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 2015, at 16,013. Susanville, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 57 and the figure for California was 98,188. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest16,013Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Susanville, CA

Median57369 cities

California98,188History

Top 40 cities, 2015

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2015 count	Change on 2014
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	16,013	+42.2%
2	San Diego, CA Estimated	6,185	+125.5%
3	Irvine, CA Estimated	4,660	+43.5%
4	San Francisco, CA Estimated	3,665	+35.2%
5	San Jose, CA Estimated	2,019	-54.6%
6	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,463	-11.8%
7	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,187	+322.4%
8	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	1,052	+215.9%
9	Anaheim, CA Estimated	1,000	-19.4%
10	Fresno, CA Estimated	994	+8.3%
11	Roseville, CA Estimated	967	+19.5%
12	Dublin, CA Estimated	908	-17.1%
13	Clovis, CA Estimated	899	+48.8%
14	Oakland, CA Estimated	866	+237%
15	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	859	+4.6%
16	Chino, CA Estimated	843	+95.6%
17	Glendale, CA Estimated	698	+87.1%
18	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	689	-36.6%
19	Gilroy, CA Estimated	679	+179.4%
20	Fairfield, CA Estimated	671	+112.3%
21	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	665	+16.5%
22	Visalia, CA Estimated	650	+49.4%
23	Aliso Viejo, CA Estimated	637	n/a
24	Rocklin, CA Estimated	606	+48.5%
25	San Marcos, CA Estimated	602	+496%
26	Tracy, CA Estimated	584	+332.6%
26	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	584	+100%
28	Corona, CA Estimated	561	-14.2%
29	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	541	+469.5%
30	Ontario, CA Estimated	534	+21.9%
31	Oxnard, CA Estimated	532	+6%
32	Chico, CA Estimated	521	+31.6%
33	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	516	+50.9%
34	Fontana, CA Estimated	513	+29.5%
35	Pasadena, CA Estimated	510	-25.4%
36	Manteca, CA Estimated	494	+15.7%
37	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	493	-40.8%
38	Brentwood, CA Estimated	486	+2.1%
39	Beaumont, CA Estimated	485	+6.8%
40	Murrieta, CA Estimated	471	+68.2%
41	Fremont, CA Estimated	458	+67.2%
42	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	452	-7.9%
43	Riverside, CA Estimated	446	+41.6%
44	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	437	+27%
45	Vacaville, CA Estimated	425	+208%
46	Livermore, CA Estimated	420	+388.4%
47	San Mateo, CA Estimated	416	+333.3%
48	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	410	+57.1%
48	Stockton, CA Estimated	410	+327.1%
50	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	409	+27%
51	Menifee, CA Estimated	408	-28.4%
51	Vista, CA Estimated	408	-45.8%
53	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	403	+81.5%
54	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	383	+76.5%
55	Fullerton, CA Estimated	370	-17%
56	Foster City, CA Estimated	346	+49.1%
57	Lathrop, CA Estimated	343	+98.3%
58	Brea, CA Estimated	330	+91.9%
58	Cerritos, CA Estimated	330	n/a
60	Hanford, CA Estimated	327	+68.6%
61	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	307	+237.4%
62	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	305	+22%
63	Berkeley, CA Estimated	304	-16.5%
64	Hayward, CA Estimated	301	-48.6%
65	Union City, CA Estimated	290	+28,900%
66	Novato, CA Estimated	287	+11.2%
67	Mountain View, CA Estimated	279	-58.3%
68	Tulare, CA Estimated	278	+36.9%
69	Eastvale, CA Estimated	276	-35.5%
70	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	275	+192.6%
71	Alhambra, CA Estimated	273	+1,505.9%
71	Indio, CA Estimated	273	-47.2%
73	Orange, CA Estimated	267	-23.5%
74	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	265	+1,104.5%
75	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	260	+170.8%
76	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	255	+420.4%
77	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	251	-11.3%
77	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	251	-85.1%
79	Milpitas, CA Estimated	247	-79.4%
80	Folsom, CA Estimated	246	-18%
81	Redding, CA Estimated	245	+118.8%
82	Arcadia, CA Estimated	240	+11.6%
82	Perris, CA Estimated	240	+20%
84	Oakley, CA Estimated	235	+221.9%
