Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits

Los Angeles, CA had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 369 cities in 2014, at 11,264. Ukiah, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 43 and the figure for California was 83,645. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest11,264Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Ukiah, CA

Median43369 cities

California83,645History

Top 40 cities, 2014

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2014 count	Change on 2013
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	11,264	+34.2%
2	San Jose, CA Estimated	4,445	+20%
3	Irvine, CA Estimated	3,248	-30.7%
4	San Diego, CA Estimated	2,743	-48.3%
5	San Francisco, CA Estimated	2,711	-39.4%
6	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	1,687	+240.1%
7	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,659	+8.9%
8	Anaheim, CA Estimated	1,241	+195.5%
9	Milpitas, CA Estimated	1,200	+42.5%
10	Dublin, CA Estimated	1,095	+60.8%
11	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	1,086	+71.8%
12	Fresno, CA Estimated	918	-36.2%
13	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	833	+245.6%
14	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	821	+49.5%
15	Roseville, CA Estimated	809	+51.2%
16	Redwood City, CA Estimated	781	+99.2%
17	Vista, CA Estimated	753	+560.5%
18	Pasadena, CA Estimated	684	+584%
19	Mountain View, CA Estimated	669	+23.9%
20	Temecula, CA Estimated	662	-0.3%
21	Corona, CA Estimated	654	+146.8%
22	Clovis, CA Estimated	604	-27.6%
23	Hayward, CA Estimated	586	+220.2%
24	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	571	+47.5%
25	Menifee, CA Estimated	570	+52.4%
26	Indio, CA Estimated	517	+10.7%
27	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	503	-57.1%
28	Oxnard, CA Estimated	502	+35.7%
29	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	491	-24.3%
30	Brentwood, CA Estimated	476	-0.4%
31	Beaumont, CA Estimated	454	-9.2%
32	Fullerton, CA Estimated	446	+230.4%
33	Ontario, CA Estimated	438	+156.1%
34	Visalia, CA Estimated	435	+1.4%
35	Chino, CA Estimated	431	-56.3%
36	Eastvale, CA Estimated	428	+92.8%
37	Manteca, CA Estimated	427	+43.8%
38	Rocklin, CA Estimated	408	+234.4%
39	Chico, CA Estimated	396	+1.5%
39	Fontana, CA Estimated	396	+77.6%
41	Glendale, CA Estimated	373	-67.5%
42	Berkeley, CA Estimated	364	+487.1%
43	Orange, CA Estimated	349	+34,800%
44	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	344	+463.9%
45	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	342	+1.8%
46	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	333	-63.3%
47	Hawthorne, CA Estimated	331	+8.5%
48	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	326	+5,333.3%
49	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	325	+802.8%
50	Long Beach, CA Estimated	323	+8.8%
51	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	322	+4.9%
52	Fairfield, CA Estimated	316	+45.6%
53	Riverside, CA Estimated	315	+160.3%
54	La Mesa, CA Estimated	309	+808.8%
55	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	304	+51.2%
56	Folsom, CA Estimated	300	-12%
57	Azusa, CA Estimated	297	+42.8%
58	Camarillo, CA Estimated	295	+43.2%
59	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	292	+3.5%
60	Laguna Hills, CA Estimated	289	+28,800%
61	Lincoln, CA Estimated	286	+15.3%
62	Glendora, CA Estimated	284	+14,100%
63	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	283	+36.7%
64	Sacramento, CA Estimated	281	+8.5%
65	Murrieta, CA Estimated	280	+2,053.8%
65	Porterville, CA Estimated	280	+677.8%
67	Fremont, CA Estimated	274	+22.3%
68	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	261	-60.5%
69	Novato, CA Estimated	258	+7.1%
70	Oakland, CA Estimated	257	-49.5%
71	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	250	+6,150%
72	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	248	-48.9%
73	Gilroy, CA Estimated	243	+49.1%
74	Foster City, CA Estimated	232	+23,100%
75	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	228	+442.9%
76	South Gate, CA Estimated	224	+4,380%
77	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	222	-49.2%
78	Los Altos, CA Estimated	217	+72.2%
78	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	217	-5.2%
80	Arcadia, CA Estimated	215	+7.5%
81	Emeryville, CA Estimated	209	+9.4%
82	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	203	+26.1%
82	Tulare, CA Estimated	203	+18%
84	Perris, CA Estimated	200	+2.6%
84	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	200	+166.7%
86	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	196	-0.5%
87	Hanford, CA Estimated	194	+37.6%
