Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits, 2025

Los Angeles, CA had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 369 cities in 2025, at 11,211. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 78 and the figure for California was 103,856. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest11,211Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Median78369 cities

California103,856History

Top 40 cities, 2025

count. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2025 count	Change on 2024
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	11,211	+6.9%
2	San Diego, CA Estimated	6,828	+3.2%
3	San Jose, CA Estimated	3,313	+65.8%
4	Sacramento, CA Estimated	2,297	+12.4%
5	Ontario, CA Estimated	1,789	+180%
6	Irvine, CA Estimated	1,746	-53.2%
7	Murrieta, CA Estimated	1,666	+1,361.4%
8	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,648	-11.1%
9	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	1,573	+29.3%
10	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,504	-21%
11	San Francisco, CA Estimated	1,444	+87.5%
12	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,300	+15.7%
13	Menifee, CA Estimated	1,147	+16.7%
14	Fontana, CA Estimated	930	-31.5%
15	Oceanside, CA Estimated	857	+170.3%
16	Lathrop, CA Estimated	835	+15.2%
17	Manteca, CA Estimated	798	-38.3%
18	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	764	-41.8%
19	San Marcos, CA Estimated	750	+137.3%
20	Visalia, CA Estimated	686	+19.3%
21	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	652	+123.3%
22	Indio, CA Estimated	639	+154.6%
23	Folsom, CA Estimated	625	-32.4%
24	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	617	+87.5%
25	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	594	+216%
26	Clovis, CA Estimated	588	-11.4%
27	South San Francisco, CA Estimated	585	+926.3%
28	Dublin, CA Estimated	572	+528.6%
29	Highland, CA Estimated	569	+267.1%
30	Hesperia, CA Estimated	559	+74.7%
31	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	536	-56.2%
32	Lancaster, CA Estimated	520	-42%
33	Long Beach, CA Estimated	513	+7.5%
34	Modesto, CA Estimated	512	+196%
35	Torrance, CA Estimated	510	+460.4%
36	Lincoln, CA Estimated	498	-17.1%
37	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	490	+405.2%
38	Paradise, CA Estimated	483	+4.8%
39	Arcadia, CA Estimated	478	+4.8%
40	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	460	+10%
41	Tulare, CA Estimated	456	+16.3%
42	Shafter, CA Estimated	452	+4.4%
43	Merced, CA Estimated	450	+45.6%
44	Perris, CA Estimated	446	+17.7%
45	Fremont, CA Estimated	435	+232.1%
46	Pasadena, CA Estimated	428	+187.2%
47	Pomona, CA Estimated	426	+50%
48	Hanford, CA Estimated	409	-3.1%
49	Camarillo, CA Estimated	399	-17.7%
50	Hemet, CA Estimated	396	-3.4%
51	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	395	+46.8%
52	Oxnard, CA Estimated	385	-33.5%
52	Santa Paula, CA Estimated	385	+177%
54	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	381	+252.8%
55	Escondido, CA Estimated	376	-4.8%
56	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	372	-12.1%
57	Banning, CA Estimated	367	+382.9%
57	Encinitas, CA Estimated	367	-8.3%
59	San Bruno, CA Estimated	366	+281.3%
60	Berkeley, CA Estimated	364	+18.6%
61	Oakland, CA Estimated	362	-10%
62	Fountain Valley, CA Estimated	358	+1,054.8%
63	Norco, CA Estimated	356	+1,269.2%
64	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	350	+21.1%
65	Yuba City, CA Estimated	341	+270.7%
66	Stockton, CA Estimated	333	-36.8%
66	Vacaville, CA Estimated	333	-25.8%
68	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	316	+5.7%
69	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	313	+187.2%
70	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	309	-43.2%
71	Rocklin, CA Estimated	301	+19.4%
72	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	296	+55.8%
73	Fullerton, CA Estimated	293	+236.8%
74	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	291	-33.9%
75	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	281	+31.9%
76	Petaluma, CA Estimated	276	+2,966.7%
77	Riverside, CA Estimated	270	-73.5%
78	Livermore, CA Estimated	265	+258.1%
79	Galt, CA Estimated	263	+60.4%
80	Rosemead, CA Estimated	255	+17%
81	Glendale, CA Estimated	247	-8.9%
82	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	245	0%
83	Daly City, CA Estimated	244	+6,000%
84	La Mesa, CA Estimated	239	+29.9%
85	Goleta, CA Estimated	238	+1,730.8%
86	Redwood City, CA Estimated	236	+159.3%
87	Milpitas, CA Estimated	228	+196.1%
