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 2018, at 16,299. Seaside, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 66 and the figure for California was 113,502. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest16,299Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Seaside, CA

Median66369 cities

California113,502History

Top 40 cities, 2018

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2018 count	Change on 2017
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	16,299	+9.8%
2	San Francisco, CA Estimated	5,178	+28.4%
3	San Diego, CA Estimated	4,452	-21.8%
4	Oakland, CA Estimated	3,639	-6.6%
5	Irvine, CA Estimated	3,410	+5.2%
6	San Jose, CA Estimated	2,836	+16.2%
7	Sacramento, CA Estimated	2,324	-18.3%
8	Fremont, CA Estimated	1,967	+1.1%
9	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	1,751	+67.9%
10	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	1,701	+394.5%
11	Milpitas, CA Estimated	1,583	+65.1%
12	Ontario, CA Estimated	1,326	-20%
13	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	1,248	-18.3%
14	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,239	-15.5%
15	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	1,226	+170.6%
16	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,108	-32.3%
17	Clovis, CA Estimated	1,107	+11.6%
18	Menifee, CA Estimated	976	+36.1%
19	Tracy, CA Estimated	940	+209.2%
20	Chino, CA Estimated	891	+46.8%
21	Roseville, CA Estimated	808	-51.8%
22	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	794	+56.6%
23	Dublin, CA Estimated	786	-34.3%
24	Folsom, CA Estimated	785	+58.9%
25	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	693	+72.4%
26	Beaumont, CA Estimated	684	-7.9%
27	Riverside, CA Estimated	674	-4.7%
28	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	621	+40.8%
29	Rocklin, CA Estimated	585	-40.8%
30	Visalia, CA Estimated	577	+5.1%
31	Anaheim, CA Estimated	572	-37.1%
32	Murrieta, CA Estimated	536	+13.3%
33	Tulare, CA Estimated	530	+58.7%
34	Camarillo, CA Estimated	526	-37.2%
34	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	526	+150.5%
36	Manteca, CA Estimated	524	-36.1%
36	Pasadena, CA Estimated	524	+206.4%
38	Fontana, CA Estimated	498	-24.9%
39	Vista, CA Estimated	485	+175.6%
40	Corona, CA Estimated	465	+110.4%
41	Newark, CA Estimated	454	+17.6%
42	Chico, CA Estimated	449	-29.4%
43	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	433	-19.4%
44	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	408	-27.7%
45	Oceanside, CA Estimated	401	+27.3%
46	Gilroy, CA Estimated	391	-24.5%
47	Richmond, CA Estimated	386	+235.7%
48	Hollister, CA Estimated	371	-28.8%
49	Lathrop, CA Estimated	367	+33%
50	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	353	-42.5%
51	Mountain View, CA Estimated	351	-74.7%
52	Brentwood, CA Estimated	324	-36%
52	Davis, CA Estimated	324	+58.8%
52	Stockton, CA Estimated	324	-13.8%
55	Indio, CA Estimated	322	-32.6%
56	Livermore, CA Estimated	317	-18.7%
57	Fairfield, CA Estimated	314	+17.2%
58	Wasco, CA Estimated	313	+10.2%
59	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	309	+161.9%
60	Laguna Niguel, CA Estimated	303	+28.9%
61	Burlingame, CA Estimated	301	+2,408.3%
62	El Monte, CA Estimated	300	+67.6%
62	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	300	+46.3%
64	Modesto, CA Estimated	298	+3.5%
65	Pomona, CA Estimated	292	+61.3%
66	Hayward, CA Estimated	287	-30.7%
67	Los Banos, CA Estimated	284	+5.2%
68	Hesperia, CA Estimated	283	+22%
69	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	274	+110.8%
70	Victorville, CA Estimated	267	+73.4%
71	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	264	+39.7%
72	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	261	-63.6%
73	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	257	+68%
74	San Marcos, CA Estimated	256	-45.5%
75	Delano, CA Estimated	253	+277.6%
75	Truckee, CA Estimated	253	+104%
77	Woodland, CA Estimated	249	+22.7%
78	Culver City, CA Estimated	247	+33.5%
78	Lodi, CA Estimated	247	-45%
80	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	243	+62%
81	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	237	-68.9%
82	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	235	-77.3%
83	Montclair, CA Estimated	221	+190.8%
84	Vacaville, CA Estimated	220	-20.3%
85	Escondido, CA Estimated	218	-52.5%
86	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	217	-47.8%
87	Arcata, CA Estimated	206	+106%
