Cities in California by single-family housing units authorized by building permits

Los Angeles, CA had the highest single-family housing units authorized by building permits of 369 cities in 2015, at 1,834. Whittier, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 35. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest1,834Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Whittier, CA

Median35369 cities

Top 40 cities, 2015

count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2015 count	Change on 2014
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	1,834	+10%
2	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,391	+8.9%
3	Irvine, CA Estimated	1,333	-14.8%
4	San Diego, CA Estimated	1,325	+86.1%
5	Roseville, CA Estimated	967	+49.9%
6	Clovis, CA Estimated	852	+41.1%
7	Fresno, CA Estimated	844	+31.7%
8	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	665	+16.5%
9	Visalia, CA Estimated	552	+29.3%
10	Dublin, CA Estimated	529	-35.2%
11	Manteca, CA Estimated	494	+15.7%
12	Brentwood, CA Estimated	486	+2.1%
13	Beaumont, CA Estimated	485	+6.8%
14	Fontana, CA Estimated	456	+35.7%
15	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	452	-7.9%
16	Sacramento, CA Estimated	438	+71.1%
17	Gilroy, CA Estimated	417	+71.6%
18	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	410	+60.8%
19	Menifee, CA Estimated	408	-16.7%
20	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	403	+142.8%
21	Chino, CA Estimated	396	+33.3%
22	Fairfield, CA Estimated	383	+21.2%
23	Rocklin, CA Estimated	380	+27.9%
24	Vacaville, CA Estimated	369	+167.4%
25	Lathrop, CA Estimated	343	+98.3%
26	Livermore, CA Estimated	334	+370.4%
27	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	322	+6.3%
28	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	305	+22%
29	Hayward, CA Estimated	301	+35.6%
30	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	291	+12.8%
30	Ontario, CA Estimated	291	+120.5%
32	Tulare, CA Estimated	278	+36.9%
33	Eastvale, CA Estimated	276	-35.5%
34	Indio, CA Estimated	273	-47.2%
35	Chico, CA Estimated	256	+27.4%
36	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	253	-18.6%
37	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	251	+15.7%
38	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	247	-12.7%
39	Folsom, CA Estimated	246	-18%
40	Oakley, CA Estimated	235	+221.9%
41	Lincoln, CA Estimated	233	-18.5%
42	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	229	+28.7%
43	Riverside, CA Estimated	222	-3.5%
44	Hanford, CA Estimated	215	+76.2%
45	Fremont, CA Estimated	206	-20.2%
45	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	206	+119.1%
47	Tracy, CA Estimated	193	+43%
48	Redding, CA Estimated	191	+70.5%
49	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	189	-3.6%
50	Moorpark, CA Estimated	183	+2.8%
51	Murrieta, CA Estimated	182	+1,037.5%
52	Shafter, CA Estimated	181	+72.4%
53	Buena Park, CA Estimated	176	+17,500%
54	La Quinta, CA Estimated	173	-0.6%
55	Stockton, CA Estimated	157	+106.6%
56	San Jose, CA Estimated	155	-59.6%
56	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	155	+19.2%
58	Woodland, CA Estimated	153	+19.5%
59	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	151	+22.8%
59	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	151	+8.6%
61	Madera, CA Estimated	145	-7.1%
62	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	143	+40.2%
62	Temecula, CA Estimated	143	-38.9%
64	Encinitas, CA Estimated	142	-9.6%
65	Perris, CA Estimated	141	+18.5%
66	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	132	+187%
67	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	131	+151.9%
68	Lemoore, CA Estimated	128	+21.9%
69	Hollister, CA Estimated	121	+59.2%
69	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	121	-37.6%
71	Alameda, CA Estimated	118	+2,260%
71	Vista, CA Estimated	118	+118.5%
73	San Clemente, CA Estimated	117	+82.8%
73	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	117	+108.9%
73	Temple City, CA Estimated	117	+12.5%
76	Adelanto, CA Estimated	116	+241.2%
77	Dinuba, CA Estimated	115	+379.2%
78	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	114	+159.1%
79	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	113	+101.8%
79	Wildomar, CA Estimated	113	+3,666.7%
81	San Mateo, CA Estimated	112	+16.7%
82	Azusa, CA Estimated	111	-62.6%
83	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	110	-12%
84	Daly City, CA Estimated	109	+1,111.1%
84	Oakland, CA Estimated	109	+34.6%
84	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	109	+25.3%
87	Brea, CA Estimated	107	-16.4%
87	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	107	+167.5%
87	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	107	-48.6%