87	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	228	+322.2%
89	Corona, CA Estimated	227	-19.5%
90	Chico, CA Estimated	225	-2.6%
91	Salinas, CA Estimated	220	+57.1%
92	Albany, CA Estimated	216	+1,863.6%
92	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	216	+83.1%
94	Chino, CA Estimated	214	-64.4%
94	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	214	-2.7%
96	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	212	-60.4%
97	Anaheim, CA Estimated	210	-67.9%
98	Eastvale, CA Estimated	209	0%
99	Fairfield, CA Estimated	208	-27.3%
100	Redlands, CA Estimated	203	-18.1%
101	Delano, CA Estimated	198	+53.5%
102	San Mateo, CA Estimated	197	+95%
103	Redding, CA Estimated	195	+58.5%
103	Temecula, CA Estimated	195	-48.7%
105	Patterson, CA Estimated	194	+295.9%
106	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	192	-52.8%
107	El Monte, CA Estimated	191	+85.4%
108	Porterville, CA Estimated	190	+25.8%
109	Wildomar, CA Estimated	188	-49.7%
110	Vista, CA Estimated	187	-15%
111	Compton, CA Estimated	184	+89.7%
111	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	184	-11.5%
113	Los Banos, CA Estimated	183	+30.7%
113	Riverbank, CA Estimated	183	-30.9%
115	Inglewood, CA Estimated	181	-50.1%
116	Lodi, CA Estimated	179	-31.7%
117	Downey, CA Estimated	178	+27.1%
118	Vallejo, CA Estimated	174	+180.6%
119	Victorville, CA Estimated	172	-62.7%
120	El Cajon, CA Estimated	168	+41.2%
121	South Gate, CA Estimated	159	-21.3%
122	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	156	-6%
123	Hollister, CA Estimated	155	+31.4%
124	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	151	+16.2%
125	Millbrae, CA Estimated	150	-41.2%
126	Chowchilla, CA Estimated	146	+329.4%
127	Beaumont, CA Estimated	144	-56.1%
127	Marina, CA Estimated	144	+17.1%
129	Union City, CA Estimated	142	+246.3%
130	Covina, CA Estimated	139	+69.5%
130	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	139	-33.5%
132	Scotts Valley, CA Estimated	138	+6,800%
133	American Canyon, CA Estimated	137	-46.7%
133	Pico Rivera, CA Estimated	137	+29.2%
133	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	137	+23.4%
136	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	135	-54.4%
136	Montebello, CA Estimated	135	+25%
136	Napa, CA Estimated	135	+16.4%
139	Los Altos, CA Estimated	133	-45.9%
140	Eureka, CA Estimated	132	+187%
140	Windsor, CA Estimated	132	+180.9%
142	Palmdale, CA Estimated	131	+31%
143	California City, CA Estimated	129	+17.3%
143	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	129	+43.3%
145	Glendora, CA Estimated	124	+103.3%
145	Healdsburg, CA Estimated	124	+18.1%
145	Temple City, CA Estimated	124	-27.9%
145	Westminster, CA Estimated	124	+342.9%
149	Calexico, CA Estimated	123	+108.5%
149	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	123	+232.4%
151	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	118	-10.6%
152	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	117	+58.1%
153	Alhambra, CA Estimated	116	-13.4%
154	Brentwood, CA Estimated	114	+185%
154	Danville, CA Estimated	114	-1.7%
156	Montclair, CA Estimated	112	-86.3%
157	Placentia, CA Estimated	111	+60.9%
158	Antioch, CA Estimated	109	-65.8%
159	Newark, CA Estimated	108	-32.1%
160	Mountain View, CA Estimated	107	-50%
161	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	105	-7.9%
162	Culver City, CA Estimated	103	+22.6%
163	Sanger, CA Estimated	102	-7.3%
164	Oakley, CA Estimated	101	+8.6%
164	San Ramon, CA Estimated	101	-17.9%
166	Madera, CA Estimated	99	-28.3%
167	Turlock, CA Estimated	97	-32.6%
168	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	96	-5.9%
168	La Quinta, CA Estimated	96	+6.7%
168	Saratoga, CA Estimated	96	-9.4%
171	Buena Park, CA Estimated	94	-3.1%
171	Placerville, CA Estimated	94	+1,466.7%
173	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	93	+34.8%
174	Bellflower, CA Estimated	92	-17.1%
174	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	92	-20.7%
174	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	92	+513.3%
177	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	91	-6.2%
178	West Covina, CA Estimated	89	-12.7%
179	Livingston, CA Estimated	87	+2,800%
179	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	87	+85.1%
179	Woodland, CA Estimated	87	-36%
182	El Cerrito, CA Estimated	86	-88.8%
183	Walnut, CA Estimated	85	-53%
184	Campbell, CA Estimated	80	+48.1%
185	Tracy, CA Estimated	78	-88%
186	La Mirada, CA Estimated	77	+250%
186	San Marino, CA Estimated	77	+2,466.7%
188	Burbank, CA Estimated	76	-15.6%
189	Poway, CA Estimated	75	+19%
