Cities in California by housing units authorized by building permits

Los Angeles, CA had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 368 cities in 2020, at 12,292. Tehachapi, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 60 and the figure for California was 106,075. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest12,292Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Tehachapi, CA

Median60368 cities

California106,075History

Top 40 cities, 2020

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2020 count	Change on 2019
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	12,292	-14.6%
2	San Diego, CA Estimated	4,682	+18.8%
3	Sacramento, CA Estimated	3,584	+19.4%
4	Irvine, CA Estimated	2,040	-18.7%
5	San Francisco, CA Estimated	2,004	-37.4%
6	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,738	+18.1%
7	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,636	+34.9%
8	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,576	-2.2%
9	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	1,471	+64.5%
10	Menifee, CA Estimated	1,452	+7.6%
11	San Jose, CA Estimated	1,369	-41.6%
12	Clovis, CA Estimated	1,152	+0.9%
13	Fontana, CA Estimated	1,143	+36.7%
14	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	1,100	+31.1%
15	Paradise, CA Estimated	1,035	+231.7%
16	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	899	+39.8%
17	Tracy, CA Estimated	869	+5.8%
18	Fairfield, CA Estimated	861	+147.4%
19	Long Beach, CA Estimated	840	-27.6%
20	Oakland, CA Estimated	830	-55.4%
21	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	760	-0.5%
22	Merced, CA Estimated	744	+11.4%
23	Napa, CA Estimated	742	+3.9%
24	Ontario, CA Estimated	739	-48.4%
25	Stockton, CA Estimated	736	+58.6%
26	Antioch, CA Estimated	692	+109.7%
27	Manteca, CA Estimated	662	-3.9%
28	Vacaville, CA Estimated	661	+74.9%
29	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	628	-47.2%
30	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	612	-2.5%
31	Visalia, CA Estimated	607	-13.2%
32	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	589	+84.6%
33	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	572	+2%
34	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	569	+60.3%
35	Folsom, CA Estimated	559	-17.9%
36	Lincoln, CA Estimated	546	+110%
37	Lathrop, CA Estimated	541	+27.3%
38	Hayward, CA Estimated	538	-60.1%
39	Mountain View, CA Estimated	536	-19.9%
40	Emeryville, CA Estimated	504	+50,300%
40	Victorville, CA Estimated	504	+14.8%
42	Vista, CA Estimated	500	-7.4%
43	Chico, CA Estimated	497	-39.5%
44	Dublin, CA Estimated	496	+105.8%
45	Indio, CA Estimated	494	+89.3%
46	Pomona, CA Estimated	480	+344.4%
47	Banning, CA Estimated	476	+4,227.3%
48	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	462	+40.4%
49	Newark, CA Estimated	461	+4.1%
49	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	461	-5.7%
51	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	457	+56%
52	Oakley, CA Estimated	456	+74%
53	Anaheim, CA Estimated	449	-32.9%
54	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	447	+12.6%
55	Chino, CA Estimated	440	-17.1%
55	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	440	-13.9%
57	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	430	-36.5%
58	Rocklin, CA Estimated	424	-3.4%
59	Lodi, CA Estimated	423	+5%
60	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	412	-1%
61	Milpitas, CA Estimated	409	+13.9%
62	Millbrae, CA Estimated	400	n/a
63	Hesperia, CA Estimated	396	+1.3%
64	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	363	+41.2%
65	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	349	-19.6%
66	Alameda, CA Estimated	348	-49%
66	Lancaster, CA Estimated	348	+34.9%
68	Riverside, CA Estimated	344	-49.3%
69	Calimesa, CA Estimated	343	+19.9%
70	Berkeley, CA Estimated	339	+27.4%
70	Oxnard, CA Estimated	339	+142.1%
70	Woodland, CA Estimated	339	-12.2%
73	Pasadena, CA Estimated	336	+33.3%
74	Eastvale, CA Estimated	329	+9.3%
75	Whittier, CA Estimated	327	+738.5%
76	Temecula, CA Estimated	324	+45.3%
77	Madera, CA Estimated	323	+88.9%
78	Hollister, CA Estimated	322	-23.7%
79	Tulare, CA Estimated	321	-45%
80	San Marcos, CA Estimated	317	+54.6%
81	National City, CA Estimated	305	+87.1%
82	Fremont, CA Estimated	286	-75.1%
83	Concord, CA Estimated	280	+636.8%
84	Brentwood, CA Estimated	274	-15.2%
85	Beaumont, CA Estimated	271	-49.3%
85	Westminster, CA Estimated	271	+41.1%
87	Shafter, CA Estimated	270	+42.1%
88	La Mesa, CA Estimated	268	+32.7%
89	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	262	+41.6%
90	Escondido, CA Estimated	254	+1,004.3%
91	Corona, CA Estimated	253	-57.3%
92	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	251	+74.3%
93	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	245	+25.6%
94	Lomita, CA Estimated	240	+943.5%
95	Gilroy, CA Estimated	239	+25.1%
96	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	237	-58.9%
96	Palmdale, CA Estimated	237	+54.9%
98	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	224	+15.5%
99	Murrieta, CA Estimated	223	-32%
99	Oceanside, CA Estimated	223	-37.4%
101	Modesto, CA Estimated	217	+9.6%
102	Redding, CA Estimated	214	-27.2%
103	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	210	-44.6%
104	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	206	+102%
105	Salinas, CA Estimated	205	+113.5%
106	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	199	+1,226.7%
107	Goleta, CA Estimated	197	+27.9%
108	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	196	+532.3%
109	Glendale, CA Estimated	194	-3%
110	La Quinta, CA Estimated	190	+36.7%
111	Imperial, CA Estimated	189	+6.2%
112	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	185	+5.7%
112	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	185	+86.9%
114	Santee, CA Estimated	180	+33.3%
115	Porterville, CA Estimated	172	+53.6%
116	El Cerrito, CA Estimated	170	+246.9%
116	Perris, CA Estimated	170	+8.3%
118	Arcadia, CA Estimated	165	+13.8%
119	Adelanto, CA Estimated	163	+158.7%
119	Hanford, CA Estimated	163	-30.6%
121	Santa Paula, CA Estimated	160	+9.6%
122	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	155	+56.6%
122	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	155	+9.2%
124	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	153	+57.7%
125	Burlingame, CA Estimated	147	+635%
125	Inglewood, CA Estimated	147	+488%
127	Stanton, CA Estimated	146	+28.1%
128	Redwood City, CA Estimated	145	-27.9%
128	South Gate, CA Estimated	145	-50.5%
130	Hemet, CA Estimated	142	+86.8%
131	Richmond, CA Estimated	140	+180%
131	Turlock, CA Estimated	140	+10.2%
133	Coachella, CA Estimated	137	+2,183.3%
133	Los Alamitos, CA Estimated	137	+426.9%
135	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	132	-36.5%
136	Davis, CA Estimated	130	+242.1%
137	Burbank, CA Estimated	129	+200%
138	Brawley, CA Estimated	127	+13.4%
139	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	126	-14.3%
139	Santa Fe Springs, CA Estimated	126	n/a
141	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	124	-24.8%
142	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	119	-20.1%
143	El Centro, CA Estimated	118	+37.2%
143	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	118	+3.5%
145	Watsonville, CA Estimated	117	+6.4%
146	Dixon, CA Estimated	115	+9.5%
147	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	110	+4.8%
148	Carson, CA Estimated	108	-48.3%
148	Marina, CA Estimated	108	+217.6%
148	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	108	-41.6%
151	Encinitas, CA Estimated	107	-42.2%
152	La Puente, CA Estimated	106	+488.9%
153	Livingston, CA Estimated	105	+56.7%
154	Los Banos, CA Estimated	104	+9.5%
154	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	104	+258.6%
156	Fillmore, CA Estimated	103	+9.6%
157	Livermore, CA Estimated	99	-2.9%
157	San Fernando, CA Estimated	99	+32%
159	Azusa, CA Estimated	98	-47%
159	Camarillo, CA Estimated	98	-62.3%
161	Truckee, CA Estimated	91	-48.6%
162	Dinuba, CA Estimated	90	-61.9%
162	Lemoore, CA Estimated	90	+9.8%
164	Colton, CA Estimated	87	+33.8%
165	Delano, CA Estimated	85	+21.4%
166	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	81	-9%
167	Redlands, CA Estimated	79	-30.1%
168	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	77	+250%
169	Poway, CA Estimated	76	+2.7%
170	Greenfield, CA Estimated	73	+630%
170	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	73	+30.4%
172	San Ramon, CA Estimated	70	-25.5%
173	Selma, CA Estimated	69	+165.4%
173	Torrance, CA Estimated	69	-14.8%
175	Culver City, CA Estimated	68	+119.4%
176	Saratoga, CA Estimated	67	+24.1%
177	Arcata, CA Estimated	65	+140.7%
177	Bell, CA Estimated	65	+3.2%
179	Oroville, CA Estimated	64	-11.1%
179	Rosemead, CA Estimated	64	-23.8%
181	Gardena, CA Estimated	63	+46.5%
181	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	63	-41.7%
183	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	61	-37.8%
184	Pico Rivera, CA Estimated	60	+361.5%
184	Upland, CA Estimated	60	-87.6%
186	Daly City, CA Estimated	57	-20.8%
186	Downey, CA Estimated	57	+58.3%
188	King City, CA Estimated	55	+189.5%
188	Tustin, CA Estimated	55	-76.9%
190	Alhambra, CA Estimated	54	-57.1%
190	Buena Park, CA Estimated	54	n/a
190	Cudahy, CA Estimated	54	+2,600%
190	Patterson, CA Estimated	54	+10.2%
190	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	54	+28.6%
190	Yuba City, CA Estimated	54	+10.2%
196	El Cajon, CA Estimated	52	-65.6%
197	El Monte, CA Estimated	51	-41.4%
197	Laguna Beach, CA Estimated	51	+131.8%
197	Temple City, CA Estimated	51	-32.9%
200	Wildomar, CA Estimated	50	+614.3%
201	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	49	+53.1%
201	Cupertino, CA Estimated	49	-27.9%
201	Fortuna, CA Estimated	49	+104.2%
201	Los Altos, CA Estimated	49	-7.5%
201	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	49	-87.7%
206	Highland, CA Estimated	48	-22.6%
206	Rialto, CA Estimated	48	+14.3%
208	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	46	-60.3%
208	South El Monte, CA Estimated	46	+21.1%
210	Atascadero, CA Estimated	44	-38%
210	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	44	-42.1%
212	Anderson, CA Estimated	43	+10.3%
213	Bellflower, CA Estimated	42	+121.1%
213	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	42	+16.7%
213	Fullerton, CA Estimated	42	-90.1%
216	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	41	-79.4%
216	San Mateo, CA Estimated	41	-87.9%
218	Dana Point, CA Estimated	40	-56.5%
218	Mill Valley, CA Estimated	40	+14.3%
218	Orange, CA Estimated	40	-90.9%
218	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	40	+21.2%
222	Fountain Valley, CA Estimated	39	-70%
222	Mission Viejo, CA Estimated	39	n/a
224	Novato, CA Estimated	38	-69.4%
225	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	37	+48%
225	Galt, CA Estimated	37	-35.1%
225	Oakdale, CA Estimated	37	-41.3%
228	Campbell, CA Estimated	36	-29.4%
228	Hawthorne, CA Estimated	36	+16.1%
230	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	35	-16.7%
231	Wasco, CA Estimated	34	-57.5%
232	California City, CA Estimated	32	+300%
232	Danville, CA Estimated	32	-82.6%
232	Foster City, CA Estimated	32	+60%
232	Grass Valley, CA Estimated	32	-38.5%
232	La Mirada, CA Estimated	32	+357.1%
232	San Carlos, CA Estimated	32	-11.1%
232	West Covina, CA Estimated	32	-43.9%
239	Eureka, CA Estimated	31	+675%
240	Coronado, CA Estimated	30	-6.3%
240	Imperial Beach, CA Estimated	30	+66.7%
240	Riverbank, CA Estimated	30	+87.5%
240	San Rafael, CA Estimated	30	+200%
244	Montebello, CA Estimated	29	+163.6%
244	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	29	-68.1%
244	Seal Beach, CA Estimated	29	+141.7%
244	Soledad, CA Estimated	29	-59.7%
248	Glendora, CA Estimated	28	-31.7%
249	Vallejo, CA Estimated	27	-50%
249	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	27	-74.8%

Showing the top 250 of 368. 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. 4 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2020 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/we2020a.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. (2021). 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, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2020a.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, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 3 May 2021, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2020a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2020. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2021. 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, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2020a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2020.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2021) 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, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2020a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2020,
  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, 2020}},
  year = {2021},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2020a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2020. 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/we2020a.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, 2020
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/05/03
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2020a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2020.
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/we2020a.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 12,292 in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Tehachapi, CA, with 0 in 2020.

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. 4 cities have no value for 2020 and are not ranked.