88	Lemoore, CA Estimated	193	+121.8%
89	Atascadero, CA Estimated	185	+340.5%
90	La Quinta, CA Estimated	182	-27.2%
91	Moorpark, CA Estimated	178	+100%
92	Santee, CA Estimated	176	+32.3%
93	Lathrop, CA Estimated	173	+140.3%
94	Brea, CA Estimated	172	+8.2%
95	Petaluma, CA Estimated	159	+144.6%
96	Encinitas, CA Estimated	157	+80.5%
96	Laguna Niguel, CA Estimated	157	-52.7%
98	Madera, CA Estimated	156	+8.3%
98	Santa Fe Springs, CA Estimated	156	+35.7%
100	Escondido, CA Estimated	139	+101.4%
101	Hemet, CA Estimated	138	+15%
101	Vacaville, CA Estimated	138	-60.2%
103	Tracy, CA Estimated	135	+101.5%
104	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	129	+33%
105	National City, CA Estimated	128	+228.2%
105	Woodland, CA Estimated	128	-19.5%
107	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	127	+7.6%
108	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	123	-1.6%
109	Colton, CA Estimated	119	-17.4%
109	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	119	+158.7%
111	Imperial, CA Estimated	116	-50.4%
111	San Leandro, CA Estimated	116	+5,700%
113	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	115	+202.6%
114	Redding, CA Estimated	112	+3.7%
115	Shafter, CA Estimated	105	+133.3%
116	Claremont, CA Estimated	104	+333.3%
116	Temple City, CA Estimated	104	+79.3%
118	San Clemente, CA Estimated	103	+17%
119	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	102	+45.7%
120	San Marcos, CA Estimated	101	-87.6%
121	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	98	+5.4%
122	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	96	+1,271.4%
122	San Mateo, CA Estimated	96	-54.5%
122	Stockton, CA Estimated	96	-42.2%
125	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	95	+375%
125	Turlock, CA Estimated	95	+86.3%
127	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	94	-62.1%
128	Lancaster, CA Estimated	93	-47.5%
129	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	91	-26.6%
130	Truckee, CA Estimated	87	+14.5%
131	Livermore, CA Estimated	86	-51.1%
131	Oceanside, CA Estimated	86	-32.3%
133	Half Moon Bay, CA Estimated	84	+16.7%
134	Antioch, CA Estimated	83	-65.4%
134	Grass Valley, CA Estimated	83	+1,283.3%
134	Martinez, CA Estimated	83	+2,666.7%
137	San Fernando, CA Estimated	82	+2.5%
138	Napa, CA Estimated	80	-57%
138	South El Monte, CA Estimated	80	+3,900%
140	La Verne, CA Estimated	78	-64.4%
141	Hollister, CA Estimated	76	-36.7%
141	Oakdale, CA Estimated	76	+38.2%
143	Hesperia, CA Estimated	75	+316.7%
144	McFarland, CA Estimated	74	-32.1%
145	Bellflower, CA Estimated	73	+217.4%
145	Oakley, CA Estimated	73	-62.6%
147	Galt, CA Estimated	72	+75.6%
148	Buena Park, CA Estimated	71	+343.8%
148	Watsonville, CA Estimated	71	-2.7%
148	Whittier, CA Estimated	71	+69%
151	Port Hueneme, CA Estimated	68	0%
152	Redlands, CA Estimated	67	-30.2%
153	Salinas, CA Estimated	66	+11.9%
154	Coachella, CA Estimated	62	-62%
154	Larkspur, CA Estimated	62	+51.2%
154	Modesto, CA Estimated	62	+55%
157	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	61	-52.3%
157	King City, CA Estimated	61	-1.6%
157	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	61	-89.5%
160	Arvin, CA Estimated	59	+5.4%
160	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	59	-42.2%
162	Alameda, CA Estimated	57	+54.1%
162	El Cerrito, CA Estimated	57	n/a
162	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	57	+78.1%
162	Yuba City, CA Estimated	57	+26.7%
166	Calexico, CA Estimated	56	+93.1%
166	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	56	+60%
166	South Lake Tahoe, CA Estimated	56	+211.1%
169	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	54	-5.3%
169	Upland, CA Estimated	54	-6.9%
171	Ceres, CA Estimated	52	+108%
171	Stanton, CA Estimated	52	+2,500%
173	Barstow, CA Estimated	50	0%
173	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	50	-33.3%
175	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	49	+250%
176	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	48	n/a
176	San Ramon, CA Estimated	48	+71.4%
176	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	48	-39.2%
179	Placentia, CA Estimated	47	+56.7%
180	Merced, CA Estimated	46	+206.7%
180	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	46	-65.4%
180	Victorville, CA Estimated	46	-43.2%
183	Danville, CA Estimated	45	-28.6%
184	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	44	+633.3%
185	Cupertino, CA Estimated	43	-68.1%
185	El Centro, CA Estimated	43	+760%
185	El Monte, CA Estimated	43	+2.4%
188	Downey, CA Estimated	42	-25%
188	Palmdale, CA Estimated	42	-17.6%
190	Cypress, CA Estimated	41	+86.4%
190	Fillmore, CA Estimated	41	+95.2%