90	El Cajon, CA Estimated	105	+275%
90	Tustin, CA Estimated	105	+3,400%
92	Novato, CA Estimated	104	+15.6%
93	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	103	+3,333.3%
94	West Covina, CA Estimated	101	+461.1%
95	Hesperia, CA Estimated	100	+33.3%
95	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	100	+4.2%
95	Palmdale, CA Estimated	100	+138.1%
98	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	99	+17.9%
98	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	99	-46.2%
100	Napa, CA Estimated	98	+292%
101	Newark, CA Estimated	97	+273.1%
102	Lancaster, CA Estimated	95	+2.2%
103	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	94	+20.5%
104	Milpitas, CA Estimated	92	-27.6%
104	Oakdale, CA Estimated	92	+21.1%
106	Hemet, CA Estimated	91	-34.1%
106	San Marcos, CA Estimated	91	-4.2%
108	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	90	-58.1%
108	Glendora, CA Estimated	90	+2,150%
110	Oxnard, CA Estimated	89	+25.4%
111	Camarillo, CA Estimated	88	-3.3%
112	Victorville, CA Estimated	83	+80.4%
113	Dixon, CA Estimated	80	+247.8%
114	Davis, CA Estimated	79	+777.8%
115	McFarland, CA Estimated	78	+21.9%
116	Mountain View, CA Estimated	77	-27.4%
117	Richmond, CA Estimated	76	+850%
117	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	76	+216.7%
119	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	75	+240.9%
119	Truckee, CA Estimated	75	-13.8%
121	Arvin, CA Estimated	72	+22%
121	Lakewood, CA Estimated	72	n/a
121	Wasco, CA Estimated	72	+200%
121	Westminster, CA Estimated	72	+300%
125	Galt, CA Estimated	71	-1.4%
126	Antioch, CA Estimated	68	-18.1%
126	Arcadia, CA Estimated	68	+15.3%
128	Upland, CA Estimated	67	+24.1%
129	San Francisco, CA Estimated	64	+82.9%
130	Danville, CA Estimated	63	+117.2%
131	Selma, CA Estimated	62	+416.7%
132	Atascadero, CA Estimated	61	-56.7%
132	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	61	0%
134	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	59	+3.5%
134	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	59	-3.3%
136	Porterville, CA Estimated	58	+81.3%
136	Redlands, CA Estimated	58	0%
136	Turlock, CA Estimated	58	-38.9%
139	Barstow, CA Estimated	57	+14%
139	Coronado, CA Estimated	57	+54.1%
139	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	57	+14%
142	Merced, CA Estimated	56	+21.7%
142	Petaluma, CA Estimated	56	+273.3%
144	Martinez, CA Estimated	54	+42.1%
144	Ripon, CA Estimated	54	+217.6%
146	East Palo Alto, CA Estimated	53	+2,550%
146	Marina, CA Estimated	53	+381.8%
146	Riverbank, CA Estimated	53	+65.6%
149	Cupertino, CA Estimated	52	+26.8%
149	Monterey Park, CA Estimated	52	+92.6%
151	Imperial, CA Estimated	51	-56%
151	Redwood City, CA Estimated	51	+410%
151	Santa Fe Springs, CA Estimated	51	+750%
151	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	51	+24.4%
155	Campbell, CA Estimated	50	+31.6%
155	Fillmore, CA Estimated	50	+22%
157	Dana Point, CA Estimated	49	+25.6%
157	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	49	0%
159	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	48	-18.6%
159	South El Monte, CA Estimated	48	-40%
161	Union City, CA Estimated	47	+4,600%
162	Salinas, CA Estimated	46	+53.3%
163	Yuba City, CA Estimated	45	-4.3%
164	Brawley, CA Estimated	44	+91.3%
165	Lompoc, CA Estimated	43	+95.5%
165	Placentia, CA Estimated	43	+16.2%
167	Los Altos, CA Estimated	42	+20%
167	Newman, CA Estimated	42	+147.1%
169	Healdsburg, CA Estimated	41	+46.4%
170	Fullerton, CA Estimated	40	-72.8%
171	El Monte, CA Estimated	39	-9.3%
171	Los Banos, CA Estimated	39	+21.9%
171	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	39	+2.6%
171	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	39	-58.9%
171	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	39	+143.8%
171	Watsonville, CA Estimated	39	+25.8%
177	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	38	-60%
178	La Mirada, CA Estimated	37	+5.7%
178	San Pablo, CA Estimated	37	+19.4%
180	Anaheim, CA Estimated	36	-29.4%
180	Corcoran, CA Estimated	36	+20%
180	Oceanside, CA Estimated	36	-58.1%
183	Ceres, CA Estimated	35	-32.7%
183	Paradise, CA Estimated	35	+59.1%
183	Patterson, CA Estimated	35	+20.7%
186	Coachella, CA Estimated	34	-32%
187	Gardena, CA Estimated	33	+50%
187	Stanton, CA Estimated	33	-36.5%
189	Lindsay, CA Estimated	32	+60%
189	Sanger, CA Estimated	32	+100%
191	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	30	0%
191	Kerman, CA Estimated	30	+150%
191	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	30	-3.2%
191	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	30	+328.6%
191	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	30	+114.3%
196	Carson, CA Estimated	29	+3.6%
