voucher properties)
Commercial properties
If you are unsure whether your Torrance unit is covered, use the address lookup at RentCheckMe.com or contact a local legal aid organization.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
For covered units, AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase, with an absolute maximum of 10% per year. Torrance falls within the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan statistical area, so landlords must use the LA Metro CPI published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For 2025, the LA Metro CPI increase was approximately 3.8%, making the allowable cap for most Torrance covered units roughly 8.8% (5% + 3.8%), capped at 10%. The exact allowable percentage shifts each year as the CPI changes, so tenants should verify the current figure before disputing an increase.
Additional rules governing AB 1482 rent increases in Torrance:
12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot impose any AB 1482-governed rent increase until a tenant has resided in the unit for at least 12 consecutive months.
Two increases per year, but capped in total: Landlords may raise rent up to twice in any 12-month period, but the combined total of both increases cannot exceed the annual cap.
No banking of unused increases: If a landlord does not raise rent in a given year, they cannot carry over that unused percentage to a future year and stack increases.
Notice requirements: Increases of 10% or less require 30 days' written notice; increases above 10% (which would be unlawful under AB 1482 for covered units) would require 90 days' notice under general California law.
Because there is no local rent board in Torrance to administer these rules, tenants must self-enforce. If your landlord exceeds the cap, document the increase in writing and contact a legal aid organization or file a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
After a tenant has lived in a covered Torrance rental unit for 12 months (or, if there are multiple tenants, once at least one tenant has been there 24 months), the landlord must have a legally recognized just cause to terminate the tenancy or refuse to renew a lease under AB 1482.
At-fault just cause reasons (tenant is responsible):
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of the lease that is not cured after written notice
Maintaining a nuisance or causing substantial damage to the unit
Criminal activity on or near the property that affects the health or safety of others
Subletting without landlord permission when the lease prohibits it
Refusal to execute a new lease with materially similar terms after a lease expires
Refusal to allow lawful entry by the landlord after proper notice
Using the unit for an unlawful purpose
Employee or licensee tenants whose relationship with the landlord has ended
No-fault just cause reasons (tenant is not at fault):
Owner or qualified family member move-in — the landlord or a close family member intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
Withdrawal from the rental market (Ellis Act) — the landlord removes all units in the building from the rental market
Substantial remodel — the landlord intends to perform permitted structural work that requires the tenant to vacate for at least 30 days
Demolition — the landlord has obtained all necessary permits to demolish the building
Relocation assistance: For any no-fault eviction, the landlord must pay the displaced tenant one month's rent as relocation assistance, or alternatively waive the final month of rent. This payment must be made within 15 days of the notice of termination. If the landlord fails to provide relocation assistance, the tenant may rescind the notice and remain in the unit.
Because no local agency in Torrance oversees these requirements, tenants facing a no-fault eviction should consult an attorney or contact the Housing Rights Center or Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles to verify that proper procedures are being followed.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Torrance has no local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. The city has not enacted any tenant protection laws beyond what California state law already provides. Renters in Torrance who are covered by AB 1482 must rely entirely on that statewide law — there is no local rent board to file complaints with, no city-administered mediation program specifically for rent disputes, and no locally mandated notice requirements beyond what state law requires.
Even if the Torrance City Council wished to enact a stronger local ordinance, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535) significantly limits what local governments can do. Costa-Hawkins prohibits cities from imposing rent control on single-family homes, condominiums, and any unit constructed after February 1, 1995 — which covers much of Torrance's newer housing stock.
The City of Torrance does operate a Housing Division through its Community Development Department, which administers programs such as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waitlist and housing rehabilitation assistance. However, that office does not handle rent dispute complaints or enforce AB 1482. For information on city housing programs, visit torranceca.gov/housing.
The Los Angeles County Housing Authority (HACLA) also serves Torrance residents with federal rental assistance programs and can be reached at hacla.org. Neither agency has authority to adjudicate rent overcharges — AB 1482 disputes must be handled through civil court or with the assistance of a legal aid organization.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Start by checking your specific address at RentCheckMe.com to see whether your Torrance rental unit appears to be covered by AB 1482 based on building age and property type. This can help you decide whether to pursue a complaint or seek further legal advice.
The following organizations provide free or low-cost assistance to Torrance renters:
Housing Rights Center — Provides free tenant counseling, discrimination complaints, and mediation services for LA County renters, including those in Torrance.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — Free civil legal services for low-income Angelenos, including representation in eviction proceedings and AB 1482 rent overcharge cases.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County residents on tenant rights, eviction defense, and housing issues.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; provides resources, referrals, and a renter hotline.
Housing Is Key — California's statewide housing assistance program; call 833-430-2122 for information on rental assistance, eviction protections, and referrals to local resources.
Housing Rights Center — Free tenant counseling, housing discrimination complaints, and mediation for Los Angeles County renters including those in Torrance.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County residents on tenant rights, eviction defense, and housing matters.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization offering resources, referrals, and a renter helpline.
Housing Is Key — California statewide housing assistance hotline (833-430-2122) for rental assistance and eviction protection information.
8. Important Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI figures, and AB 1482 regulations change over time, and individual circumstances vary. If you are facing an eviction, a rent increase that may violate AB 1482, or any other housing dispute, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Los Angeles County for advice specific to your situation.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Torrance has no local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. The only rent increase protections available to Torrance renters come from California's statewide AB 1482 Tenant Protection Act of 2019. There is no local rent board, and the city does not administer any rent dispute program.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Torrance?
For units covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise rent by no more than 5% plus the Los Angeles Metro CPI — with a hard ceiling of 10% per year. For 2025, the LA Metro CPI was approximately 3.8%, making the allowable cap roughly 8.8% for most covered Torrance rentals. Landlords cannot carry over unused increases from prior years, and no increase can occur until you have lived in the unit for at least 12 months.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Torrance?
AB 1482 covers most Torrance apartment units whose certificate of occupancy was issued 15 or more years ago — generally pre-2011 buildings as of 2026. Single-family homes and condominiums are exempt under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, as are units built within the last 15 years and owner-occupied duplexes. Use the address lookup at RentCheckMe.com or call the Housing Rights Center to verify whether your specific unit qualifies.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Torrance?
If you have lived in a covered AB 1482 unit for at least 12 months, your landlord must have a legally recognized just cause to evict you — either an at-fault reason (such as nonpayment of rent or lease violations) or a no-fault reason (such as an owner move-in or Ellis Act withdrawal). For no-fault evictions, you are entitled to one month's rent as relocation assistance. Tenants in exempt units — single-family homes, condos, or newer buildings — do not have this protection under state law.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Torrance?
Because Torrance has no local rent board, you will need to turn to regional legal resources. The Housing Rights Center (housingrightscenter.org) offers free tenant counseling for LA County renters, and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (lafla.org) provides free legal representation for income-eligible tenants. You can also call California's Housing Is Key hotline at 833-430-2122 for referrals and rental assistance information.
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