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 2019, at 14,387. Sierra Madre, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 72 and the figure for California was 110,197. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest14,387Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Sierra Madre, CA

Median72369 cities

California110,197History

Top 40 cities, 2019

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2019 count	Change on 2018
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	14,387	-11.7%
2	San Diego, CA Estimated	3,941	-11.5%
3	San Francisco, CA Estimated	3,200	-38.2%
4	Sacramento, CA Estimated	3,001	+29.1%
5	Irvine, CA Estimated	2,509	-26.4%
6	San Jose, CA Estimated	2,345	-17.3%
7	Oakland, CA Estimated	1,862	-48.8%
8	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,611	+30%
9	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,472	+32.9%
10	Ontario, CA Estimated	1,431	+7.9%
11	Menifee, CA Estimated	1,349	+38.2%
12	Hayward, CA Estimated	1,348	+369.7%
13	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,213	+50.1%
14	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	1,190	-30%
15	Long Beach, CA Estimated	1,161	+477.6%
16	Fremont, CA Estimated	1,148	-41.6%
17	Clovis, CA Estimated	1,142	+3.2%
18	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	894	+106.5%
19	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	839	-52.1%
20	Fontana, CA Estimated	836	+67.9%
21	Chico, CA Estimated	822	+83.1%
22	Tracy, CA Estimated	821	-12.7%
23	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	764	+10.2%
24	Napa, CA Estimated	714	+1,357.1%
25	Brea, CA Estimated	709	+7,777.8%
26	Visalia, CA Estimated	699	+21.1%
27	Manteca, CA Estimated	689	+31.5%
28	Alameda, CA Estimated	683	+2,103.2%
29	Folsom, CA Estimated	681	-13.2%
30	Riverside, CA Estimated	679	+0.7%
31	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	677	-14.7%
32	Anaheim, CA Estimated	669	+17%
32	Mountain View, CA Estimated	669	+90.6%
34	Merced, CA Estimated	668	+767.5%
35	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	643	+3.5%
36	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	628	-49.7%
37	Corona, CA Estimated	593	+27.5%
38	Tulare, CA Estimated	584	+10.2%
39	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	577	+321.2%
40	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	561	+158.5%
41	Vista, CA Estimated	540	+11.3%
42	Beaumont, CA Estimated	535	-21.8%
43	Chino, CA Estimated	531	-40.4%
44	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	511	+98.8%
45	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	489	+186%
46	Upland, CA Estimated	483	+201.9%
47	Stockton, CA Estimated	464	+43.2%
48	Newark, CA Estimated	443	-2.4%
49	Orange, CA Estimated	440	+1,366.7%
50	Rocklin, CA Estimated	439	-25%
50	Victorville, CA Estimated	439	+64.4%
52	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	434	+134.6%
53	Lathrop, CA Estimated	425	+15.8%
54	Fullerton, CA Estimated	423	+428.7%
55	Hollister, CA Estimated	422	+13.7%
56	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	416	+75.5%
57	Lodi, CA Estimated	403	+63.2%
58	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	398	+208.5%
59	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	397	-2.7%
60	Hesperia, CA Estimated	391	+38.2%
61	Woodland, CA Estimated	386	+55%
62	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	379	+22.7%
63	Vacaville, CA Estimated	378	+71.8%
64	Milpitas, CA Estimated	359	-77.3%
65	Oceanside, CA Estimated	356	-11.2%
66	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	355	+0.6%
67	Fairfield, CA Estimated	348	+10.8%
68	San Mateo, CA Estimated	339	+308.4%
69	Antioch, CA Estimated	330	+172.7%
70	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	329	-73.2%
71	Murrieta, CA Estimated	328	-38.8%
72	Brentwood, CA Estimated	323	-0.3%
73	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	319	+108.5%
74	Paradise, CA Estimated	312	+1,100%
75	Eastvale, CA Estimated	301	+189.4%
76	Redding, CA Estimated	294	+185.4%
77	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	293	+12.3%
77	South Gate, CA Estimated	293	+946.4%
79	Calimesa, CA Estimated	286	+207.5%
80	Laguna Niguel, CA Estimated	279	-7.9%
81	Berkeley, CA Estimated	266	+36.4%
82	Oakley, CA Estimated	262	+42.4%
83	Indio, CA Estimated	261	-18.9%
84	Camarillo, CA Estimated	260	-50.6%
84	Lincoln, CA Estimated	260	+182.6%
86	Lancaster, CA Estimated	258	+68.6%
87	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	257	+133.6%
