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 2016, at 13,890. Suisun City, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 61 and the figure for California was 102,350. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest13,890Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Suisun City, CA

Median61369 cities

California102,350History

Top 40 cities, 2016

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2016 count	Change on 2015
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	13,890	-13.3%
2	San Diego, CA Estimated	6,612	+6.9%
3	Irvine, CA Estimated	4,637	-0.5%
4	San Francisco, CA Estimated	4,087	+11.5%
5	San Jose, CA Estimated	2,728	+35.1%
6	Oakland, CA Estimated	2,136	+146.7%
7	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,682	+41.7%
8	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,438	-1.7%
9	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,288	+29.6%
10	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	1,175	+70.5%
11	Glendale, CA Estimated	1,116	+59.9%
12	Clovis, CA Estimated	1,086	+20.8%
13	Anaheim, CA Estimated	939	-6.1%
14	Roseville, CA Estimated	920	-4.9%
15	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	859	+379.9%
16	Rocklin, CA Estimated	781	+28.9%
17	Gilroy, CA Estimated	774	+14%
18	Visalia, CA Estimated	705	+8.5%
19	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	683	+172.1%
20	Ontario, CA Estimated	654	+22.5%
21	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	644	+181.2%
22	Fremont, CA Estimated	622	+35.8%
23	Dublin, CA Estimated	611	-32.7%
24	Manteca, CA Estimated	593	+20%
25	Oxnard, CA Estimated	592	+11.3%
26	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	585	+29.4%
27	Chino, CA Estimated	570	-32.4%
28	Menifee, CA Estimated	565	+38.5%
29	Brentwood, CA Estimated	559	+15%
30	Laguna Niguel, CA Estimated	549	+9,050%
31	Chico, CA Estimated	534	+2.5%
32	Redwood City, CA Estimated	529	+316.5%
33	Newark, CA Estimated	523	+207.6%
34	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	513	+4.1%
35	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	512	+67.9%
36	Mountain View, CA Estimated	498	+78.5%
37	Beaumont, CA Estimated	488	+0.6%
37	Fontana, CA Estimated	488	-4.9%
39	Hayward, CA Estimated	474	+57.5%
40	Riverside, CA Estimated	473	+6.1%
41	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	455	-31.6%
42	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	450	+265.9%
43	Los Banos, CA Estimated	438	+918.6%
44	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	429	+4.9%
45	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	419	+66.9%
46	Pasadena, CA Estimated	410	-19.6%
47	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	390	-33.2%
48	Oceanside, CA Estimated	389	+342%
49	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	383	0%
50	Berkeley, CA Estimated	357	+17.4%
51	La Habra, CA Estimated	347	+1,635%
52	San Marcos, CA Estimated	346	-42.5%
53	Tulare, CA Estimated	337	+21.2%
53	Vacaville, CA Estimated	337	-20.7%
55	Hollister, CA Estimated	336	+177.7%
56	Eastvale, CA Estimated	332	+20.3%
57	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	331	-68.5%
58	Livermore, CA Estimated	330	-21.4%
59	Hanford, CA Estimated	326	-0.3%
59	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	326	-19.1%
61	Hesperia, CA Estimated	303	+203%
62	Temecula, CA Estimated	301	+68.2%
63	Oakley, CA Estimated	295	+25.5%
64	Tracy, CA Estimated	290	-50.3%
65	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	288	+114.9%
66	Murrieta, CA Estimated	279	-40.8%
66	Stockton, CA Estimated	279	-32%
68	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	274	-46.9%
68	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	274	-37.3%
70	Lodi, CA Estimated	269	+1,245%
70	San Carlos, CA Estimated	269	+1,394.4%
72	Arcadia, CA Estimated	267	+11.3%
72	Burbank, CA Estimated	267	+1,680%
74	Fairfield, CA Estimated	264	-60.7%
75	Perris, CA Estimated	263	+9.6%
75	Woodland, CA Estimated	263	+71.9%
77	Davis, CA Estimated	261	+169.1%
78	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	248	-4.6%
79	Lancaster, CA Estimated	247	+160%
80	Lemoore, CA Estimated	246	+19.4%
81	Indio, CA Estimated	242	-11.4%
82	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	240	-72.1%
83	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	238	+93.5%
84	Camarillo, CA Estimated	236	+168.2%
85	Campbell, CA Estimated	233	+366%
86	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	229	+122.3%
87	San Mateo, CA Estimated	225	-45.9%
