Torrance, Calif., on-street parking

Background

June 22, 2007

Starting July 1, 2007, oversized vehicles must be registered as such and have a permit to park on Torrance public streets.

The city began registering oversized vehicles in January 2007, as stipulated by an ordinance approved by city council in August 2006.

According to the city, an oversized vehicle is one that is longer than 20 feet, wider than 7 feet or taller than 8 feet. Pickup trucks or SUVs that are less than 25 feet long and 82 inches tall are not considered oversized vehicles.

Register, buy permit
To park on public streets, residents must register their oversized vehicle with the city’s Community Development Department (CDD). This entails submitting the Oversized Vehicle/Trailer Application Form, providing proof of residency and paying a one-time $25 registration fee. Residents will receive an adhesive sticker to be placed on their oversized vehicle.

The application form is available at www.torrnet.com/OversizedVehicles.htm, at the Community Development Department and at the Torrance Police Department.

Residents who want to park their oversized vehicle on the street in front of their home for up to 72 straight hours must pre-purchase daily paperless parking permits from the CCD or Torrance Police Department. They can activate the permits by calling the police department at (310) 618-5636.

When hosting visitors
Torrence residents also must complete the Oversized Vehicle/Trailer Application Form when hosting visitors traveling in an oversized vehicle. The completed form must contain the Torrance resident information (signed by hosting resident) and visiting vehicle information.

A $15-per-day visitor parking permit fee must be paid to the Community Development Department or the Torrance Police Department. Then, the resident can activate the daily paperless parking permit by contacting the police department.

Torrance’s fees
The city hired an outside firm to assist staff in establishing fees for parking oversized vehicles on public streets.

In 2007, residents are eligible for 48 daily paperless parking permits (24 per quarter because permitting begins halfway through 2007). In 2008, residents can purchase up to 96 permits per year with a maximum of 24 permits per quarter.

A resident may request no more than three consecutive daily paperless parking permits.

The registration and permits apply only to residents — and visitors — who wish to park on public streets.

More info
For more information about registration stickers or parking permits, contact the Transportation Planning Division of the Community Development Department at (310) 618-5990 or via e-mail at cddtraffic@torrnet.com.

Questions about parking enforcement should be directed to the Traffic Division of the Torrance Police Department at (310) 618-5557.

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Nov. 28, 2006 — update

In August, Torrance City Council enacted an ordinance regulating on-street parking of oversized vehicles. Now it is considering how much to charge for registration and permitting of these vehicles.

City staff conducted a fee study and will present its recommendations to city council during a public hearing Dec. 12.

The city is asking residents to fill out and return the Oversized Vehicle/Trailer Registration application to preregister their vehicles with the city. Preregistration will facilitate the issuance of registration stickers following action by city council on the fee study. The application is available from the police department or city Web site.

When filing the application, the applicant must submit:

• a California driver’s license;
• proof of registration from the DMV that the vehicle is registered to the applicant, who must be a Torrance resident; and
• proof of property tax bill or public utility bill — telephone bill not accepted).

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Sept. 19, 2006 — update

Torrance, Calif., has buckled down on street parking of oversized vehicles — for residents and out-of-town owners.

According to an ordinance approved by city council on Aug. 22:

• Starting Jan. 1, 2007, only oversized vehicles with a city of Torrance Resident Registration Sticker will be allowed to park on any public street or highway in the city.
• Beginning July 1, 2007, no oversized vehicle will be permitted to park on any street without displaying a valid Oversized Vehicle Parking Permit, which would allow for loading, unloading, and general maintenance.
• Permit days will be from 12 p.m. to 12 p.m.
• Each resident may apply for 96 permits per year, not to exceed 24 per quarter or three straight days.
• The oversized vehicle will be restricted to parking directly in front of the owner’s property (or the side of the property) or the residence that the out-of-town visitor is visiting.
• Residents who host out-of-town RVers may apply for 14 consecutive daily permits but no more than 30 per year.
• A future study will determine permit costs and an annual registration fee.

Previous regulations required drivers to move their vehicles every 72 hours, but some residents allegedly moved them only a few feet at a time.

Torrance is located about 20 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles.