88	Pasadena, CA Estimated	252	-51.9%
89	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	245	+20.7%
90	Dublin, CA Estimated	241	-69.3%
91	Tustin, CA Estimated	238	+167.4%
92	Dinuba, CA Estimated	236	+120.6%
93	Hanford, CA Estimated	235	+16.3%
94	Temecula, CA Estimated	223	+147.8%
95	Placentia, CA Estimated	222	n/a
96	Carson, CA Estimated	209	+36.6%
97	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	208	+36.8%
98	San Marcos, CA Estimated	205	-19.9%
99	South San Francisco, CA Estimated	204	+3%
100	La Mesa, CA Estimated	202	+92.4%
101	Redwood City, CA Estimated	201	+47.8%
102	Glendale, CA Estimated	200	+38.9%
103	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	199	-62.2%
104	Modesto, CA Estimated	198	-33.6%
105	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	195	-26.1%
106	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	194	-0.5%
107	Westminster, CA Estimated	192	+44.4%
108	Gilroy, CA Estimated	191	-51.2%
109	Cypress, CA Estimated	190	+9.8%
109	Shafter, CA Estimated	190	+38.7%
111	Duarte, CA Estimated	186	n/a
112	Azusa, CA Estimated	185	+4.5%
112	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	185	+13.5%
112	Encinitas, CA Estimated	185	+17.8%
112	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	185	+34.1%
116	Danville, CA Estimated	184	+666.7%
117	Imperial, CA Estimated	178	-4.3%
118	Truckee, CA Estimated	177	-30%
119	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	175	+0.6%
120	Madera, CA Estimated	171	-3.9%
121	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	165	+36.4%
122	National City, CA Estimated	163	+8.7%
123	Perris, CA Estimated	157	+36.5%
124	Goleta, CA Estimated	154	+250%
125	Palmdale, CA Estimated	153	+135.4%
126	El Cajon, CA Estimated	151	+49.5%
127	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	149	+55.2%
127	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	149	-45.6%
129	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	147	-7%
130	Santa Paula, CA Estimated	146	+4,766.7%
131	Arcadia, CA Estimated	145	+61.1%
132	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	144	+56.5%
133	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	142	-41.6%
134	Claremont, CA Estimated	140	+100%
134	Oxnard, CA Estimated	140	+21.7%
136	La Quinta, CA Estimated	139	-30.8%
137	Santee, CA Estimated	135	-14%
138	Kerman, CA Estimated	132	+43.5%
139	Fountain Valley, CA Estimated	130	+1,081.8%
140	Turlock, CA Estimated	127	+182.2%
141	Alhambra, CA Estimated	126	+270.6%
142	Novato, CA Estimated	124	+100%
143	Arvin, CA Estimated	121	+13.1%
144	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	116	-0.9%
145	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	114	-62%
145	Stanton, CA Estimated	114	+119.2%
147	Redlands, CA Estimated	113	+22.8%
148	Brawley, CA Estimated	112	+20.4%
148	Porterville, CA Estimated	112	+36.6%
150	Watsonville, CA Estimated	110	+2.8%
151	Pomona, CA Estimated	108	-63%
151	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	108	-38.3%
153	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	107	-25.7%
154	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	105	+32.9%
154	Dixon, CA Estimated	105	+20.7%
156	Livermore, CA Estimated	102	-67.8%
156	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	102	-7.3%
158	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	99	-26.7%
158	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	99	+35.6%
160	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	98	-19%
161	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	97	+10.2%
162	Salinas, CA Estimated	96	-41.1%
163	Los Banos, CA Estimated	95	-66.5%
164	Fillmore, CA Estimated	94	+64.9%
164	San Ramon, CA Estimated	94	-41.3%
166	Dana Point, CA Estimated	92	+8.2%
167	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	91	+5.8%
168	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	89	+12.7%
169	El Monte, CA Estimated	87	-71%
170	El Centro, CA Estimated	86	-14%
171	Windsor, CA Estimated	85	+2,025%
172	Kingsburg, CA Estimated	84	+366.7%
172	Rosemead, CA Estimated	84	-12.5%
174	Lemoore, CA Estimated	82	-2.4%
175	Torrance, CA Estimated	81	+84.1%
176	Wasco, CA Estimated	80	-74.4%
177	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	76	-67.7%
177	Hemet, CA Estimated	76	+20.6%
177	Temple City, CA Estimated	76	-8.4%
180	San Fernando, CA Estimated	75	+200%
181	Poway, CA Estimated	74	+428.6%
182	Daly City, CA Estimated	72	+300%
182	Oroville, CA Estimated	72	+700%
182	Ripon, CA Estimated	72	-47.8%
