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 2017, at 2,360. Sierra Madre, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 40. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest2,360Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Sierra Madre, CA

Median40369 cities

Top 40 cities, 2017

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	2017 count	Change on 2016
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	2,360	+31.4%
2	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,728	+69.9%
3	Irvine, CA Estimated	1,715	+17.4%
4	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,542	+15.2%
5	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,191	+38.2%
6	San Diego, CA Estimated	1,138	+38.3%
7	Dublin, CA Estimated	966	+59.4%
8	Clovis, CA Estimated	766	-29.5%
9	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	763	+48.7%
10	Beaumont, CA Estimated	741	+64.7%
11	Rocklin, CA Estimated	722	+28.7%
12	Menifee, CA Estimated	717	+26.9%
13	Fresno, CA Estimated	680	-32.3%
14	Manteca, CA Estimated	660	+11.3%
15	Ontario, CA Estimated	649	+44.9%
16	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	614	+19.9%
17	Chino, CA Estimated	590	+59.5%
18	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	564	-3.6%
19	Fontana, CA Estimated	562	+22.7%
20	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	533	+519.8%
21	Hollister, CA Estimated	519	+56.8%
22	Visalia, CA Estimated	517	-15.7%
23	Brentwood, CA Estimated	506	-9.5%
24	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	451	+351%
25	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	440	+2.6%
26	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	416	+77.8%
27	Hayward, CA Estimated	414	-12.7%
28	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	402	-11.6%
29	San Marcos, CA Estimated	395	+393.8%
30	Milpitas, CA Estimated	383	+268.3%
31	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	377	+216.8%
32	Eastvale, CA Estimated	352	+6%
33	Indio, CA Estimated	350	+44.6%
34	Camarillo, CA Estimated	346	+186%
35	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	343	+23.8%
36	Fremont, CA Estimated	326	-21.3%
37	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	320	+58.4%
38	Tulare, CA Estimated	310	+1.6%
39	Livermore, CA Estimated	308	+18%
39	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	308	+440.4%
41	Lathrop, CA Estimated	276	+86.5%
41	Vacaville, CA Estimated	276	-18.1%
43	Chico, CA Estimated	273	-3.2%
44	Los Banos, CA Estimated	270	-17.9%
45	Fairfield, CA Estimated	268	+33.3%
46	Stockton, CA Estimated	261	+15%
47	Tracy, CA Estimated	255	-10.8%
48	Gilroy, CA Estimated	244	-21.8%
48	Newark, CA Estimated	244	-10.6%
50	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	237	+60.1%
51	Escondido, CA Estimated	235	+190.1%
52	Hesperia, CA Estimated	232	+69.3%
52	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	232	+123.1%
54	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	217	-33.4%
55	Modesto, CA Estimated	213	+63.8%
56	Riverside, CA Estimated	208	-5%
57	Murrieta, CA Estimated	200	+39.9%
58	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	197	+32.2%
59	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	196	+27.3%
60	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	189	+54.9%
61	Hanford, CA Estimated	183	-43.9%
62	Lincoln, CA Estimated	181	-16.6%
62	Pomona, CA Estimated	181	+141.3%
64	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	178	+7.2%
65	San Jose, CA Estimated	177	-20.3%
66	Perris, CA Estimated	176	+12.1%
67	Marina, CA Estimated	162	+118.9%
67	Mountain View, CA Estimated	162	+51.4%
67	Oakley, CA Estimated	162	-45.1%
70	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	160	+30.1%
71	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	158	+8.2%
72	Lodi, CA Estimated	157	-16.9%
73	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	154	+0.7%
73	Santee, CA Estimated	154	+92.5%
73	Victorville, CA Estimated	154	+33.9%
76	Redding, CA Estimated	149	+12%
77	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	146	+5.8%
78	Shafter, CA Estimated	143	-0.7%
79	Folsom, CA Estimated	139	-8.6%
80	Downey, CA Estimated	138	+213.6%
81	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	137	-18.5%
82	Brea, CA Estimated	134	-2.2%
83	Oakland, CA Estimated	132	-30.5%
83	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	132	-3.6%
85	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	130	-21.7%