196	Montclair, CA Estimated	29	+190%
196	Rosemead, CA Estimated	29	+625%
196	South Lake Tahoe, CA Estimated	29	+3.6%
200	Calimesa, CA Estimated	28	-3.4%
200	Corona, CA Estimated	28	-6.7%
200	Grover Beach, CA Estimated	28	+115.4%
200	Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Estimated	28	+250%
204	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	27	-30.8%
204	San Rafael, CA Estimated	27	+2,600%
204	Vallejo, CA Estimated	27	+58.8%
207	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	26	n/a
207	Foster City, CA Estimated	26	n/a
207	Pasadena, CA Estimated	26	+73.3%
210	Bellflower, CA Estimated	25	-65.8%
210	Concord, CA Estimated	25	+257.1%
210	Santee, CA Estimated	25	+525%
213	Anderson, CA Estimated	24	+14.3%
213	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	24	-25%
213	Morro Bay, CA Estimated	24	+140%
216	Claremont, CA Estimated	23	-77.9%
216	La Mesa, CA Estimated	23	-45.2%
216	Placerville, CA Estimated	23	+130%
219	Shasta Lake, CA Estimated	22	+10%
220	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	21	+23.5%
220	Citrus Heights, CA Estimated	21	+16.7%
220	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	21	+162.5%
220	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	21	n/a
224	Arcata, CA Estimated	20	+185.7%
224	Escondido, CA Estimated	20	+17.6%
224	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	20	-9.1%
224	La Habra, CA Estimated	20	+5.3%
224	Lodi, CA Estimated	20	+25%
224	Lomita, CA Estimated	20	+25%
224	Long Beach, CA Estimated	20	-20%
231	Red Bluff, CA Estimated	19	-9.5%
232	Downey, CA Estimated	18	-57.1%
232	La Cañada Flintridge, CA Estimated	18	+157.1%
234	Half Moon Bay, CA Estimated	17	+30.8%
234	Modesto, CA Estimated	17	+41.7%
234	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	17	-5.6%
237	Laguna Beach, CA Estimated	16	-27.3%
237	Sonoma, CA Estimated	16	+128.6%
237	Walnut, CA Estimated	16	+14.3%
240	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	15	-66.7%
240	Colton, CA Estimated	15	-16.7%
240	Greenfield, CA Estimated	15	+87.5%
240	Hillsborough, CA Estimated	15	+7.1%
240	Oroville, CA Estimated	15	-6.3%
245	Burlingame, CA Estimated	14	-26.3%
245	Palos Verdes Estates, CA Estimated	14	+27.3%
247	Bell Gardens, CA Estimated	13	+30%
247	Grand Terrace, CA Estimated	13	+550%
247	Pomona, CA Estimated	13	-62.9%
250	Berkeley, CA Estimated	12	-40%

Showing the top 250 of 369. The Excel download has every row.

Other periods

About this ranking

Annual number of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures (detached and attached single-family homes) authorized by building permits, from the US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.

Part of building_permit_units, which also counts units in buildings with two or more units. Counts housing units, not starts, completions or sales.

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 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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (Cities in California by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt

MLA 9

Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in California by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Cities in California by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2015.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2016) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in California by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2015,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in California by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2015}},
  year = {2016},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2015. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West\%20Region/we2015a.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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in California by single-family 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/West%20Region/we2015a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2015.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2015a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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rank_places {"indicator":"building_permit_single_family_units","level":"municipality","within":"California","limit":10}
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Questions

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

Los Angeles, CA, with 1,834 in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Whittier, CA, 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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 3 cities have no value for 2015 and are not ranked.