85	Lincoln, CA Estimated	233	-18.5%
86	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	229	+16.8%
87	Lemoore, CA Estimated	206	+6.7%
88	El Cerrito, CA Estimated	191	+235.1%
89	La Quinta, CA Estimated	189	+3.8%
90	Moorpark, CA Estimated	183	+2.8%
91	Alameda, CA Estimated	181	+217.5%
91	Shafter, CA Estimated	181	+72.4%
93	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	180	+51.3%
94	Cupertino, CA Estimated	179	+316.3%
94	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	179	-64.4%
94	Temecula, CA Estimated	179	-73%
97	Buena Park, CA Estimated	176	+147.9%
97	Pomona, CA Estimated	176	+351.3%
99	Newark, CA Estimated	170	+553.8%
100	Tustin, CA Estimated	169	+5,533.3%
101	Daly City, CA Estimated	164	+1,722.2%
102	Escondido, CA Estimated	162	+16.5%
103	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	153	+150.8%
103	Woodland, CA Estimated	153	+19.5%
105	Long Beach, CA Estimated	152	-52.9%
106	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	151	+22.8%
106	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	151	-24.5%
108	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	146	+15%
109	Madera, CA Estimated	145	-7.1%
110	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	143	+40.2%
111	Encinitas, CA Estimated	142	-9.6%
112	Dixon, CA Estimated	134	+482.6%
112	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	134	-55.9%
114	Hawthorne, CA Estimated	132	-60.1%
114	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	132	+187%
116	Redwood City, CA Estimated	127	-83.7%
116	San Clemente, CA Estimated	127	+23.3%
118	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	126	+186.4%
119	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	123	-62.3%
119	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	123	-50.4%
121	Hollister, CA Estimated	121	+59.2%
121	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	121	-40.4%
121	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	121	+152.1%
124	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	120	+400%
125	Temple City, CA Estimated	117	+12.5%
126	Adelanto, CA Estimated	116	+241.2%
126	Santee, CA Estimated	116	-34.1%
128	Dinuba, CA Estimated	115	+379.2%
129	Azusa, CA Estimated	113	-62%
129	Glendora, CA Estimated	113	-60.2%
129	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	113	+101.8%
129	Wildomar, CA Estimated	113	+3,666.7%
133	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	110	-14.7%
134	Ripon, CA Estimated	109	+541.2%
135	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	106	+8.2%
136	El Cajon, CA Estimated	105	+275%
137	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	103	+3,333.3%
138	Palmdale, CA Estimated	102	+142.9%
139	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	101	+215.6%
139	West Covina, CA Estimated	101	+461.1%
141	Hesperia, CA Estimated	100	+33.3%
141	Napa, CA Estimated	100	+25%
143	Davis, CA Estimated	97	+781.8%
144	Atascadero, CA Estimated	96	-48.1%
144	El Centro, CA Estimated	96	+123.3%
146	Lancaster, CA Estimated	95	+2.2%
147	Lakewood, CA Estimated	94	n/a
147	Salinas, CA Estimated	94	+42.4%
149	Oakdale, CA Estimated	92	+21.1%
150	Brawley, CA Estimated	91	+213.8%
150	Hemet, CA Estimated	91	-34.1%
152	Richmond, CA Estimated	90	+1,025%
153	Camarillo, CA Estimated	88	-70.2%
153	McFarland, CA Estimated	88	+18.9%
153	Oceanside, CA Estimated	88	+2.3%
156	Truckee, CA Estimated	85	-2.3%
156	Whittier, CA Estimated	85	+19.7%
158	Victorville, CA Estimated	83	+80.4%
159	Redlands, CA Estimated	82	+22.4%
159	Westminster, CA Estimated	82	+290.5%
161	Watsonville, CA Estimated	78	+9.9%
162	National City, CA Estimated	77	-39.8%
163	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	75	+150%
163	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	75	+240.9%
165	Signal Hill, CA Estimated	74	+311.1%
166	Arvin, CA Estimated	72	+22%
166	Wasco, CA Estimated	72	+200%
168	Galt, CA Estimated	71	-1.4%
169	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	70	-78.5%
170	Antioch, CA Estimated	68	-18.1%
171	Upland, CA Estimated	67	+24.1%
172	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	66	-71.1%
173	Danville, CA Estimated	65	+44.4%
174	Greenfield, CA Estimated	63	+57.5%
175	Selma, CA Estimated	62	+416.7%
176	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	61	0%
177	San Ramon, CA Estimated	60	+25%