192	Greenfield, CA Estimated	40	n/a
193	Dana Point, CA Estimated	39	+160%
193	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	39	-63.2%
193	Pomona, CA Estimated	39	-87%
196	Campbell, CA Estimated	38	-70.3%
196	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	38	-11.6%
198	Coronado, CA Estimated	37	-14%
199	Los Banos, CA Estimated	36	+111.8%
200	La Mirada, CA Estimated	35	n/a
201	Adelanto, CA Estimated	34	-41.4%
201	Monrovia, CA Estimated	34	+30.8%
203	Agoura Hills, CA Estimated	33	+83.3%
204	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	32	+166.7%
204	Fortuna, CA Estimated	32	-27.3%
204	Riverbank, CA Estimated	32	+190.9%
204	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	32	-86.9%
208	La Habra, CA Estimated	31	-67.7%
208	Monterey Park, CA Estimated	31	+181.8%
208	Morro Bay, CA Estimated	31	+72.2%
208	San Pablo, CA Estimated	31	+1,450%
212	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	30	-30.2%
212	Corcoran, CA Estimated	30	n/a
214	Brawley, CA Estimated	29	0%
214	Calimesa, CA Estimated	29	-48.2%
214	Imperial Beach, CA Estimated	29	+93.3%
214	Patterson, CA Estimated	29	-34.1%
218	Carson, CA Estimated	28	-36.4%
218	El Cajon, CA Estimated	28	+180%
218	Gardena, CA Estimated	28	+600%
218	Healdsburg, CA Estimated	28	-17.6%
218	Montclair, CA Estimated	28	-44%
218	Rialto, CA Estimated	28	-59.4%
224	Burbank, CA Estimated	27	+200%
224	Torrance, CA Estimated	27	-20.6%
226	Newark, CA Estimated	26	n/a
227	Arcata, CA Estimated	25	+4.2%
227	Burlingame, CA Estimated	25	-46.8%
227	Parlier, CA Estimated	25	+4.2%
230	Artesia, CA Estimated	24	+26.3%
230	Dinuba, CA Estimated	24	-71.4%
230	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	24	+50%
230	Solana Beach, CA Estimated	24	+1,100%
230	Wasco, CA Estimated	24	-69.2%
235	Anderson, CA Estimated	23	-23.3%
235	Dixon, CA Estimated	23	n/a
235	Lynwood, CA Estimated	23	+187.5%
238	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	22	-73.8%
238	Laguna Beach, CA Estimated	22	+4.8%
238	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	22	-63.9%
238	Lompoc, CA Estimated	22	-61.4%
238	Paradise, CA Estimated	22	+100%
243	Red Bluff, CA Estimated	21	0%
243	Westminster, CA Estimated	21	+31.3%
245	Lindsay, CA Estimated	20	-58.3%
245	Shasta Lake, CA Estimated	20	+233.3%
247	Poway, CA Estimated	19	+5.6%
247	Saratoga, CA Estimated	19	+137.5%
249	Citrus Heights, CA Estimated	18	-14.3%
249	Signal Hill, CA Estimated	18	-64.7%

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 2014 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/we2014a.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. (2016). 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, 2014) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2014a.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, 2014. U.S. Census Bureau, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2014a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2014. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2016. 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, 2014. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2014a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2014.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2016) 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, 2014 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2014a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2014 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2014,
  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, 2014}},
  year = {2016},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2014a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2014. 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/we2014a.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, 2014
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2016/09/30
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2014a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2014
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2014.
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/we2014a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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rank_places {"indicator":"building_permit_units","level":"municipality","within":"California","limit":10}
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Questions

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

Los Angeles, CA, with 11,264 in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Ukiah, CA, with 0 in 2014.

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 2014 and are not ranked.