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 2018, at 2,636. Seaside, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 39. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest2,636Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Seaside, CA

Median39369 cities

Top 40 cities, 2018

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	2018 count	Change on 2017
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	2,636	+11.7%
2	Irvine, CA Estimated	1,865	+8.7%
3	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	1,632	+603.4%
4	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,610	-6.8%
5	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,061	-31.2%
6	Ontario, CA Estimated	1,056	+62.7%
7	Menifee, CA Estimated	976	+36.1%
8	Clovis, CA Estimated	892	+16.4%
9	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	854	+89.4%
10	Fresno, CA Estimated	821	+20.7%
11	Roseville, CA Estimated	808	-32.2%
12	San Diego, CA Estimated	774	-32%
13	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	693	+72.4%
14	Beaumont, CA Estimated	684	-7.7%
15	Tracy, CA Estimated	644	+152.5%
16	Dublin, CA Estimated	615	-36.3%
17	Rocklin, CA Estimated	585	-19%
18	Visalia, CA Estimated	521	+0.8%
19	Manteca, CA Estimated	516	-21.8%
20	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	515	-3.4%
21	Chino, CA Estimated	437	-25.9%
22	Folsom, CA Estimated	424	+205%
23	Milpitas, CA Estimated	415	+8.4%
24	Fontana, CA Estimated	413	-26.5%
25	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	408	-27.7%
26	Murrieta, CA Estimated	397	+98.5%
27	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	372	-15.5%
28	Hollister, CA Estimated	371	-28.5%
29	Lathrop, CA Estimated	367	+33%
30	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	353	-42.5%
31	Tulare, CA Estimated	350	+12.9%
32	Chico, CA Estimated	341	+24.9%
33	Brentwood, CA Estimated	324	-36%
33	Stockton, CA Estimated	324	+24.1%
35	Indio, CA Estimated	322	-8%
36	Fairfield, CA Estimated	314	+17.2%
37	Hayward, CA Estimated	284	-31.4%
37	Los Banos, CA Estimated	284	+5.2%
39	Newark, CA Estimated	281	+15.2%
40	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	274	+110.8%
40	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	274	-34.1%
42	Victorville, CA Estimated	267	+73.4%
43	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	264	+39.7%
44	Camarillo, CA Estimated	259	-25.1%
45	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	258	-24.8%
46	Hesperia, CA Estimated	249	+7.3%
47	Lodi, CA Estimated	247	+57.3%
48	San Jose, CA Estimated	238	+34.5%
49	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	237	-68.9%
50	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	231	-38.7%
51	Oakland, CA Estimated	230	+74.2%
52	Modesto, CA Estimated	223	+4.7%
53	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	217	0%
54	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	216	+21.3%
55	Woodland, CA Estimated	210	+70.7%
56	Marina, CA Estimated	205	+26.5%
57	Vacaville, CA Estimated	196	-29%
58	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	195	+712.5%
59	Pomona, CA Estimated	189	+4.4%
60	Imperial, CA Estimated	186	+59%
61	Oakley, CA Estimated	184	+13.6%
62	Hanford, CA Estimated	182	-0.5%
63	Corona, CA Estimated	180	+59.3%
63	Vista, CA Estimated	180	+373.7%
65	Madera, CA Estimated	178	+53.4%
66	Cypress, CA Estimated	173	+35.2%
67	Riverside, CA Estimated	171	-17.8%
68	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	164	+97.6%
69	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	163	-16.8%
70	San Ramon, CA Estimated	160	+7,900%
70	Upland, CA Estimated	160	+107.8%
72	Fremont, CA Estimated	159	-51.2%
73	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	158	0%
73	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	158	-50.6%
75	Encinitas, CA Estimated	157	+36.5%
76	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	142	+79.7%
77	Shafter, CA Estimated	137	-4.2%
78	San Marcos, CA Estimated	134	-66.1%
79	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	130	+9.2%
80	Long Beach, CA Estimated	128	+23.1%
80	McFarland, CA Estimated	128	+456.5%
82	Gilroy, CA Estimated	127	-48%
82	La Quinta, CA Estimated	127	+12.4%
82	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	127	-7.3%
85	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	125	-5.3%