88	Marina, CA Estimated	205	-1.9%
89	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	203	-14.7%
90	Hanford, CA Estimated	202	+10.4%
91	La Quinta, CA Estimated	201	+77.9%
91	Long Beach, CA Estimated	201	-83.5%
93	South San Francisco, CA Estimated	198	-25.8%
94	Berkeley, CA Estimated	195	-37.3%
94	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	195	+712.5%
96	Imperial, CA Estimated	186	+59%
97	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	185	-40.7%
98	Oakley, CA Estimated	184	+13.6%
99	Hercules, CA Estimated	178	+334.1%
99	Madera, CA Estimated	178	+53.4%
101	Azusa, CA Estimated	177	+43.9%
102	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	175	+121.5%
103	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	174	+8.1%
104	Cypress, CA Estimated	173	+35.2%
105	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	171	-66.9%
106	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	163	-16.8%
106	Salinas, CA Estimated	163	+526.9%
108	American Canyon, CA Estimated	162	+131.4%
109	San Ramon, CA Estimated	160	+357.1%
109	Upland, CA Estimated	160	+107.8%
111	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	158	0%
112	Encinitas, CA Estimated	157	+36.5%
112	Santee, CA Estimated	157	+1.9%
114	Carson, CA Estimated	153	+595.5%
114	Lancaster, CA Estimated	153	+26.4%
114	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	153	+11.7%
117	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	152	+15.2%
118	National City, CA Estimated	150	-9.6%
119	Glendale, CA Estimated	144	-37.4%
119	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	144	+260%
121	Ripon, CA Estimated	138	+62.4%
121	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	138	-25%
123	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	137	+1,145.5%
123	Shafter, CA Estimated	137	-4.2%
125	Redwood City, CA Estimated	136	+277.8%
126	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	135	-12.3%
127	Westminster, CA Estimated	133	+95.6%
128	Rialto, CA Estimated	130	+113.1%
129	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	129	-3.7%
130	McFarland, CA Estimated	128	+456.5%
131	Antioch, CA Estimated	121	+168.9%
131	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	121	-56.3%
131	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	121	+14.2%
134	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	117	-33.9%
135	Oxnard, CA Estimated	115	-81.1%
135	Perris, CA Estimated	115	-59.8%
137	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	110	-4.3%
137	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	110	-84.9%
137	San Clemente, CA Estimated	110	+25%
140	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	109	-55.3%
141	Arvin, CA Estimated	107	+24.4%
141	Dinuba, CA Estimated	107	-7.8%
141	Watsonville, CA Estimated	107	+0.9%
144	La Mesa, CA Estimated	105	+2,525%
145	Eastvale, CA Estimated	104	-70.5%
146	Gardena, CA Estimated	103	+110.2%
146	Livingston, CA Estimated	103	+53.7%
146	Redding, CA Estimated	103	-30.9%
149	El Cajon, CA Estimated	101	+102%
150	El Centro, CA Estimated	100	+1,566.7%
151	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	96	-31.4%
151	Rosemead, CA Estimated	96	-27.8%
153	Imperial Beach, CA Estimated	95	-13.6%
154	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	94	+49.2%
155	Brawley, CA Estimated	93	+89.8%
155	Calimesa, CA Estimated	93	+116.3%
157	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	92	+8.2%
157	Kerman, CA Estimated	92	+124.4%
157	Lincoln, CA Estimated	92	-49.2%
157	Redlands, CA Estimated	92	0%
161	Arcadia, CA Estimated	90	-63.6%
161	Temecula, CA Estimated	90	-22.4%
163	Tustin, CA Estimated	89	+423.5%
164	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	88	-12.9%
165	Dixon, CA Estimated	87	-23%
166	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	86	+437.5%
166	Union City, CA Estimated	86	+186.7%
168	Dana Point, CA Estimated	85	+54.5%
169	Calabasas, CA Estimated	84	+1,100%
169	Lemoore, CA Estimated	84	+52.7%
171	San Mateo, CA Estimated	83	-81.3%
171	Temple City, CA Estimated	83	-9.8%
173	Colton, CA Estimated	82	+331.6%
173	Porterville, CA Estimated	82	+74.5%
175	Fullerton, CA Estimated	80	-62.1%
176	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	79	-66.7%
176	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	79	+38.6%
176	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	79	-22.5%
179	Merced, CA Estimated	77	+4.1%
180	Parlier, CA Estimated	76	+322.2%