86	Cypress, CA Estimated	128	-3.8%
87	Davis, CA Estimated	123	-28.9%
87	Woodland, CA Estimated	123	-53.2%
89	Lancaster, CA Estimated	121	+33%
90	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	119	+10.2%
90	Wasco, CA Estimated	119	-7.8%
92	Imperial, CA Estimated	117	-20.9%
93	Madera, CA Estimated	116	-37.3%
94	Encinitas, CA Estimated	115	+35.3%
94	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	115	+35.3%
96	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	114	-10.2%
97	Corona, CA Estimated	113	+71.2%
97	La Quinta, CA Estimated	113	+10.8%
99	La Habra, CA Estimated	111	+825%
99	Oakdale, CA Estimated	111	+1.8%
101	Oxnard, CA Estimated	108	+12.5%
101	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	108	+16.1%
101	Truckee, CA Estimated	108	+17.4%
104	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	106	-8.6%
105	Oceanside, CA Estimated	105	+303.8%
106	Long Beach, CA Estimated	104	+372.7%
107	Glendora, CA Estimated	101	-53.7%
108	Palmdale, CA Estimated	97	-42.6%
109	Arcadia, CA Estimated	95	+26.7%
110	Newman, CA Estimated	94	+100%
110	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	94	+51.6%
112	Redlands, CA Estimated	92	+142.1%
112	Temple City, CA Estimated	92	+9.5%
114	Adelanto, CA Estimated	90	+1,400%
115	Arvin, CA Estimated	86	+132.4%
115	Temecula, CA Estimated	86	-46.6%
117	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	85	+93.2%
118	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	83	+22.1%
118	Wildomar, CA Estimated	83	-52%
120	San Clemente, CA Estimated	82	-18.8%
120	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	82	+12.3%
120	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	82	-19.6%
123	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	79	-37.3%
124	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	77	+755.6%
124	Upland, CA Estimated	77	+16.7%
126	Azusa, CA Estimated	76	+20.6%
127	Merced, CA Estimated	74	+5.7%
128	Anaheim, CA Estimated	72	-44.2%
128	Dinuba, CA Estimated	72	+242.9%
128	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	72	-4%
128	San Mateo, CA Estimated	72	+5.9%
132	Rosemead, CA Estimated	70	+125.8%
133	Concord, CA Estimated	69	+360%
133	Galt, CA Estimated	69	-48.5%
133	Soledad, CA Estimated	69	-25.8%
136	Delano, CA Estimated	67	+97.1%
136	Highland, CA Estimated	67	-24.7%
138	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	66	+37.5%
139	Anderson, CA Estimated	63	+110%
139	Livingston, CA Estimated	63	+85.3%
139	Moorpark, CA Estimated	63	-25.9%
139	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	63	+5%
143	Rialto, CA Estimated	61	n/a
144	Yuba City, CA Estimated	59	+5.4%
145	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	58	+13.7%
146	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	57	+137.5%
147	Lemoore, CA Estimated	55	-65.4%
147	Suisun City, CA Estimated	55	n/a
147	Westminster, CA Estimated	55	-38.2%
150	Buena Park, CA Estimated	54	-27%
150	Fillmore, CA Estimated	54	-12.9%
152	Atascadero, CA Estimated	53	+381.8%
152	Cupertino, CA Estimated	53	-7%
152	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	53	+65.6%
155	Watsonville, CA Estimated	52	+6.1%
156	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	51	+64.5%
157	Alhambra, CA Estimated	50	+117.4%
157	El Cajon, CA Estimated	50	-51%
159	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	48	-33.3%
160	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	47	+20.5%
160	Brawley, CA Estimated	47	-11.3%
160	Culver City, CA Estimated	47	+1,466.7%
160	Patterson, CA Estimated	47	+6.8%
160	Porterville, CA Estimated	47	+9.3%
165	Alameda, CA Estimated	46	-22%
165	Campbell, CA Estimated	46	-28.1%
165	Coalinga, CA Estimated	46	+4,500%
165	Dixon, CA Estimated	46	+7%
165	Napa, CA Estimated	46	-62.3%
170	Antioch, CA Estimated	45	+7.1%
170	Gardena, CA Estimated	45	-52.6%
172	Chowchilla, CA Estimated	44	+193.3%
172	Montclair, CA Estimated	44	+25.7%
172	Walnut, CA Estimated	44	-39.7%
175	Calimesa, CA Estimated	43	-17.3%
175	San Francisco, CA Estimated	43	-65%
175	Vallejo, CA Estimated	43	+10.3%
178	Goleta, CA Estimated	42	+1,300%
179	Dana Point, CA Estimated	41	-6.8%
179	Hercules, CA Estimated	41	+36.7%
179	Kerman, CA Estimated	41	-55.4%
179	Los Altos, CA Estimated	41	-21.2%
183	Auburn, CA Estimated	40	+90.5%
183	Orange, CA Estimated	40	+300%
183	Torrance, CA Estimated	40	+25%
183	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	40	+5.3%
187	Claremont, CA Estimated	39	-7.1%
187	Montebello, CA Estimated	39	+3,800%
