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Date: June 9, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Aram Chaparyan, City Manager
By: Eirenne O'Neill, Staff Assistant | [email protected] Subject: City Manager – Adopt RESOLUTION Supporting Federal Bill S. 4505S (IS) and Authorize Letter of Support and the Submission of USPS Application on Behalf of the City of Torrance. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the City Manager that City Council:
1. Adopt a RESOLUTION Supporting Federal Bill S. 4505S (IS) - to require the United States Postal Service to designate ZIP Codes for certain communities; and
2. Authorize a City Council Letter of Support for Federal Bill S. 4505S (IS); and
3. Authorize the submission of USPS application on behalf of the City of Torrance.
FUNDING
None required.
BACKGROUND
ZIP Codes have evolved far beyond their original purpose of facilitating mail delivery when they were first established in the 1960s. Today, ZIP Codes are commonly used to determine insurance rates, allocate emergency response services, calculate online sales tax revenue, establish school enrollment boundaries, and administer various federal, state, and local programs. As a result, communities with multiple ZIP Codes or ZIP Codes that do not align with municipal boundaries often experience confusion and service delivery challenges.
Torrance Zip Code Issues
The City contains several areas where postal boundaries do not align with City jurisdictional boundaries, resulting in ongoing issues related to mail delivery, school enrollment, emergency response coordination, jurisdictional clarity, and access to government resources and programs.
These inconsistencies create administrative challenges for City programs and services. For example, applicants seeking Housing Choice Voucher assistance may possess a Torrance ZIP Code while residing outside of the City’s municipal boundaries, creating confusion regarding program eligibility and residency verification. Although Torrance’s primary ZIP Codes range from 90501 through 90509, the mismatch between United States Postal Service (USPS) postal boundaries and actual municipal boundaries continues to create confusion for residents, businesses, and service providers.
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Examples of these ZIP Code and jurisdictional discrepancies include:
ZIP Code Mailing Address Municipal Jurisdiction
90277 Redondo Beach Torrance
90278 Redondo Beach Torrance
90247 Gardena Torrance/Gardena
90248 Gardena Torrance/Gardena
90501 Torrance Torrance/ Harbor Gateway
90502 Torrance Harbor Gateway / Los Angeles County
90717 Lomita Torrance/Lomita
Neighborhoods such as the Hollywood Riviera are located within the City of Torrance but utilize Redondo Beach ZIP Codes (90277 and 90278). Similarly, portions of Torrance along the northeast boundary utilize Gardena ZIP Codes (90247 and 90248), despite remaining within Torrance city limits. Conversely, areas within the Harbor Gateway and Los Angeles County Strip utilize Torrance ZIP Codes (including 90501 and 90502) while falling under the jurisdiction of the City of Los Angeles or Los Angeles County for municipal services.
During the recent Federal Legislative Advocacy trip to Washington D.C, City Council Committee members and staff discussed the zip code issue with Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, as well as Representatives Ted Lieu and Maxine Waters. The delegation provided an overview of the issue with specific postcard material to convey the geographic complexity of the situation.
ZIP Code Boundary Review Process
USPS may establish a new ZIP code based on an internal review of ZIP code assignments.
Alternatively, USPS may establish a new ZIP code following a ZIP code boundary review that was initiated by a request from the public. Requests to change existing ZIP code boundaries are subject to the same process. Communities or local governments requesting a change must route their formal requests through the local USPS District Manager or Consumer and Industry Contact office. The USPS District Manager for Torrance is Abraham P. Cooper, who oversees the California 5 (Los Angeles) District.
National Zip Code Advocacy Coalition
The City of Eastvale currently participates in the “National ZIP Code Advocacy Coalition,” an informal, no-cost coalition comprised of approximately 80 municipalities across more than 30 states. The coalition was formed to address discrepancies and challenges associated with USPS ZIP Code assignments that impact service delivery, jurisdictional clarity, emergency services, taxation, and access to federal and state resources. According to Eastvale staff, the coalition meets quarterly and functions as a collaborative advocacy and information-sharing forum.
Communities participating in the Coalition are pursuing consolidated ZIP Code designations that more accurately reflect municipal boundaries. In support of this effort, coalition members are advocating for federal legislation currently pending before Congress that would address ZIP Code boundary inconsistencies and provide relief to impacted communities. On February 10, 2026, the City Council previously directed staff to join the National ZIP Code Advocacy Coalition following a recommendation from the City Council Federal Legislative Advocacy Committee. 2 City Council
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S.4505 Bill
U.S. Senators Joni Ernst and Alex Padilla have been working to consolidate two major ZIP Code unification bills before the Senate (S.1455 and S.2961) into one unified bill, known as S. 4505.