85	Wasco, CA Estimated	125	+5%
87	Livermore, CA Estimated	124	-59.7%
88	Oceanside, CA Estimated	122	+16.2%
88	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	122	+13%
88	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	122	-38.1%
91	Anaheim, CA Estimated	121	+68.1%
91	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	121	+14.2%
91	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	121	-17.1%
94	Perris, CA Estimated	115	-34.7%
95	Delano, CA Estimated	111	+65.7%
95	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	111	+909.1%
97	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	110	-4.3%
98	Arvin, CA Estimated	107	+24.4%
99	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	105	-34.4%
100	Eastvale, CA Estimated	104	-70.5%
101	Livingston, CA Estimated	103	+63.5%
101	Redding, CA Estimated	103	-30.9%
103	Lancaster, CA Estimated	102	-15.7%
103	Truckee, CA Estimated	102	-5.6%
105	El Cajon, CA Estimated	101	+102%
106	Gardena, CA Estimated	98	+117.8%
107	Dinuba, CA Estimated	97	+34.7%
107	San Clemente, CA Estimated	97	+18.3%
109	Richmond, CA Estimated	96	+464.7%
110	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	94	+49.2%
111	Calimesa, CA Estimated	93	+116.3%
112	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	92	+8.2%
112	Kerman, CA Estimated	92	+124.4%
112	Lincoln, CA Estimated	92	-49.2%
112	Redlands, CA Estimated	92	0%
116	Glendale, CA Estimated	90	+1,025%
116	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	90	-21.1%
116	Temecula, CA Estimated	90	+4.7%
119	Union City, CA Estimated	86	+186.7%
120	Dana Point, CA Estimated	85	+107.3%
120	Dixon, CA Estimated	85	+84.8%
122	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	84	+2.4%
123	Temple City, CA Estimated	83	-9.8%
124	Colton, CA Estimated	82	+331.6%
124	Lemoore, CA Estimated	82	+49.1%
124	Ripon, CA Estimated	82	+182.8%
127	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	79	-66.7%
127	Arcadia, CA Estimated	79	-16.8%
127	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	79	+38.6%
130	Merced, CA Estimated	77	+4.1%
130	Westminster, CA Estimated	77	+40%
132	Porterville, CA Estimated	74	+57.4%
133	Mountain View, CA Estimated	72	-55.6%
133	Soledad, CA Estimated	72	+4.3%
135	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	70	-54.5%
135	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	70	-77.3%
137	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	69	+4.5%
138	Berkeley, CA Estimated	66	+83.3%
138	Oakdale, CA Estimated	66	-40.5%
140	Highland, CA Estimated	65	-3%
140	Palmdale, CA Estimated	65	-33%
140	Rialto, CA Estimated	65	+6.6%
140	Rosemead, CA Estimated	65	-7.1%
144	Antioch, CA Estimated	63	+40%
144	Campbell, CA Estimated	63	+37%
144	Hemet, CA Estimated	63	+1,160%
147	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	62	+287.5%
148	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	61	-15.3%
149	Tustin, CA Estimated	60	+252.9%
150	Sanger, CA Estimated	58	+176.2%
151	Fillmore, CA Estimated	57	+5.6%
151	Salinas, CA Estimated	57	+119.2%
153	Downey, CA Estimated	56	-59.4%
153	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	56	-3.4%
153	Newman, CA Estimated	56	-40.4%
156	Watsonville, CA Estimated	55	+5.8%
157	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	53	0%
158	Stanton, CA Estimated	52	+271.4%
158	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	52	+52.9%
160	Brawley, CA Estimated	51	+8.5%
160	Vallejo, CA Estimated	51	+18.6%
162	Glendora, CA Estimated	50	-50.5%
163	Napa, CA Estimated	49	+6.5%
163	Patterson, CA Estimated	49	+4.3%
165	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	48	+20%
166	Davis, CA Estimated	47	-61.8%
166	Riverbank, CA Estimated	47	+261.5%
168	Turlock, CA Estimated	45	+114.3%
169	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	44	-6.4%
169	Goleta, CA Estimated	44	+4.8%
169	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	44	+29.4%
169	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	44	+12.8%
169	Torrance, CA Estimated	44	+10%
174	King City, CA Estimated	43	+65.4%
174	San Juan Capistrano, CA Estimated	43	-54.3%
176	Coalinga, CA Estimated	42	-8.7%
176	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	42	-12.5%
176	Wildomar, CA Estimated	42	-49.4%
179	Cupertino, CA Estimated	41	-22.6%
179	El Segundo, CA Estimated	41	+64%
179	La Puente, CA Estimated	41	+720%