187	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	39	-30.4%
187	Shasta Lake, CA Estimated	39	+39.3%
187	South Lake Tahoe, CA Estimated	39	+11.4%
192	Vista, CA Estimated	38	-62%
193	Mission Viejo, CA Estimated	37	+15.6%
193	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	37	+640%
195	Berkeley, CA Estimated	36	+125%
196	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	35	+20.7%
197	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	34	-41.4%
197	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	34	+88.9%
199	Coronado, CA Estimated	33	-40%
200	Redwood City, CA Estimated	32	0%
201	La Mirada, CA Estimated	31	n/a
201	Laguna Beach, CA Estimated	31	+47.6%
203	Bellflower, CA Estimated	30	-26.8%
203	Pasadena, CA Estimated	30	-9.1%
203	Union City, CA Estimated	30	+2,900%
206	Ripon, CA Estimated	29	-19.4%
207	Tehachapi, CA Estimated	27	+58.8%
208	King City, CA Estimated	26	-33.3%
208	Lynwood, CA Estimated	26	+333.3%
208	Monrovia, CA Estimated	26	+52.9%
208	Salinas, CA Estimated	26	+1,200%
212	El Segundo, CA Estimated	25	n/a
212	La Verne, CA Estimated	25	+66.7%
212	Paradise, CA Estimated	25	+38.9%
215	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	24	-48.9%
215	Selma, CA Estimated	24	-17.2%
215	Signal Hill, CA Estimated	24	+700%
218	El Monte, CA Estimated	23	-69.7%
218	Kingsburg, CA Estimated	23	-54.9%
218	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	23	-54.9%
218	McFarland, CA Estimated	23	-76.3%
222	Lindsay, CA Estimated	22	-15.4%
222	Morro Bay, CA Estimated	22	+37.5%
224	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	21	-52.3%
224	Fullerton, CA Estimated	21	-16%
224	Imperial Beach, CA Estimated	21	+50%
224	Red Bluff, CA Estimated	21	-12.5%
224	Sanger, CA Estimated	21	-36.4%
224	Saratoga, CA Estimated	21	0%
224	Turlock, CA Estimated	21	-53.3%
231	Carson, CA Estimated	20	+122.2%
231	Daly City, CA Estimated	20	-80.6%
231	Mill Valley, CA Estimated	20	+400%
231	Solana Beach, CA Estimated	20	+25%
235	Colton, CA Estimated	19	+375%
235	Palos Verdes Estates, CA Estimated	19	+26.7%
237	Arcata, CA Estimated	18	+50%
237	Citrus Heights, CA Estimated	18	+20%
237	Half Moon Bay, CA Estimated	18	+12.5%
237	Parlier, CA Estimated	18	0%
237	Petaluma, CA Estimated	18	-82.4%
242	Burbank, CA Estimated	17	+6.3%
242	Ceres, CA Estimated	17	-19%
242	Richmond, CA Estimated	17	-74.2%
242	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	17	-72.1%
242	Tustin, CA Estimated	17	-87.7%
247	Danville, CA Estimated	16	-5.9%
247	Fountain Valley, CA Estimated	16	+100%
247	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	16	-52.9%
247	South Gate, CA Estimated	16	+45.5%

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 2017 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/we2017a.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. (2018). 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, 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2017a.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, 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2018, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2017a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2017. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2018. 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, 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2017a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2017.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2018) 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, 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2017a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2017,
  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, 2017}},
  year = {2018},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2017a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2017. 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/we2017a.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, 2017
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/05/01
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2017a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2017.
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/we2017a.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 2,360 in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Sierra Madre, CA, with 0 in 2017.

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 2017 and are not ranked.