88	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	220	+66.7%
89	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	219	-59.5%
90	Glendora, CA Estimated	218	+92.9%
91	Lincoln, CA Estimated	217	-6.9%
91	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	217	-14.9%
93	Pomona, CA Estimated	214	+21.6%
94	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	201	+187.1%
95	Aliso Viejo, CA Estimated	200	-68.6%
96	Cerritos, CA Estimated	197	-40.3%
97	Concord, CA Estimated	195	+680%
98	Petaluma, CA Estimated	188	+235.7%
99	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	186	+3.3%
100	Madera, CA Estimated	185	+27.6%
101	Brea, CA Estimated	181	-45.2%
102	Albany, CA Estimated	178	+2,866.7%
103	Wildomar, CA Estimated	173	+53.1%
104	Escondido, CA Estimated	169	+4.3%
104	Palmdale, CA Estimated	169	+65.7%
106	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	168	-59%
107	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	166	+9.9%
108	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	165	+189.5%
109	Milpitas, CA Estimated	159	-35.6%
110	Folsom, CA Estimated	156	-36.6%
110	Tustin, CA Estimated	156	-7.7%
112	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	148	+34.5%
112	Imperial, CA Estimated	148	+190.2%
112	Lathrop, CA Estimated	148	-56.9%
115	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	147	+0.7%
116	Orange, CA Estimated	146	-45.3%
116	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	146	+29.2%
118	Burlingame, CA Estimated	145	+935.7%
119	Shafter, CA Estimated	144	-20.4%
120	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	137	+13.2%
121	Galt, CA Estimated	134	+88.7%
122	Cypress, CA Estimated	133	+2,116.7%
122	Redding, CA Estimated	133	-45.7%
124	Modesto, CA Estimated	130	+664.7%
125	Wasco, CA Estimated	129	+79.2%
126	El Monte, CA Estimated	128	+228.2%
127	Antioch, CA Estimated	127	+86.8%
127	Napa, CA Estimated	127	+27%
129	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	126	-54.2%
130	Daly City, CA Estimated	125	-23.8%
131	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	123	-14%
132	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	122	+20.8%
133	Goleta, CA Estimated	121	+3,933.3%
134	Long Beach, CA Estimated	120	-21.1%
135	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	116	+9.4%
136	Victorville, CA Estimated	115	+38.6%
137	Oakdale, CA Estimated	109	+18.5%
138	McFarland, CA Estimated	108	+22.7%
139	Azusa, CA Estimated	106	-6.2%
140	San Clemente, CA Estimated	104	-18.1%
141	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	103	+37.3%
141	National City, CA Estimated	103	+33.8%
143	El Cajon, CA Estimated	102	-2.9%
143	Gardena, CA Estimated	102	+78.9%
143	La Quinta, CA Estimated	102	-46%
143	Truckee, CA Estimated	102	+20%
143	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	102	+67.2%
148	Atascadero, CA Estimated	101	+5.2%
149	La Mesa, CA Estimated	100	+284.6%
149	Vista, CA Estimated	100	-75.5%
151	Fullerton, CA Estimated	99	-73.2%
152	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	98	-68.1%
153	Dixon, CA Estimated	97	-27.6%
153	South San Francisco, CA Estimated	97	+177.1%
153	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	97	-19.8%
156	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	96	+152.6%
157	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	93	-38.4%
157	Soledad, CA Estimated	93	+4,550%
157	Watsonville, CA Estimated	93	+19.2%
160	Kerman, CA Estimated	92	+206.7%
161	Alameda, CA Estimated	90	-50.3%
162	Highland, CA Estimated	89	+1,012.5%
162	Westminster, CA Estimated	89	+8.5%
164	Encinitas, CA Estimated	85	-40.1%
164	Moorpark, CA Estimated	85	-53.6%
166	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	84	-30%
166	Temple City, CA Estimated	84	-28.2%
168	San Bruno, CA Estimated	83	+822.2%
169	Anderson, CA Estimated	81	+237.5%
169	Richmond, CA Estimated	81	-10%
171	Santee, CA Estimated	80	-31%
172	Buena Park, CA Estimated	74	-58%
172	Foster City, CA Estimated	74	-78.6%
172	Marina, CA Estimated	74	+39.6%
175	Walnut, CA Estimated	73	+356.3%
176	Merced, CA Estimated	70	+25%
177	Placerville, CA Estimated	68	+195.7%
178	Corona, CA Estimated	66	-88.2%
178	Upland, CA Estimated	66	-1.5%
180	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	65	-57.5%
181	Inglewood, CA Estimated	64	+1,500%
182	Kingsburg, CA Estimated	63	+1,160%
183	Fillmore, CA Estimated	62	+24%
183	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	62	+29.2%
185	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	61	+3.4%