179	Los Altos, CA Estimated	41	0%
183	Redwood City, CA Estimated	40	+25%
183	Saratoga, CA Estimated	40	+90.5%
185	Azusa, CA Estimated	39	-48.7%
185	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	39	+11.4%
185	El Monte, CA Estimated	39	+69.6%
185	Morro Bay, CA Estimated	39	+77.3%
185	Oxnard, CA Estimated	39	-63.9%
185	Petaluma, CA Estimated	39	+116.7%
191	Chowchilla, CA Estimated	38	-13.6%
191	Claremont, CA Estimated	38	-2.6%
193	Ceres, CA Estimated	37	+117.6%
193	Pleasant Hill, CA Estimated	37	+1,750%
195	Hawthorne, CA Estimated	36	+200%
195	Shasta Lake, CA Estimated	36	-7.7%
197	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	35	-31.4%
197	Imperial Beach, CA Estimated	35	+66.7%
199	Alhambra, CA Estimated	34	-32%
199	Buena Park, CA Estimated	34	-37%
201	Burlingame, CA Estimated	33	+175%
201	Galt, CA Estimated	33	-52.2%
203	Coronado, CA Estimated	32	-3%
204	Alameda, CA Estimated	31	-32.6%
204	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	31	-59.7%
204	La Habra, CA Estimated	31	-72.1%
204	La Mesa, CA Estimated	31	+675%
204	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	31	+34.8%
204	Pasadena, CA Estimated	31	+3.3%
210	Anderson, CA Estimated	29	-54%
210	Atascadero, CA Estimated	29	-45.3%
210	Culver City, CA Estimated	29	-38.3%
213	Moorpark, CA Estimated	28	-55.6%
213	Placerville, CA Estimated	28	+115.4%
213	San Francisco, CA Estimated	28	-34.9%
213	South Gate, CA Estimated	28	+75%
213	Twentynine Palms, CA Estimated	28	+154.5%
213	Yuba City, CA Estimated	28	-52.5%
219	Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Estimated	27	+145.5%
219	Walnut Creek, CA Estimated	27	-27%
221	Paradise, CA Estimated	26	+4%
221	Santee, CA Estimated	26	-83.1%
221	Selma, CA Estimated	26	+8.3%
224	Auburn, CA Estimated	25	-37.5%
224	Paramount, CA Estimated	25	+92.3%
226	Arcata, CA Estimated	24	+33.3%
226	Danville, CA Estimated	24	+50%
226	Healdsburg, CA Estimated	24	+500%
226	Lindsay, CA Estimated	24	+9.1%
226	Monrovia, CA Estimated	24	-7.7%
226	Orange, CA Estimated	24	-40%
226	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	24	-70.7%
233	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	22	+46.7%
233	Palos Verdes Estates, CA Estimated	22	+15.8%
233	Red Bluff, CA Estimated	22	+4.8%
236	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	21	0%
237	Citrus Heights, CA Estimated	20	+11.1%
237	Escondido, CA Estimated	20	-91.5%
237	Fortuna, CA Estimated	20	+33.3%
237	Monterey Park, CA Estimated	20	+42.9%
241	Bellflower, CA Estimated	19	-36.7%
241	Fullerton, CA Estimated	19	-9.5%
241	Grand Terrace, CA Estimated	19	+58.3%
241	Tehachapi, CA Estimated	19	-29.6%
245	Concord, CA Estimated	18	-73.9%
245	Daly City, CA Estimated	18	-10%
245	Kingsburg, CA Estimated	18	-21.7%
245	Parlier, CA Estimated	18	0%
245	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	18	+5.9%
245	West Hollywood, CA Estimated	18	+80%

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 2018 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/we2018a.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. (2019). 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, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.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, 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 20 June 2019, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2019. 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, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2019) 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, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2018,
  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, 2018}},
  year = {2019},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2018. 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/we2018a.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, 2018
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/06/20
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2018a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2018.
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/we2018a.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 2,636 in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Seaside, CA, with 0 in 2018.

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 2018 and are not ranked.