Fees and Taxes

The Finance Department's Cashiering Division is the central cashier for all fees and payments. You can make payments online, in person, via mail, or over the phone.

To make a payment in person, please visit our Cashiering Division inside the Permit Center located on the corner building of Maple Ave and Torrance Blvd.

We accept payments for the following items:

  • Water bills (residents of CalWater district)
  • Parking Tickets
  • Pet licensing
  • Program Donations
  • Annual fire inspections
  • Business licenses
  • Events & filming
  • Oversized vehicle
  • Permits & development
  • Utility map requests
  • Aviation payments
  • Commercial & Industrial leases
  • Other City issues billings
  • Uniform Occupancy Tax
  • Utility Users' Tax
  • Parks and Recreation class registration
  • Utility bills (Torrance refuse, sewer and water)
  • Ambulance transport

 

Fees

Fiscal Year 2025-26 Master Fee Schedule

Low Income Senior or Low Income Permanently Disabled Rates

To qualify for the low-income senior or low income permanently disabled rates and utility users’ tax exemption, the applicant must:

  • Have a total gross household income no greater than $39,125 for the prior calendar year
  • Be a minimum of 62 years of age or permanently disabled
  • Use a 64-gallon container for trash removal

To apply, please fill out the Low-Income Senior/Disabled Discount Application(PDF, 628KB).

Quarterly Waste Hauler Reporting

All private waste haulers in the City of Torrance must submit quarterly reports and fees pursuant to Torrance Municipal Code Section 43.6.040. Reports are due each quarter from permitted haulers regardless of whether business was conducted in Torrance during that time.

Quarterly Report and Fee Deadlines:

  • Quarter 1 (January – March) is due April 30
  • Quarter 2 (April – June) is due July 30
  • Quarter 3 (July – September) is due October 30
  • Quarter 4 (October – December) is due January 30

Beginning the 1st Quarter of 2025, the Private Hauler Quarterly Report must be submitted electronically using the City’s Citizen Portal website at https://aca-prod.accela.com/TORRANCE/. Paper reports will no longer be allowed. 

In addition, all permanent solid waste haulers in the City are also required to upload their customer lists to MINERVA at https://minerva.eco/upload/.

If your company has any outstanding quarterly reports, your Business License Renewal Application will be denied.

Contact PublicWorksInfo@TorranceCA.Gov for any questions or comments.

Taxes

Occupancy Tax

Hotel

 The uniform occupancy tax is a tax imposed on lodgers occupying a room in a hotel. Occupancy tax is imposed on persons staying in a hotel room. The tax is a debt owed by the lodger to the City. The occupancy tax rate is 11.0%.

  •  Occupancy Tax Exemption Form
  •  Occupancy Tax Information Packet
  •  Quarterly Occupancy Tax Return Form

Short Term Rental

 Short Term Rentals are defined as the rental of any residence, or portion thereof within a legally permitted residential structure which is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy, for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less. To operate a short-term rental location, you are required to:

  1.  Apply and pay for a City of Torrance business license; and
  2.  Obtain a short term rental permit from the City’s Community Development department. (Please click here for further requirements on their permitting process.)

 Once steps 1 and 2 have been completed (you are granted a business license and short term rental permit), you must complete the Short Term Rental Uniform Occupancy Tax (UOT) Registration process (form available below).

Upon completion of the steps listed above, you are also required to complete and submit the Short Term Rental Quarterly Uniform Occupancy Tax (UOT) Return to the Finance Department (form available below). If you feel you have an occupant that qualifies for a potential exemption from UOT (i.e. certain federal entities, diplomats, and employees of the federal government), please review, complete, and submit the UOT Tax Exemption (form available below) with your Quarterly UOT tax return for consideration.

Beginning March 1, 2024, occupancy tax will be collected and remitted by Airbnb.com for short-term rental property listings through their website. Property owners are still required to submit the quarterly filing to report gross rent from all sources and taxes owed (remitting the amount due less taxes collected by Airbnb).

All of the information you need for operating a Short Term Rental is just a click away below:

  • Business License Short Term Rental Applicant Requirements
  • Short Term Rental Uniform Occupancy Tax Information
  • Short Term Rental Uniform Occupancy Tax Registration
  • Short Term Rental Quarterly Uniform Occupancy Tax Return
  • Uniform Occupancy Tax Exemption Form

Utility User's Tax

 The Utility User's tax is a usage tax of 6.5% on gas, electric, wireless, and telecom charges, with a 6% usage tax on water. For more information, please view the Torrance Municipal Code.

 

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