US cities by housing units authorized by building permits

New York, NY had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 2994 cities in 2015, at 56,183. Zion, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 51 and the figure for the United States was 1.18 million. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest56,183New York, NY

Lowest0Zion, IL

Median512994 cities

United States1,182,582History

Top 40 cities, 2015

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

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2015 count	Change on 2014
1	New York, NY Estimated	56,183	+175%
2	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	16,013	+42.2%
3	Houston, TX Estimated	15,216	-25.1%
4	Dallas, TX Estimated	13,085	+66.6%
5	Seattle, WA Estimated	11,340	+52.3%
6	Austin, TX Estimated	10,104	+7%
7	Denver, CO Estimated	7,901	+32.6%
8	Atlanta, GA Estimated	6,697	+48.7%
9	Miami, FL Estimated	6,490	+71.4%
10	San Diego, CA Estimated	6,185	+125.5%
11	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	6,094	+2.9%
12	Chicago, IL Estimated	5,750	0%
13	Boston, MA Estimated	4,955	+74.4%
14	Irvine, CA Estimated	4,660	+43.5%
15	Phoenix, AZ Estimated	4,611	-10.3%
16	Portland, OR Estimated	4,411	-12.1%
17	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	4,258	+29%
18	El Paso, TX Estimated	4,251	+51.9%
19	McKinney, TX Estimated	4,235	+89.3%
20	Raleigh, NC Estimated	3,958	-15%
21	Columbus, OH Estimated	3,915	+7.5%
22	Frisco, TX Estimated	3,800	+19.2%
23	Philadelphia, PA Estimated	3,666	-7.7%
24	San Francisco, CA Estimated	3,665	+35.2%
25	Oklahoma City, OK Estimated	3,387	-24.1%
26	Tampa, FL Estimated	3,155	+23.5%
27	Kansas City, MO Estimated	3,129	+14.4%
28	San Antonio, TX Estimated	2,993	-46.9%
29	Durham, NC Estimated	2,907	+92%
30	Mesa, AZ Estimated	2,693	+166.6%
31	Jersey City, NJ Estimated	2,658	+21.9%
32	Omaha, NE Estimated	2,633	+7.3%
33	Orlando, FL Estimated	2,586	-9.2%
34	Plano, TX Estimated	2,416	+19.8%
35	Conroe, TX Estimated	2,374	+113.7%
36	Lincoln, NE Estimated	2,353	+31.3%
37	Murfreesboro, TN Estimated	2,305	+32.9%
38	Henderson, NV Estimated	2,165	-4%
39	Chandler, AZ Estimated	2,122	+26.1%
40	Greenville, SC Estimated	2,036	+96.3%
41	San Jose, CA Estimated	2,019	-54.6%
42	Gilbert, AZ Estimated	1,949	+31.3%
43	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,848	+7.5%
44	Pearland, TX Estimated	1,776	-14.5%
45	Lubbock, TX Estimated	1,771	-13.6%
46	Las Vegas, NV Estimated	1,666	+14.7%
47	Madison, WI Estimated	1,665	-0.9%
48	Irving, TX Estimated	1,655	+6.6%
49	Reno, NV Estimated	1,654	+6.2%
50	Carmel, IN Estimated	1,643	+54.1%
51	Peoria, AZ Estimated	1,599	+53.9%
52	Bend, OR Estimated	1,569	+85.2%
53	Sioux Falls, SD Estimated	1,562	-16.8%
54	Richardson, TX Estimated	1,531	+144.2%
55	Huntsville, AL Estimated	1,505	-19.7%
56	Virginia Beach, VA Estimated	1,493	+23.6%
57	Minneapolis, MN Estimated	1,489	-24%
58	Overland Park, KS Estimated	1,486	+58.8%
59	Meridian, ID Estimated	1,470	+16.7%
60	Rochester, MN Estimated	1,466	+201.6%
61	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,463	-11.8%
62	Fargo, ND Estimated	1,428	-34.2%
63	Leander, TX Estimated	1,420	+31.6%
64	Boise City, ID Estimated	1,419	+12.6%
64	Round Rock, TX Estimated	1,419	+78%
66	Grand Prairie, TX Estimated	1,375	+131.9%
67	Little Elm, TX Estimated	1,354	+51.8%
68	Lexington, KY Estimated	1,342	+9.6%
69	Mount Pleasant, SC Estimated	1,341	+0.7%
70	Chesapeake, VA Estimated	1,325	+49.5%
70	St. Petersburg, FL Estimated	1,325	+146.3%
72	Waco, TX Estimated	1,286	+3.3%
73	Georgetown, TX Estimated	1,279	-25.8%
74	Pittsburgh, PA Estimated	1,270	+275.7%
75	Herriman, UT Estimated	1,261	+106.4%
76	Wichita, KS Estimated	1,242	+69.7%
77	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	1,229	+44.8%
78	College Station, TX Estimated	1,210	-21.2%
78	League City, TX Estimated	1,210	-10.9%
80	Salt Lake City, UT Estimated	1,206	+254.7%
81	Goodyear, AZ Estimated	1,194	+41.8%
82	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,187	+322.4%
83	Columbia, MO Estimated	1,170	-1.1%
84	Denton, TX Estimated	1,153	+38.9%
85	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	1,146	+27.1%
86	Albuquerque, NM Estimated	1,142	-19.4%
87	Hollywood, FL Estimated	1,112	+4,954.5%