The bill was introduced on May 12, 2026, by Senator Joni Ernst and co-sponsored by Senator Alex Padilla and requires the USPS to assign distinct ZIP codes to specific municipalities and unincorporated communities that currently share ZIP codes with neighboring jurisdictions. The National ZIP Code Advocacy Coalition has also been advocating for the inclusion of additional impacted communities not originally identified in either bill, including the City of Torrance. It currently awaits further review in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Should federal legislation ultimately be approved, staff will monitor guidance and implementation procedures issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and evaluate next steps related to potential ZIP Code adjustments affecting the City of Torrance.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed resolution supporting Federal Bill S. 4505S (IS) and authorize the submission of a City Council Letter of to the USPS District Manager, initiating the formal zip code boundary review process. Adoption of these actions would formally position the City of Torrance in support of ongoing federal efforts to address longstanding ZIP Code boundary inconsistencies that impact municipal service delivery, jurisdictional clarity, emergency response coordination, and resident access to programs and resources. Supporting this legislation and participating in the broader advocacy effort through the National ZIP Code Advocacy Coalition will allow the City to continue pursuing solutions that more accurately align postal designations with Torrance municipal boundaries and better serve the community.
ATTACHMENTS
1. RESOLUTION - Support S. 4505S (IS) - To Require the United States Postal Service to Designate ZIP Codes for Certain Communities
2. S.4505 Bill
3. 05-12-2026 City of Torrance Mayoral Letter of Support
4. DRAFT Letter to USPS District Manager Abraham P. Cooper, California 5 (Los Angeles) District.
5. Let’s Talk About Zip Codes Post Card
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ATTACHMENT 2
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Inclusion in Zip Code Reform Legislation
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*INSERT CITY LETTERHEAD*
June 9, 2026
Abraham P. Cooper,
California 5 (Los Angeles) District Manager, United States Postal Service 7001 S. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90052-9998
RE: Request to Initiate Formal ZIP Code Boundary Review Process for the City of Torrance Dear Mr. Cooper:
On behalf of the City Council of the City of Torrance, we respectfully request that the United States Postal Service initiate a formal ZIP Code boundary review process for areas affecting the City of Torrance and surrounding jurisdictions within the California 5 (Los Angeles) District.
At its June 9, 2026 meeting, the Torrance City Council adopted a Resolution supporting Federal Bill S. 4505S (IS), legislation intended to address longstanding ZIP Code inconsistencies affecting municipalities throughout the country. As part of that action, the City Council authorized the submission of this formal request to begin the USPS ZIP Code review process.
The City of Torrance continues to experience significant administrative, jurisdictional, and service delivery challenges resulting from ZIP Code boundaries that do not align with municipal boundaries. While ZIP Codes were originally established to facilitate mail delivery, they are now widely used for emergency response coordination, insurance determinations, school enrollment, taxation, eligibility verification for government programs, and access to public resources.
Several areas within and adjacent to Torrance currently utilize mailing addresses or ZIP Codes associated with neighboring jurisdictions despite being located within Torrance city limits.
Conversely, some areas outside of Torrance municipal boundaries utilize Torrance ZIP Codes.
These inconsistencies create ongoing confusion for residents, businesses, emergency responders, and public agencies.
Examples include:
• Portions of the Hollywood Riviera neighborhood located within Torrance city limits utilizing Redondo Beach ZIP Codes (90277 and 90278);
• Areas along Torrance’s northeast boundary utilizing Gardena ZIP Codes (90247 and 90248);
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12 • Areas within Harbor Gateway and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County utilizing Torrance ZIP Codes (90501 and 90502) despite falling outside Torrance municipal jurisdiction; and
• Portions of Torrance utilizing Lomita ZIP Code 90717.
These discrepancies impact residency verification, municipal service coordination, emergency response clarity, public perception, and administration of City programs, including housing assistance eligibility and other public services.
The City of Torrance respectfully requests that USPS initiate a formal review of existing ZIP Code assignments and boundaries affecting Torrance with the goal of evaluating opportunities to better align postal designations with municipal boundaries and community identity while maintaining efficient mail operations.
The City is prepared to cooperate fully with USPS throughout the review process and provide any supporting documentation, maps, demographic information, or municipal boundary data necessary to assist with the evaluation. Torrance also participates in the National ZIP Code Advocacy Coalition, a collaborative effort involving municipalities across the country seeking solutions to ZIP Code boundary inconsistencies.
We appreciate your consideration of this request and welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further with your office. Please feel free to contact City staff should additional information be required.
Sincerely,
*INSERT SIGNATURE*
George K. Chen
Mayor, City of Torrance
Attachment: Resolution No. 2026-XX, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Torrance supporting Federal Bill S. 4505S (IS)
cc: U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (CA)
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (CA)
13 LET’S TALK ABOUT
ZIP Codes
Some Torrance neighborhoods use ZIP
Codes assigned to neighboring cities,
creating confusion for residents,
businesses, and government agencies.
Misaligned ZIP Codes affect emergency
response coordination, school enrollment,
service eligibility, and government data
accuracy.
Torrance is working with the National ZIP
Code Advocacy Coalition to encourage
Congress and USPS to modernize ZIP
Code assignments.
Request: Support a federal review of ZIP
Code boundaries for better alignment
with municipal jurisdictions and improve
service delivery for residents.
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