181	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	73	-22.3%
182	Soledad, CA Estimated	72	+4.3%
183	Claremont, CA Estimated	70	-78.9%
184	Campbell, CA Estimated	69	+11.3%
185	Emeryville, CA Estimated	66	-78.8%
185	Oakdale, CA Estimated	66	-40.5%
187	Highland, CA Estimated	65	-3%
187	Los Altos, CA Estimated	65	+44.4%
187	Palmdale, CA Estimated	65	-74.8%
190	Cupertino, CA Estimated	64	-5.9%
191	Hemet, CA Estimated	63	+1,160%
192	Novato, CA Estimated	62	+933.3%
193	Sanger, CA Estimated	61	-11.6%
193	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	61	-1.6%
195	Fillmore, CA Estimated	57	+5.6%
196	Downey, CA Estimated	56	-61.1%
196	Newman, CA Estimated	56	-40.4%
196	Petaluma, CA Estimated	56	-67.6%
199	Bell, CA Estimated	54	-31.6%
200	Avenal, CA Estimated	52	+550%
200	Stanton, CA Estimated	52	+271.4%
200	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	52	+52.9%
203	Bellflower, CA Estimated	51	-17.7%
203	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	51	-19%
203	Vallejo, CA Estimated	51	+18.6%
206	Glendora, CA Estimated	50	-50.5%
207	Bell Gardens, CA Estimated	49	+444.4%
207	Hawthorne, CA Estimated	49	+104.2%
207	Napa, CA Estimated	49	+6.5%
207	Patterson, CA Estimated	49	+4.3%
211	Galt, CA Estimated	47	-31.9%
211	Riverbank, CA Estimated	47	+261.5%
213	La Puente, CA Estimated	45	+800%
213	La Verne, CA Estimated	45	+80%
213	Turlock, CA Estimated	45	+114.3%
216	Goleta, CA Estimated	44	+4.8%
216	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	44	+29.4%
216	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	44	-27.9%
216	Torrance, CA Estimated	44	0%
220	King City, CA Estimated	43	+65.4%
221	Coalinga, CA Estimated	42	-8.7%
221	Wildomar, CA Estimated	42	-49.4%
223	El Segundo, CA Estimated	41	+46.4%
224	Saratoga, CA Estimated	40	+90.5%
225	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	39	+11.4%
225	Morro Bay, CA Estimated	39	+77.3%
227	Chowchilla, CA Estimated	38	-13.6%
227	Coronado, CA Estimated	38	+15.2%
227	Red Bluff, CA Estimated	38	+8.6%
230	Ceres, CA Estimated	37	+117.6%
230	Pleasant Hill, CA Estimated	37	+1,750%
232	Paramount, CA Estimated	36	+176.9%
232	Shasta Lake, CA Estimated	36	-7.7%
234	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	35	-34%
235	Alhambra, CA Estimated	34	-56.4%
235	Buena Park, CA Estimated	34	-48.5%
235	Sonoma, CA Estimated	34	+142.9%
238	La Habra, CA Estimated	33	-70.3%
238	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	33	+26.9%
240	Alameda, CA Estimated	31	-44.6%
240	Auburn, CA Estimated	31	-51.6%
240	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	31	-59.7%
240	Fortuna, CA Estimated	31	-47.5%
240	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	31	+34.8%
245	Orange, CA Estimated	30	-69.1%
246	Anderson, CA Estimated	29	-54%
246	Atascadero, CA Estimated	29	-61.8%
246	Grover Beach, CA Estimated	29	+163.6%
249	Moorpark, CA Estimated	28	-55.6%
249	Placerville, CA Estimated	28	+115.4%

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 2018 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/we2018a.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. (2019). 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, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.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, 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 20 June 2019, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2019. 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, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2019) 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, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2018,
  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, 2018}},
  year = {2019},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2018. 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/we2018a.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, 2018
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/06/20
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2018.
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/we2018a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Rank Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits using official data, and cite the source.

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 16,299 in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Seaside, CA, with 0 in 2018.

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 2018 and are not ranked.