88	Buckeye, AZ Estimated	1,106	+47.7%
89	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	1,090	+64.4%
90	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,089	-53.5%
91	Springfield, MO Estimated	1,087	-2.6%
91	Vancouver, WA Estimated	1,087	+32.9%
93	Ankeny, IA Estimated	1,061	-10.1%
93	Farmers Branch, TX Estimated	1,061	+3,689.3%
95	Killeen, TX Estimated	1,060	+10.1%
96	Cary, NC Estimated	1,058	-36.9%
97	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	1,052	+215.9%
98	Charleston, SC Estimated	1,045	+6.9%
99	McAllen, TX Estimated	1,038	+70.7%
100	New Brunswick, NJ Estimated	1,033	+41.9%
101	Midland, TX Estimated	1,025	-34%
102	Thornton, CO Estimated	1,022	+171.8%
103	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	1,014	+23.7%
104	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	1,001	-33.5%
105	Anaheim, CA Estimated	1,000	-19.4%
106	Fresno, CA Estimated	994	+8.3%
107	Queen Creek, AZ Estimated	987	+42.4%
108	Aurora, CO Estimated	986	-3.7%
109	Fort Collins, CO Estimated	976	-15.3%
110	Boca Raton, FL Estimated	975	+107.9%
111	Noblesville, IN Estimated	971	+21.5%
112	Roseville, CA Estimated	967	+19.5%
113	Des Moines, IA Estimated	966	+241.3%
114	Prosper, TX Estimated	959	+72.2%
115	Greeley, CO Estimated	941	+19.3%
116	Tempe, AZ Estimated	938	-55.8%
117	Orem, UT Estimated	937	-8.9%
118	Castle Rock, CO Estimated	933	+13.6%
119	Norfolk, VA Estimated	931	+43.2%
120	St. Paul, MN Estimated	923	+86.8%
121	Pompano Beach, FL Estimated	922	+228.1%
122	Kyle, TX Estimated	912	+21.4%
123	Bellevue, WA Estimated	911	-29.5%
124	Cedar Park, TX Estimated	909	+42.3%
125	Dublin, CA Estimated	908	-17.1%
126	Clovis, CA Estimated	899	+48.8%
127	Greensboro, NC Estimated	898	-26.9%
128	Redmond, WA Estimated	896	+86.7%
129	Largo, FL Estimated	891	+352.3%
130	Bentonville, AR Estimated	878	-19.4%
131	Billings, MT Estimated	871	+44%
132	Oakland, CA Estimated	866	+237%
133	Franklin, TN Estimated	864	+7.9%
134	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	859	+4.6%
135	North Port, FL Estimated	851	+52.8%
135	Pflugerville, TX Estimated	851	-2.5%
135	Sparks, NV Estimated	851	+125.7%
138	Chino, CA Estimated	843	+95.6%
139	Anchorage, AK Estimated	834	+8.3%
140	Champaign, IL Estimated	831	-9.1%
141	Spokane, WA Estimated	823	+58.6%
142	Arlington, TX Estimated	821	-5.6%
143	Bluffton, SC Estimated	810	+38.5%
144	Hillsboro, OR Estimated	807	-8.9%
145	Amarillo, TX Estimated	804	-5.7%
146	Doral, FL Estimated	802	+32.6%
147	Flower Mound, TX Estimated	801	+125.6%
148	Suffolk, VA Estimated	798	+129.3%
149	Allen, TX Estimated	796	-40.3%
150	Benton, AR Estimated	790	+287.3%
151	Lawrence, KS Estimated	786	+184.8%
152	Fulshear, TX Estimated	783	+32.9%
153	Bozeman, MT Estimated	780	+16.2%
153	Fuquay-Varina, NC Estimated	780	+56.3%
155	Birmingham, AL Estimated	778	-22.6%
156	Alpharetta, GA Estimated	777	+169.8%
157	Rio Rancho, NM Estimated	775	-5.5%
158	Rowlett, TX Estimated	773	+37.5%
159	Little Rock, AR Estimated	770	-1.2%
160	St. George, UT Estimated	768	-3%
161	South Jordan, UT Estimated	765	-32.3%
162	Fishers, IN Estimated	764	-31.3%
163	Clarksville, TN Estimated	756	-23.4%
164	Wake Forest, NC Estimated	754	+37.6%
165	Federal Way, WA Estimated	744	+33.1%
166	Hoboken, NJ Estimated	743	+56.4%
167	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	740	+33.6%
168	Scottsdale, AZ Estimated	733	-70.9%
169	Arvada, CO Estimated	732	+22.6%
170	Parker, CO Estimated	728	+11.3%
170	Sarasota, FL Estimated	728	+363.7%
172	Fayetteville, NC Estimated	724	+71.2%
173	Lehi, UT Estimated	713	-0.8%
174	Bowling Green, KY Estimated	704	+133.1%
175	Winston-Salem, NC Estimated	703	-10.2%
176	Glendale, CA Estimated	698	+87.1%
177	North Las Vegas, NV Estimated	696	+33.3%
178	Loveland, CO Estimated	693	-10.2%
179	Williston, ND Estimated	691	-57.6%
180	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	689	-36.6%
181	Iowa City, IA Estimated	688	+54.6%
182	Apex, NC Estimated	683	+18.2%
183	Gilroy, CA Estimated	679	+179.4%
184	Olathe, KS Estimated	675	+34.5%
184	Sandy, UT Estimated	675	+34.2%
184	Waukee, IA Estimated	675	+21.8%
187	Homestead, FL Estimated	672	+173.2%
188	Fairfield, CA Estimated	671	+112.3%
189	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	665	+16.5%
190	Bismarck, ND Estimated	664	-41.4%