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July 17, 2006 — update

City council reorganized on July 11, based on the June 6 General Municipal Election. The newly formed council directed the city manager to bring the proposed RV parking ordinance back to the council as soon as possible.

In late March, council asked the Community Planning & Design Committee to include the following stipulations in an ordinance regulating on-street parking:

• a fee offset charged;
• a 72-hour rule to load and unload;
• a residential permit system excluding non-residents;
• no grandfathering but providing a grace period;
• visitor exemptions;
• exemptions if used as primary vehicle;
• the city exploring alternative locations for RV storage, with management placed in the hand of others.

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June 7, 2006 — update

The Community Planning & Design Committee's June 14 meeting has been cancelled. The committee was to consider City Council's directives regarding on-street parking of oversized vehicles.

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May 10, 2006 — update

After a public hearing on March 28 during which 18 speakers were heard, City Council referred the on-street parking matter to council's Community Planning & Design Committee.

The committee was asked to create one or two ordinances incorporating these highlights:

• a fee offset charged;
• a 72-hour rule to load and unload;
• a residential permit system excluding non-residents;
• no grandfathering but providing a grace period;
• visitor exemptions;
• exemptions if used as primary vehicle;
• the city exploring alternative locations for RV storage, with management placed in the hand of others.

As of May 9, the committee had not met or scheduled a meeting. The city's general municipal election is June 6; it's unlikely action will be taken before then.

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April 5, 2006 — update

A proposed ordinance that would restrict on-street parking of RVs is still in the works.

Torrance City Council, at its March 28 meeting, appointed a committee to work with city staff on drafting an ordinance to present to council at a later date.

During various workshops and public meetings, city officials have considered many aspects of an ordinance, including:

• “Grandfathering” of RVs bought before the end of the year, meaning those owners would be exempt from new regulations.
   
• Requiring daily permits for RVs bought after 2006.
   
• A permit system to weed out inactive RVs registered to owners who live outside the city.
   
• Time restrictions, in addition to the California Vehicle Code 72-hour rule, for parking of oversize vehicles on a public roadway.

“I think obviously something does need to be done,” Mayor Dan Walker told the Torrance Daily Breeze. “I think we have an obligation to make things better, we have an obligation to make things cleaner, we have an obligation to make things safer.”

The city also is considering creating RV storage sites out of unused land. Land under power lines and land at Torrance Municipal Airport have been mentioned as possible sites.

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March 15, 2006 — update

A public hearing on proposed on-street parking restrictions for oversize vehicles will continue at the March 28 City Council meeting.

Thirty-four speakers from the public were heard during council’s Feb. 28 session before the council voted to continue the hearing at the later date.

During the past 12 months, the city’s Traffic Commission has held eight public meetings to gather feedback on new on-street parking restrictions.

Torrance, a city of about 147,405 people, is located midway between Los Angeles and Orange counties.

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Feb. 17, 2006 — update

A public hearing to address on-street parking of oversize vehicles was held Feb. 28. City staff presented an ordinance and received additional public feedback.

Previously, the city has held community meetings and Traffic Commission meetings to receive input from residents.

Citizens who would like to convey their views may contact Ted Semaan, transportation planner of the Community Development Department, at (310) 618-5990. Or, send an e-mail to cddtraffic@torrnet.com and your comments will become part of the official record.

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Sept. 23, 2005 — update

The Traffic Commission presented an assessment and received additional feedback from residents at its Oct. 3 meeting.

Status: City Council is expected to address the issue in mid-January 2006, at the earliest.

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July 14, 2005

The city of Torrance, Calif., is drafting an ordinance that would limit the parking of oversize vehicles, including RVs, on city streets.

According to city staff, the proposed ordinance is designed to resolve the issue of RVs that are stored on city streets; it is not targeting owners who follow regulations. Current municipal code states that no vehicle may be parked on city streets for longer than 72 consecutive hours.

The Torrance Traffic Commission, which is appointed by the City Council, has considered a two-year “grandfathering” period that would allow current RV owners to find accommodations for their vehicles. A no-fee parking permit program also has been discussed.

Status: The city has held community meetings to receive input from residents. The Traffic Commission presented a summary of residents’ comments and a list of recommendations at a public meeting July 14.

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Torrance Oversized Vehicles & Ordinance
www.torrnet.com/OversizedVehicles.htm