178	Eureka, CA Estimated	59	+436.4%
178	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	59	+3.5%
178	Montclair, CA Estimated	59	+110.7%
181	Monterey Park, CA Estimated	58	+87.1%
181	Porterville, CA Estimated	58	-79.3%
181	Turlock, CA Estimated	58	-38.9%
184	Barstow, CA Estimated	57	+14%
184	Coronado, CA Estimated	57	+54.1%
184	Gardena, CA Estimated	57	+103.6%
184	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	57	+14%
188	Merced, CA Estimated	56	+21.7%
188	Petaluma, CA Estimated	56	-64.8%
190	Martinez, CA Estimated	54	-34.9%
191	East Palo Alto, CA Estimated	53	+2,550%
191	Marina, CA Estimated	53	+381.8%
191	Placentia, CA Estimated	53	+12.8%
191	Riverbank, CA Estimated	53	+65.6%
195	Calexico, CA Estimated	51	-8.9%
195	Imperial, CA Estimated	51	-56%
195	Santa Fe Springs, CA Estimated	51	-67.3%
198	Campbell, CA Estimated	50	+31.6%
198	Fillmore, CA Estimated	50	+22%
200	Dana Point, CA Estimated	49	+25.6%
200	Yuba City, CA Estimated	49	-14%
202	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	48	-18.6%
202	South El Monte, CA Estimated	48	-40%
204	Los Altos, CA Estimated	46	-78.8%
205	Half Moon Bay, CA Estimated	45	-46.4%
205	Lompoc, CA Estimated	45	+104.5%
207	Coalinga, CA Estimated	43	+616.7%
207	Los Banos, CA Estimated	43	+19.4%
209	Newman, CA Estimated	42	+147.1%
210	Healdsburg, CA Estimated	41	+46.4%
211	Carson, CA Estimated	39	+39.3%
211	El Monte, CA Estimated	39	-9.3%
211	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	39	+2.6%
214	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	38	-67%
215	La Mirada, CA Estimated	37	+5.7%
215	San Pablo, CA Estimated	37	+19.4%
215	Windsor, CA Estimated	37	+362.5%
218	Corcoran, CA Estimated	36	+20%
219	Ceres, CA Estimated	35	-32.7%
219	Monterey, CA Estimated	35	+1,650%
219	Paradise, CA Estimated	35	+59.1%
219	Patterson, CA Estimated	35	+20.7%
219	South San Francisco, CA Estimated	35	+600%
224	Coachella, CA Estimated	34	-45.2%
224	Fortuna, CA Estimated	34	+6.3%
226	Stanton, CA Estimated	33	-36.5%
227	Lindsay, CA Estimated	32	+60%
227	Sanger, CA Estimated	32	+100%
229	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	31	-20.5%
230	Grover Beach, CA Estimated	30	+130.8%
230	Kerman, CA Estimated	30	+150%
232	Rosemead, CA Estimated	29	+625%
232	South Lake Tahoe, CA Estimated	29	-48.2%
234	Calimesa, CA Estimated	28	-3.4%
234	Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Estimated	28	+250%
236	Downey, CA Estimated	27	-35.7%
236	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	27	-43.8%
236	San Rafael, CA Estimated	27	+2,600%
236	Vallejo, CA Estimated	27	+58.8%
240	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	26	n/a
240	La Mesa, CA Estimated	26	-91.6%
242	Bellflower, CA Estimated	25	-65.8%
242	Concord, CA Estimated	25	+257.1%
244	Anderson, CA Estimated	24	+4.3%
244	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	24	-25%
244	Morro Bay, CA Estimated	24	-22.6%
244	Rialto, CA Estimated	24	-14.3%
248	Bell Gardens, CA Estimated	23	+91.7%
248	Calabasas, CA Estimated	23	+53.3%
248	Claremont, CA Estimated	23	-77.9%

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 2015 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/we2015a.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, 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.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, 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2015. 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, 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2015.

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, 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2015,
  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, 2015}},
  year = {2016},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2015. 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/we2015a.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, 2015
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2016/09/30
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2015.
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/we2015a.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 16,013 in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Susanville, CA, with 0 in 2015.

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 2015 and are not ranked.