185	Montclair, CA Estimated	61	+3.4%
185	Monterey Park, CA Estimated	61	+5.2%
185	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	61	-7.6%
189	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	60	+185.7%
189	Yuba City, CA Estimated	60	+22.4%
191	Coronado, CA Estimated	59	+3.5%
191	Rosemead, CA Estimated	59	+103.4%
193	Compton, CA Estimated	57	+1,800%
193	Cupertino, CA Estimated	57	-68.2%
195	Ukiah, CA Estimated	56	+1,766.7%
196	Brawley, CA Estimated	53	-41.8%
197	Calimesa, CA Estimated	52	+85.7%
197	Los Altos, CA Estimated	52	+13%
197	Salinas, CA Estimated	52	-44.7%
200	Coachella, CA Estimated	51	+50%
200	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	51	+64.5%
200	Whittier, CA Estimated	51	-40%
203	Downey, CA Estimated	50	+85.2%
203	Half Moon Bay, CA Estimated	50	+11.1%
205	Redlands, CA Estimated	48	-41.5%
206	Bellflower, CA Estimated	47	+88%
206	Newman, CA Estimated	47	+11.9%
206	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	47	+20.5%
206	Riverbank, CA Estimated	47	-11.3%
210	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	46	+91.7%
211	Turlock, CA Estimated	45	-22.4%
212	Dana Point, CA Estimated	44	-10.2%
212	Patterson, CA Estimated	44	+25.7%
214	Fortuna, CA Estimated	43	+26.5%
214	Norwalk, CA Estimated	43	+616.7%
214	Porterville, CA Estimated	43	-25.9%
217	Claremont, CA Estimated	42	+82.6%
217	Placentia, CA Estimated	42	-20.8%
219	Sonoma, CA Estimated	40	+150%
219	Torrance, CA Estimated	40	+166.7%
221	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	39	-48%
221	King City, CA Estimated	39	+3,800%
221	Vallejo, CA Estimated	39	+44.4%
221	West Covina, CA Estimated	39	-61.4%
225	Arcata, CA Estimated	38	+90%
225	Calabasas, CA Estimated	38	+65.2%
225	San Rafael, CA Estimated	38	+40.7%
225	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	38	+3,700%
229	Alhambra, CA Estimated	37	-86.4%
229	Arvin, CA Estimated	37	-48.6%
231	Ripon, CA Estimated	36	-67%
232	South Lake Tahoe, CA Estimated	35	+20.7%
233	Delano, CA Estimated	34	+750%
233	Imperial Beach, CA Estimated	34	+78.9%
233	Livingston, CA Estimated	34	+240%
236	Hemet, CA Estimated	33	-63.7%
236	Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Estimated	33	n/a
236	Sanger, CA Estimated	33	+3.1%
239	Mission Viejo, CA Estimated	32	n/a
240	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	31	+106.7%
240	South El Monte, CA Estimated	31	-35.4%
242	Hercules, CA Estimated	30	+500%
243	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	29	+11.5%
243	San Ramon, CA Estimated	29	-51.7%
243	Selma, CA Estimated	29	-53.2%
246	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	28	+33.3%
246	Shasta Lake, CA Estimated	28	+27.3%
248	Martinez, CA Estimated	27	-50%
249	Grand Terrace, CA Estimated	26	+100%
249	Lindsay, CA Estimated	26	-18.8%

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 2016 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/we2016a.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. (2017). 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, 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2016a.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, 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2017, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2016a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2017. 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, 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2016a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2017) 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, 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2016a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2016,
  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, 2016}},
  year = {2017},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2016a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2016. 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/we2016a.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, 2016
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2017/05/01
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2016a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2016.
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/we2016a.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 13,890 in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Suisun City, CA, with 0 in 2016.

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 2016 and are not ranked.