Electrician in Torrance

Torrance filled up fast after the war: the census counted about 22,000 residents in 1950 and just over 100,000 in 1960. Much of the city is houses from that boom, plus the 1912 streets of Old Torrance, the hillside Hollywood Riviera above the beach, and an industrial base that includes a refinery and aerospace manufacturers.

Two details are worth knowing here. Part of west Torrance has a Redondo Beach mailing address, and near the beach, salt air is hard on outdoor electrical equipment. We see the job first, and the price is in writing after that.

What we do in Torrance

Everything we do in Torrance, with what each job usually involves here. The photos are from our own jobs.

Panel upgrades in Torrance

Replacing original panels in 1950s Torrance houses, with the city permit, the inspection and SCE's meter set coordinated in the right order.

More on panel upgradesCall (844) 430-7681

EV charger installation in Torrance

A charger on an older service starts with a load calculation; if it fits, it is a city trade permit and an inspection, with no SCE step.

More on EV charger installationCall (844) 430-7681

Electrical repair & troubleshooting in Torrance

Corroded meter sockets and outdoor boxes near the beach, two-prong circuits that trip, and old additions spliced into the original wiring.

More on electrical repair & troubleshootingCall (844) 430-7681

Rewiring in Torrance

Rewiring the oldest houses in Old Torrance and updating 1950s circuits room by room, so the house stays livable during the work.

More on rewiringCall (844) 430-7681

Lighting & ceiling fans in Torrance

Corrosion-resistant exterior fixtures on the Riviera hillside, and kitchen and recessed lighting in remodeled tract homes.

More on lighting & ceiling fansCall (844) 430-7681

Outlets, GFCI & new circuits in Torrance

Replacing two-prong outlets properly, grounded or GFCI-protected and labeled, plus 240-volt circuits for garage workshops and heat pumps.

More on outlets, GFCI & new circuitsCall (844) 430-7681

Commercial electrical in Torrance

Three-phase and equipment circuits, lighting and tenant improvements for the shops, offices and light-industrial buildings of Torrance's industrial areas.

More on commercial electricalCall (844) 430-7681

Also: subpanels, dedicated circuits, 240-volt outlets for dryers and ranges, exterior and security lighting, hard-wired smoke alarms, and small repairs of every kind.

What's common in Torrance homes

A large share of Torrance's houses come from one fast decade, so their electrical problems tend to be that decade's problems, with salt air added near the beach.

• 1950s tract houses. Services were sized for the appliances of the day. Adding an EV charger, a heat pump or an induction range starts with a load calculation on the existing panel; if the service has to grow, the upgrade also involves SCE's review and meter set, so we plan for that from the start.
• Old Torrance. The original 1912 townsite, planned by the Olmsted firm, holds the city's oldest houses, so expect older wiring methods next to later additions. Exterior changes to a designated historic landmark need the city's preservation review, so on those houses we check before moving a meter or panel on a street-facing wall.
• The Hollywood Riviera. Hillside streets above the city's mile and a half of beachfront. Salt air attacks screws, joints between different metals and aluminum terminations first, so a rusty meter or panel cover is a reason to have an electrician open the panel (the meter itself is sealed by SCE), and replacement parts should be rated for the exposure.

Permits and power in Torrance

Torrance (ZIP codes 90501, 90503 to 90505 and part of 90277) is its own city, but its postal map and its city limits do not line up. Part of west Torrance, including streets near the beach, has a Redondo Beach mailing address, and some addresses that read 'Torrance' are unincorporated county land. The city limits, not the envelope, decide who issues your permit.

Permits inside the city come from the Building and Safety Division. Since January 5, 2026, Torrance takes submittals only online, through its Citizen Access portal: a zoning clearance from the Planning or Environmental Division comes first, and electrical work is its own trade permit. On unincorporated land with a Torrance address, LA County Public Works issues the permit instead, from its Lomita district office since July 6, 2026 (that county office serves unincorporated areas, not the City of Lomita).

Power is normally SCE's from supply to meter: Torrance is not a Clean Power Alliance member, while Redondo Beach and Carson next door default to it. For a panel upgrade, the request goes in on SCE's online project portal (relocating SCE equipment is requested by phone); an SCE representative reviews it and visits, the city inspects the new equipment, and SCE then sets the meter and energizes. Most repairs, lighting and a charger that fits on the existing panel don't involve SCE; replacing a meter socket does, because only SCE removes and resets its meter.

The permits and utilities guide explains the whole picture for the three counties we serve.

Around Torrance

Redondo Beach, Gardena, Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates run their own building departments, and Lomita now provides its own building services after taking them over from the county. Rolling Hills Estates contracts its building and safety work to the firm Willdan, and West Carson is unincorporated, so LA County Public Works issues permits there. All of these except Harbor City are SCE territory; Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates and unincorporated county areas default to Clean Power Alliance for supply. Harbor City is part of the City of Los Angeles, with LADBS permits and LADWP power.

• Redondo Beach
• Lomita
• Gardena
• Rancho Palos Verdes
• Palos Verdes Estates
• Rolling Hills Estates
• West Carson
• Harbor City

See the full list of areas we cover across Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties.