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 2022, at 16,707. Ukiah, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 87 and the figure for California was 120,780. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest16,707Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Ukiah, CA

Median87368 cities

California120,780History

Top 40 cities, 2022

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2022 count	Change on 2021
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	16,707	+18.6%
2	San Diego, CA Estimated	4,422	-7.6%
3	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	2,543	+521.8%
4	Fresno, CA Estimated	2,095	-3.8%
5	Sacramento, CA Estimated	2,054	-33.4%
6	San Francisco, CA Estimated	2,014	-20%
7	San Jose, CA Estimated	2,003	+204.4%
8	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,802	-4.3%
9	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,780	+53.2%
10	Mountain View, CA Estimated	1,565	+425.2%
11	Irvine, CA Estimated	1,492	-36.8%
12	Oakland, CA Estimated	1,443	+6.8%
13	Visalia, CA Estimated	1,251	+48.9%
14	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	1,197	-17.5%
15	Fontana, CA Estimated	1,130	+7.4%
16	Fremont, CA Estimated	1,080	+50.2%
17	Ontario, CA Estimated	1,071	+21.4%
18	Folsom, CA Estimated	1,061	+11.8%
19	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	1,034	-41.1%
20	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	1,029	+5.8%
21	Lathrop, CA Estimated	972	+3.7%
22	Napa, CA Estimated	956	-2.1%
23	Glendale, CA Estimated	936	+460.5%
24	Manteca, CA Estimated	932	+31.1%
25	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	925	-33.9%
26	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	924	+883%
27	Menifee, CA Estimated	904	-28.5%
28	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	831	+40.4%
29	Lincoln, CA Estimated	826	-18.7%
30	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	821	+374.6%
31	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	812	-4.6%
32	Indio, CA Estimated	808	+9.5%
33	Chico, CA Estimated	804	+4.6%
34	Berkeley, CA Estimated	795	+151.6%
35	Beaumont, CA Estimated	790	+78.7%
36	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	767	+38.9%
37	Monrovia, CA Estimated	731	+1,524.4%
38	Murrieta, CA Estimated	727	+65.2%
39	Clovis, CA Estimated	721	-30.5%
40	Anaheim, CA Estimated	672	-26.9%
41	Temecula, CA Estimated	671	+33.4%
42	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	581	+3.2%
43	Victorville, CA Estimated	578	-10%
44	Merced, CA Estimated	568	-21.4%
45	Paradise, CA Estimated	559	-26.8%
45	Rocklin, CA Estimated	559	-14.9%
47	Chino, CA Estimated	538	-6.4%
48	San Marcos, CA Estimated	523	+56.1%
49	Tracy, CA Estimated	519	-45.8%
50	Oceanside, CA Estimated	518	+5.5%
51	La Quinta, CA Estimated	501	+95.7%
52	Long Beach, CA Estimated	494	-45.6%
53	Stockton, CA Estimated	493	-42.3%
54	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	484	+830.8%
55	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	479	-23.7%
56	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	472	-21.6%
57	Pomona, CA Estimated	467	+289.2%
58	Tulare, CA Estimated	450	+184.8%
59	Riverside, CA Estimated	419	-52.5%
60	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	412	+162.4%
60	Palmdale, CA Estimated	412	+43.1%
62	Torrance, CA Estimated	397	+451.4%
63	Hayward, CA Estimated	390	+16.8%
64	Newark, CA Estimated	383	-3.8%
65	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	381	-6.8%
66	Hesperia, CA Estimated	372	+47%
67	Woodland, CA Estimated	362	+133.5%
68	Vacaville, CA Estimated	350	-41.1%
69	Marina, CA Estimated	344	+55.7%
70	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	329	+4.4%
71	Burlingame, CA Estimated	328	-26.5%
72	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	318	+43.9%
73	Duarte, CA Estimated	312	-9.8%
74	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	310	-19.1%
75	Dixon, CA Estimated	308	+144.4%
76	Fairfield, CA Estimated	298	-18.4%
77	Antioch, CA Estimated	296	-56.1%
77	Highland, CA Estimated	296	+854.8%
77	Inglewood, CA Estimated	296	+87.3%
80	Hanford, CA Estimated	291	+0.3%
81	Madera, CA Estimated	289	+15.1%
82	San Leandro, CA Estimated	285	+427.8%
83	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	283	+3.3%
83	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	283	-40.7%
85	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	277	+443.1%
85	Lodi, CA Estimated	277	-22.4%
87	Modesto, CA Estimated	271	-12.9%
88	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	266	+343.3%
89	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	263	-8.7%
90	Poway, CA Estimated	258	+230.8%
91	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	244	-10.3%
92	Oakley, CA Estimated	239	-51%
92	Tustin, CA Estimated	239	+602.9%
94	Redding, CA Estimated	237	+17.9%
94	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	237	+102.6%
96	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	231	+42.6%
97	Hollister, CA Estimated	229	-42.2%
98	Escondido, CA Estimated	228	-47.2%
99	Oroville, CA Estimated	226	-10.7%
100	San Ramon, CA Estimated	223	+150.6%
101	Milpitas, CA Estimated	221	+10%
102	Gilroy, CA Estimated	219	-11.7%
103	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	216	-41%
104	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	214	+74%
105	Shafter, CA Estimated	211	-41.9%
106	Brentwood, CA Estimated	208	-72%
107	Rosemead, CA Estimated	201	+39.6%
108	Porterville, CA Estimated	200	-11.9%
109	Gardena, CA Estimated	198	+209.4%
110	Alameda, CA Estimated	197	-68.1%
111	Lynwood, CA Estimated	194	+98%
112	Perris, CA Estimated	188	-6.5%
113	Lancaster, CA Estimated	184	-72.8%
114	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	183	-43.3%
115	Arcadia, CA Estimated	181	-8.1%
115	Westminster, CA Estimated	181	+42.5%
117	Belmont, CA Estimated	179	+4,375%
118	South Gate, CA Estimated	178	-59.7%
119	Dublin, CA Estimated	176	-77.1%
120	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	175	-16.3%
121	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	173	+981.3%
121	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	173	-6.5%
121	Upland, CA Estimated	173	+54.5%
121	Vista, CA Estimated	173	+82.1%
125	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	167	-19.3%
125	Santa Paula, CA Estimated	167	-20.5%
127	Greenfield, CA Estimated	163	+20.7%
128	Brawley, CA Estimated	162	-28.6%
129	Hemet, CA Estimated	160	-26.9%
130	Encinitas, CA Estimated	159	+20.5%
130	Soledad, CA Estimated	159	+169.5%
132	Santee, CA Estimated	158	+12.1%
133	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	157	-15.6%
133	Downey, CA Estimated	157	+29.8%
133	Oxnard, CA Estimated	157	-54.8%
136	Coalinga, CA Estimated	156	n/a
137	Burbank, CA Estimated	155	-33.8%
138	Banning, CA Estimated	153	-27.8%
139	South San Francisco, CA Estimated	151	+2.7%
140	Camarillo, CA Estimated	150	-2.6%
141	Calexico, CA Estimated	146	+124.6%
142	Montebello, CA Estimated	145	-21.6%
143	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	141	-7.8%
144	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	140	-47.6%
145	Concord, CA Estimated	139	+124.2%
145	Imperial, CA Estimated	139	-9.7%
145	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	139	+7.8%
148	Carson, CA Estimated	136	+142.9%
149	Azusa, CA Estimated	134	-8.2%
149	National City, CA Estimated	134	+61.4%
151	Saratoga, CA Estimated	132	+46.7%
152	Truckee, CA Estimated	131	+12.9%
152	Watsonville, CA Estimated	131	-9%
154	Redlands, CA Estimated	130	-66.8%
155	Compton, CA Estimated	126	+137.7%
156	Wasco, CA Estimated	124	+87.9%
157	Kingsburg, CA Estimated	120	+344.4%
157	Wildomar, CA Estimated	120	+130.8%
159	Citrus Heights, CA Estimated	118	-45.1%
160	Alhambra, CA Estimated	117	-46.3%
161	West Covina, CA Estimated	116	+427.3%
162	Laguna Niguel, CA Estimated	115	-40.1%
163	Whittier, CA Estimated	114	-54.9%
164	Placentia, CA Estimated	113	-76.5%
165	American Canyon, CA Estimated	109	-42.6%
166	Coachella, CA Estimated	105	-11.8%
167	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	103	-24.8%
168	Cupertino, CA Estimated	102	+52.2%
168	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	102	+43.7%
168	South Lake Tahoe, CA Estimated	102	+466.7%
171	McFarland, CA Estimated	101	+4,950%
172	Riverbank, CA Estimated	99	+94.1%
173	Pasadena, CA Estimated	96	-70.9%
174	Galt, CA Estimated	94	-21%
174	Los Banos, CA Estimated	94	-17.5%
174	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	94	-32.4%
174	Walnut, CA Estimated	94	+248.1%
178	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	91	-38.1%
178	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	91	+65.5%
180	Glendora, CA Estimated	90	+69.8%
180	Petaluma, CA Estimated	90	-18.9%
182	La Mesa, CA Estimated	89	-37.3%
183	El Monte, CA Estimated	87	+13%
183	Reedley, CA Estimated	87	-40.4%
185	Culver City, CA Estimated	86	-21.8%
186	San Fernando, CA Estimated	85	-15.8%
187	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	83	-22.4%
188	Temple City, CA Estimated	82	+24.2%
189	Albany, CA Estimated	81	+710%
189	Chowchilla, CA Estimated	81	+14.1%
189	Kerman, CA Estimated	81	+47.3%
192	Laguna Beach, CA Estimated	78	+30%
192	Orange, CA Estimated	78	-40.5%
194	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	76	+85.4%
194	Novato, CA Estimated	76	-7.3%
194	Turlock, CA Estimated	76	-32.7%
197	San Rafael, CA Estimated	75	-6.3%
198	King City, CA Estimated	73	-47.1%
199	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	71	-89.5%
200	Eureka, CA Estimated	69	+165.4%
201	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	67	-70.7%
202	Mission Viejo, CA Estimated	65	-69%
203	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	64	+68.4%
203	Richmond, CA Estimated	64	-31.9%
205	El Cajon, CA Estimated	63	+53.7%
205	El Centro, CA Estimated	63	-14.9%
205	Fountain Valley, CA Estimated	63	-21.3%
208	Colton, CA Estimated	62	+40.9%
209	Atascadero, CA Estimated	61	-52%
209	Salinas, CA Estimated	61	-69.2%
211	Daly City, CA Estimated	60	-67.2%
211	San Mateo, CA Estimated	60	-77.3%
213	San Pablo, CA Estimated	59	+883.3%
214	Fortuna, CA Estimated	58	-6.5%
214	Norwalk, CA Estimated	58	+1,833.3%
214	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	58	+205.3%
217	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	57	-74.1%
217	Healdsburg, CA Estimated	57	-80.3%
217	Windsor, CA Estimated	57	-16.2%
220	San Carlos, CA Estimated	56	+21.7%
221	Hillsborough, CA Estimated	55	+1.9%
221	Pico Rivera, CA Estimated	55	+10%
223	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	52	-65.8%
224	Lindsay, CA Estimated	51	+1,175%
224	Stanton, CA Estimated	51	-88.3%
224	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	51	-38.6%
224	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	51	-73.6%
228	Bellflower, CA Estimated	49	-59.2%
228	Danville, CA Estimated	49	+28.9%
228	El Segundo, CA Estimated	49	+81.5%
228	Redwood City, CA Estimated	49	-74.6%
232	Yuba City, CA Estimated	48	-14.3%
233	Patterson, CA Estimated	47	-20.3%
234	Campbell, CA Estimated	46	-43.9%
234	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	46	+53.3%
234	Corona, CA Estimated	46	-74%
237	Buena Park, CA Estimated	45	-75.3%
237	Los Altos, CA Estimated	45	-66.4%
239	Scotts Valley, CA Estimated	44	+29.4%
240	Martinez, CA Estimated	42	-33.3%
241	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	41	+105%
241	Dinuba, CA Estimated	41	-57.3%
243	San Clemente, CA Estimated	39	-79.4%
243	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	39	+178.6%
245	Livermore, CA Estimated	38	+5.6%
245	Twentynine Palms, CA Estimated	38	+850%
247	El Cerrito, CA Estimated	37	-17.8%
247	La Puente, CA Estimated	37	+76.2%
247	Mill Valley, CA Estimated	37	-21.3%
247	Sanger, CA Estimated	37	-14%

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 2022 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/we2022a.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. (2024). 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, 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2022a.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, 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 2 Apr. 2024, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2022a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2024. 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, 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2022a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2024) 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, 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2022a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2022,
  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, 2022}},
  year = {2024},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2022a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2022. 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/we2022a.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, 2022
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/04/02
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2022a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/california-cities?period=2022.
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/we2022a.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.

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Questions

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

Los Angeles, CA, with 16,707 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Ukiah, CA, with 0 in 2022.

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 2022 and are not ranked.