190	Wentzville, MO Estimated	664	+6.1%
192	Oxford, MS Estimated	659	+39.9%
193	Holly Springs, NC Estimated	657	+61.8%
193	Secaucus, NJ Estimated	657	+4%
195	Lakewood, CO Estimated	653	-45.4%
196	Visalia, CA Estimated	650	+49.4%
197	Norman, OK Estimated	641	-44.5%
198	West Jordan, UT Estimated	640	+75.8%
199	Stamford, CT Estimated	639	+63.4%
200	Aliso Viejo, CA Estimated	637	n/a
201	Hanahan, SC Estimated	635	-13.5%
202	Marana, AZ Estimated	633	-0.9%
203	Detroit, MI Estimated	631	+165.1%
204	Columbus, GA Estimated	616	+5.3%
205	Mount Juliet, TN Estimated	614	-26.5%
205	West Fargo, ND Estimated	614	-37.5%
207	Odessa, TX Estimated	612	+10.1%
208	Chattanooga, TN Estimated	610	-45.9%
209	Surprise, AZ Estimated	609	+90.3%
210	Issaquah, WA Estimated	608	-28.9%
211	Rocklin, CA Estimated	606	+48.5%
212	Fayetteville, AR Estimated	604	-6.9%
212	Somerville, MA Estimated	604	n/a
214	San Marcos, CA Estimated	602	+496%
215	Westfield, IN Estimated	598	-7.6%
216	Johnston, IA Estimated	593	+240.8%
217	Bellingham, WA Estimated	590	+9.1%
218	Tracy, CA Estimated	584	+332.6%
218	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	584	+100%
220	Schertz, TX Estimated	575	+92.3%
221	Smyrna, TN Estimated	568	+80.9%
222	Tuscaloosa, AL Estimated	567	-54%
223	Brownsville, TX Estimated	565	-7.2%
224	Boynton Beach, FL Estimated	564	+1,844.8%
224	Tulsa, OK Estimated	564	-58.7%
226	Corona, CA Estimated	561	-14.2%
227	Tucson, AZ Estimated	560	-61.9%
228	Temple, TX Estimated	554	-10.9%
229	Edinburg, TX Estimated	552	+11.5%
230	Danbury, CT Estimated	551	+73.8%
231	O'Fallon, MO Estimated	550	+24.4%
232	Fort Mill, SC Estimated	549	+117%
232	Newnan, GA Estimated	549	+73.7%
234	St. Louis, MO Estimated	548	-27.7%
235	Rock Hill, SC Estimated	545	-34.7%
236	Edmond, OK Estimated	544	-7%
237	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	541	+469.5%
238	Mankato, MN Estimated	540	+143.2%
239	Beaverton, OR Estimated	539	+75%
240	Owasso, OK Estimated	537	+98.9%
240	Spring Hill, TN Estimated	537	-6.6%
240	Winter Garden, FL Estimated	537	+17.8%
243	Cambridge, MA Estimated	535	+87.7%
244	Ontario, CA Estimated	534	+21.9%
245	Oxnard, CA Estimated	532	+6%
245	West Des Moines, IA Estimated	532	+66.8%
247	Abilene, TX Estimated	531	+91%
248	Montgomery, AL Estimated	528	-7.5%
249	Woodstock, GA Estimated	526	-36.4%
250	Richmond, VA Estimated	523	-5.1%

Showing the top 250 of 2994. 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. 93 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2015 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/Northeast%20Region/ne2015a.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. (2016). Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2015a.txt

MLA 9

Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2015a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2015. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2016. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2015a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2015.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2016) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2015a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_cities_by_housing_2015,
  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: US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2015}},
  year = {2016},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2015a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2015. 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/Northeast\%20Region/ne2015a.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: US cities by housing units authorized by building permits, 2015
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2016/09/30
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/Northeast%20Region/ne2015a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/us-cities?period=2015.
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/Northeast%20Region/ne2015a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

New York, NY, with 56,183 in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Zion, IL, with 0 in 2015.

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. 93 cities have no value for 2015 and are not ranked.