182	Shasta Lake, CA Estimated	72	+100%
182	Soledad, CA Estimated	72	0%
182	Sonoma, CA Estimated	72	+111.8%
188	Atascadero, CA Estimated	71	+144.8%
189	Coalinga, CA Estimated	70	+66.7%
189	Delano, CA Estimated	70	-72.3%
191	Cupertino, CA Estimated	68	+6.3%
192	Livingston, CA Estimated	67	-35%
193	Colton, CA Estimated	65	-20.7%
194	Petaluma, CA Estimated	64	+14.3%
195	Adelanto, CA Estimated	63	+293.8%
195	Bell, CA Estimated	63	+16.7%
195	Oakdale, CA Estimated	63	-4.5%
198	Highland, CA Estimated	62	-4.6%
199	Ceres, CA Estimated	61	+64.9%
200	Galt, CA Estimated	57	+21.3%
200	West Covina, CA Estimated	57	+533.3%
202	Newman, CA Estimated	56	0%
202	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	56	-40.4%
204	Saratoga, CA Estimated	54	+35%
204	Vallejo, CA Estimated	54	+5.9%
206	Los Altos, CA Estimated	53	-18.5%
207	Grass Valley, CA Estimated	52	+477.8%
207	Parlier, CA Estimated	52	-31.6%
207	Sanger, CA Estimated	52	-14.8%
210	Campbell, CA Estimated	51	-26.1%
210	Corcoran, CA Estimated	51	+1,600%
212	Grover Beach, CA Estimated	50	+72.4%
212	Richmond, CA Estimated	50	-87%
214	El Cerrito, CA Estimated	49	+2,350%
214	Patterson, CA Estimated	49	0%
214	Yuba City, CA Estimated	49	+75%
217	San Clemente, CA Estimated	45	-59.1%
218	Burbank, CA Estimated	43	+152.9%
218	Gardena, CA Estimated	43	-58.3%
220	Compton, CA Estimated	42	+162.5%
220	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	42	-4.5%
220	Rialto, CA Estimated	42	-67.7%
220	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	42	-4.5%
224	Glendora, CA Estimated	41	-18%
225	Anderson, CA Estimated	39	+34.5%
225	Whittier, CA Estimated	39	+457.1%
227	Concord, CA Estimated	38	+90%
227	Davis, CA Estimated	38	-88.3%
227	San Leandro, CA Estimated	38	+1,800%
227	South El Monte, CA Estimated	38	+442.9%
231	Downey, CA Estimated	36	-35.7%
231	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	36	-67%
231	San Carlos, CA Estimated	36	+125%
234	Mill Valley, CA Estimated	35	+40%
235	Carpinteria, CA Estimated	34	+750%
235	Marina, CA Estimated	34	-83.4%
237	San Bruno, CA Estimated	33	+266.7%
237	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	33	-36.5%
239	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	32	-8.6%
239	Coronado, CA Estimated	32	-15.8%
241	Culver City, CA Estimated	31	-87.4%
241	Hawthorne, CA Estimated	31	-36.7%
241	Lakewood, CA Estimated	31	+14.8%
241	Morro Bay, CA Estimated	31	-20.5%
241	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	31	-49.2%
246	La Habra, CA Estimated	29	-12.1%
246	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	29	-6.5%
248	Arcata, CA Estimated	27	-86.9%
249	Healdsburg, CA Estimated	26	+8.3%
249	Los Alamitos, CA Estimated	26	+160%

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 2019 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/we2019a.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. (2020). 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, 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2019a.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, 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2020, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2019a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2019. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2020. 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, 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2019a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2019.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2020) 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, 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2019a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2019,
  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, 2019}},
  year = {2020},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2019a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2019. 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/we2019a.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, 2019
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/05/01
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2019a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2019.
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/we2019a.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 14,387 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Sierra Madre, CA, with 0 in 2019.

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 2019 and are not ranked.