190	South Lake Tahoe, CA Estimated	71	+545.5%
191	Azusa, CA Estimated	70	+150%
191	Concord, CA Estimated	70	-21.3%
191	Imperial Beach, CA Estimated	70	-10.3%
191	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	70	+159.3%
191	Orange, CA Estimated	70	-69.8%
196	Hawthorne, CA Estimated	69	+475%
197	Davis, CA Estimated	68	-38.7%
197	McFarland, CA Estimated	68	-10.5%
199	Seaside, CA Estimated	67	-44.2%
199	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	67	-23.9%
201	Cupertino, CA Estimated	66	-29.8%
201	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	66	-21.4%
203	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	65	+30%
203	Lakewood, CA Estimated	65	-1.5%
205	Dixon, CA Estimated	64	-86.7%
206	Monrovia, CA Estimated	63	-17.1%
206	Oroville, CA Estimated	63	n/a
208	Lynwood, CA Estimated	62	-38.6%
208	San Leandro, CA Estimated	62	-4.6%
210	Richmond, CA Estimated	61	-62.6%
210	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	61	-45%
212	Corcoran, CA Estimated	59	+742.9%
213	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	58	+9.4%
214	Monterey Park, CA Estimated	57	-63.9%
214	Twentynine Palms, CA Estimated	57	+119.2%
214	Watsonville, CA Estimated	57	-23%
217	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	56	-56.9%
218	Paramount, CA Estimated	55	+1.9%
219	Brawley, CA Estimated	54	-21.7%
220	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	53	+3.9%
221	Colton, CA Estimated	52	-13.3%
221	King City, CA Estimated	52	-26.8%
223	Grass Valley, CA Estimated	51	+628.6%
223	Tustin, CA Estimated	51	+24.4%
225	Laguna Beach, CA Estimated	48	-5.9%
226	Bell Gardens, CA Estimated	47	+34.3%
226	Greenfield, CA Estimated	47	+88%
226	Hayward, CA Estimated	47	-73%
226	South Pasadena, CA Estimated	47	-7.8%
230	La Habra, CA Estimated	46	-34.3%
230	Truckee, CA Estimated	46	+17.9%
232	Dinuba, CA Estimated	43	-8.5%
232	Hillsborough, CA Estimated	43	+19.4%
234	Pinole, CA Estimated	42	+281.8%
235	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	41	-66.7%
236	San Dimas, CA Estimated	40	+8.1%
237	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	39	-18.8%
237	San Fernando, CA Estimated	39	+95%
237	Santee, CA Estimated	39	-80.4%
240	Carson, CA Estimated	37	+1,750%
241	Lompoc, CA Estimated	36	-20%
241	Soledad, CA Estimated	36	-10%
243	Citrus Heights, CA Estimated	35	+483.3%
243	Cypress, CA Estimated	35	+6.1%
243	El Centro, CA Estimated	35	-50%
243	Fortuna, CA Estimated	35	+29.6%
243	Moorpark, CA Estimated	35	-84.4%
248	El Segundo, CA Estimated	34	-17.1%
248	South El Monte, CA Estimated	34	-5.6%
248	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	34	-5.6%

Showing the top 250 of 369. The Excel download has every row.

Other periods

About this ranking

Number of new privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in the year or month, from the US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey. Annual totals for the nation, states and counties; monthly counts for the nation and states.

Counts housing units, not buildings, starts, completions or sales. Monthly counts are not seasonally adjusted and do not add up exactly to the annual total, which includes later corrections; the national seasonally adjusted annual rate in the monthly New Residential Construction release is a different measure.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. 3 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2025 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits, 2025) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt

MLA 9

Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits, 2025. U.S. Census Bureau, 14 May 2026, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits, 2025. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits, 2025 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2025,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits, 2025}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West\%20Region/we2025a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits, 2025
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/14
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

Which city has the highest housing units authorized by building permits?

Los Angeles, CA, with 11,211 in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest housing units authorized by building permits?

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, with 0 in 2025.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 3 cities have no value for 2025 and are not ranked.