Residents may sell food from their home between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. provided they comply with all requirements of the City of Torrance's Cottage Food Home Operations and/or Sidewalk Vending Ordinances.

The City will continue to issue administrative citations to anyone in violation of the City's Municipal Code. Direct sales are not allowed from an attached garage, accessory residential structure, or any place outside of the residential home. Direct sales are only allowed from the home between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily.

 According to the Cottage Food Ordinance, the fines for non-compliance are:

• $100 - 1st Violation
• $200 - 2nd Violation
• $500 - 3rd and each Subsequent Violation

• Class A CFOs

• Class B CFOs

Direct sales are not allowed from an attached garage, accessory residential structure, or any place outside of the residential home.

Watch the September 24, 2024 City Council Meeting - Item 9H

• The Cottage Food Business Name and phone number
• The common name of the food product or an adequately descriptive nameIngredients listed in descending order of predominance by weight
• Allergen statement if the product contains ANY of the Big 8 Food allergens: Wheat, Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Eggs, Soy, Fish, Shellfish
• The net quantity (count, weight, or volume) of the food product, stated in pounds and grams
• The words “Made in a Home Kitchen” in 12-point font
• The Registration (Class A) or Permit (Class B) number
• The city, state, and zip where the CFO is located
• The words “Issued in Los Angeles County”

Homeowners and all participants need a Cottage Food Permit. Per the County, if a resident is selling foods that originated from another kitchen, then each of those homes would need their own, respective Cottage Food Permit.  

• Pushcart
• Stand
• Display
• Pedal-driven cart
• Wagon
• Showcase
• Rack or other non-motorized conveyance
• Or upon a public sidewalk or other pedestrian path.

• City-issued Sidewalk Vendor Business License,
• County of Los Angeles Public Health Permit (if selling food/drinks), and
• California-issued Seller’s Permit.

• Non-Residential Neighborhoods: 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m.
• Residential Areas: 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

• No person may intentionally and deliberately obstruct the free movement of anyone on a public right-of-way or other public place, or any place open to the general public. Any person that obstructs or impedes the free passage of pedestrians or public travel, after being requested to immediately move by a police officer, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor (Torrance Municipal Code Section 45.1.4)
• Sidewalk vendors may not vend within five hundred (500) feet of a permitted event for the duration or within operating hours of such an event. Permitted events include but are not limited to farmer’s markets, swap meets, or any temporary special permits like filming, parades, sporting events, festivals, carnivals, or outdoor concerts.

To report violations of vendors not following the requirements of the City Sidewalk Vending Ordinance, please contact Code Enforcement at (310) 618-5990 or via email at CDDInfo@TorranceCA.Gov.  Additionally, to report complaints regarding unpermitted street food, please also contact the County’s Public Health Mobile Food Program at (626) 430-5500 or file a complaint online at https://ehservices.publichealth.lacounty.gov/servlet/guest?service=0&formId=4&saveAction=5.  It is helpful to report details about the problem, such as:

• Exact location of the food sales
• Day and times of operation and
• Description of what the vendor is doing

View the City of Torrance Safe Sidewalk Vending Guide

No.  The annual neighborhood coordinated light display in the Seaside Ranchos area of Torrance is not a city-sponsored nor a city-sanctioned event.  The City has no role in coordinating or planning this resident-led event.  The decision to do, or not to do, these displays is entirely upon each of the homeowners and the City is not in any way involved in that decision-making process.  The City has no role in coordinating or planning the displays, including when the dates and times that the lights are turned on/off.  Also, the City cannot shut down or prevent the light display from occurring.

The City of Torrance has taken the following measures to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety during the annual display:

• Temporary “No Stopping” signs are placed on one side of the street in the Seaside Ranchos neighborhood during the holiday lights display from 5:00pm-10:00pm to allow for emergency vehicle access.
• Provide twenty (20) additional trash bins and coordinate additional sanitation pick-ups as needed.
• Provide two (2) illuminated light boards to assist with traffic control and inform visitors of parking restrictions.
• Placed permanent Stop Signs at busy intersection(s) to help appease traffic congestion.
• Create informative webpage to be added to the City of Torrance website.

No.  The holiday light display is not a city-sponsored nor city-sanctioned event.  The City has no authority to regulate whether the event occurs or not.  The City does not pay for or provide this type of amenity for a non-city sponsored/sanctioned event.

You may park your vehicle and walk through the Holiday Lights Display rather than driving through the neighborhood, should you choose to.   

There are temporary NO STOPPING signs placed on some residential streets from 5:00-10:00pm for the duration of the Holiday Lights Display. No stopping or parking will be allowed where these signs are posted.  This is for safety reasons, to ensure that emergency vehicles may access the neighborhood, if needed.

If there is availability, you may choose to park your vehicle within the neighborhood where NO STOPPING signs are not posted.  There is no designated parking lot for this event and there are no designated drop-off/pick-up locations. 

Visitors’ cooperation in complying with all posted traffic signs and traffic laws is greatly appreciated.

You may drive your street legal vehicle through the Seaside Ranchos neighborhood to view the lights, should you choose to.  Non-street legal vehicles, including golf carts, are not allowed to be driven.

Please do note that all traffic laws must be followed and will be enforced, including having children in car seats and ensuring that all passengers in your vehicle are wearing proper seatbelts. 

Torrance Municipal Code (TMC) Section 61.2.3 contains language about authority to place (or cause to be placed) traffic control devices.  Traffic cones are considered a traffic control device falling under the City’s authority.  A resident or individual placing cones in the public right of way to prohibit parking is not allowed, unless authorized by a permit via Public Works or Community Development. 

Please be aware that if traffic cones are in the public right of way, City staff may confiscate the traffic cones.