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 368 cities in 2021, at 2,475. Sierra Madre, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 49. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest2,475Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Sierra Madre, CA

Median49368 cities

Top 40 cities, 2021

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	2021 count	Change on 2020
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	2,475	+33.5%
2	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,911	+57.4%
3	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,883	+49%
4	Menifee, CA Estimated	1,264	-10.4%
5	Irvine, CA Estimated	1,129	+9%
6	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,121	-22.8%
7	Lincoln, CA Estimated	1,016	+86.1%
8	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,004	+7.4%
9	Folsom, CA Estimated	949	+90.6%
10	Lathrop, CA Estimated	849	+87.8%
11	Clovis, CA Estimated	824	-21.4%
12	Visalia, CA Estimated	748	+24.5%
13	Ontario, CA Estimated	738	+14.4%
14	Merced, CA Estimated	723	0%
15	Manteca, CA Estimated	701	+7.8%
16	Tracy, CA Estimated	692	+6%
17	Paradise, CA Estimated	672	-18.6%
18	Fontana, CA Estimated	652	-23%
19	Victorville, CA Estimated	642	+27.4%
20	Antioch, CA Estimated	578	+94%
21	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	563	-25.9%
22	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	552	-3.5%
23	Stockton, CA Estimated	548	+5.8%
24	San Diego, CA Estimated	539	+21.1%
25	Indio, CA Estimated	522	+32.5%
26	Oakley, CA Estimated	488	+49.7%
27	Rocklin, CA Estimated	463	+9.2%
28	Beaumont, CA Estimated	442	+63.1%
29	Temecula, CA Estimated	437	+67.4%
30	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	420	-4.5%
31	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	409	-0.7%
32	Chino, CA Estimated	399	-8.9%
33	Hollister, CA Estimated	396	+23%
34	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	377	+102.7%
35	Vacaville, CA Estimated	374	-10.1%
36	Fairfield, CA Estimated	365	-6.4%
37	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	364	-67.3%
38	Shafter, CA Estimated	363	+34.4%
39	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	360	+176.9%
40	Lodi, CA Estimated	357	+174.6%
41	Escondido, CA Estimated	338	+40.8%
42	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	323	+44.2%
43	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	315	+83.1%
44	Long Beach, CA Estimated	304	+74.7%
45	San Jose, CA Estimated	299	-4.2%
46	Riverside, CA Estimated	293	+62.8%
47	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	291	+31.1%
48	Brentwood, CA Estimated	288	+5.1%
48	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	288	+146.2%
50	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	287	-1%
51	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	274	+15.6%
52	Hanford, CA Estimated	266	+63.2%
52	Newark, CA Estimated	266	-9.5%
54	Lancaster, CA Estimated	263	-11.4%
55	La Quinta, CA Estimated	256	+34.7%
56	Madera, CA Estimated	251	+23.6%
57	Hesperia, CA Estimated	245	+42.4%
58	Chico, CA Estimated	240	-19.7%
59	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	231	+230%
60	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	226	+8.1%
61	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	221	-50.6%
62	Hemet, CA Estimated	219	+88.8%
63	Citrus Heights, CA Estimated	215	+877.3%
64	Banning, CA Estimated	212	-55.5%
65	Marina, CA Estimated	210	+118.8%
65	Santa Paula, CA Estimated	210	+31.3%
67	Hayward, CA Estimated	209	-34.7%
67	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	209	+106.9%
69	Adelanto, CA Estimated	208	+27.6%
70	Alameda, CA Estimated	198	+144.4%
71	Modesto, CA Estimated	191	-10.3%
71	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	191	+13%
73	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	190	+97.9%
74	Whittier, CA Estimated	189	-42.2%
75	Palmdale, CA Estimated	187	-21.1%
76	Buena Park, CA Estimated	182	+304.4%
77	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	180	+133.8%
78	Corona, CA Estimated	177	-30%
79	Burbank, CA Estimated	172	+35.4%
79	Mountain View, CA Estimated	172	+97.7%
81	Brawley, CA Estimated	158	+203.8%
82	Perris, CA Estimated	156	+7.6%
82	Santa Barbara, CA Estimated	156	+1,014.3%
84	Woodland, CA Estimated	155	-54.3%
85	Imperial, CA Estimated	154	-18.5%
86	Inglewood, CA Estimated	153	+48.5%
86	Redding, CA Estimated	153	-27.1%
88	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	150	-39.8%
89	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	147	+7.3%
89	Porterville, CA Estimated	147	+31.3%
91	Reedley, CA Estimated	146	+942.9%
92	San Marcos, CA Estimated	144	-38.2%
93	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	143	+472%
94	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	142	+189.8%
95	Fremont, CA Estimated	141	+25.9%
96	South Gate, CA Estimated	138	+66.3%
97	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	137	+470.8%
97	Stanton, CA Estimated	137	-4.9%
99	Glendale, CA Estimated	134	-7.6%
100	Camarillo, CA Estimated	132	+83.3%
100	Encinitas, CA Estimated	132	+23.4%
100	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	132	+10%
103	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	131	+19.1%
104	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	127	+41.1%
105	Dixon, CA Estimated	126	+9.6%
105	Tulare, CA Estimated	126	-58.4%
107	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	123	-2.4%
108	Downey, CA Estimated	121	+112.3%
109	Napa, CA Estimated	120	+10.1%
110	Coachella, CA Estimated	119	-13.1%
110	Galt, CA Estimated	119	+395.8%
110	Los Gatos, CA Estimated	119	+153.2%
110	Westminster, CA Estimated	119	+112.5%
114	Pomona, CA Estimated	118	-12.6%
115	Truckee, CA Estimated	116	+27.5%
116	Los Banos, CA Estimated	114	+9.6%
116	Oakland, CA Estimated	114	+16.3%
118	Fillmore, CA Estimated	113	+9.7%
118	Rosemead, CA Estimated	113	+88.3%
120	Petaluma, CA Estimated	111	+428.6%
120	Turlock, CA Estimated	111	+6.7%
122	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	107	-52%
122	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	107	+9.2%
124	Culver City, CA Estimated	106	+55.9%
125	Dublin, CA Estimated	101	-30.8%
126	Arcadia, CA Estimated	100	+7.5%
126	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	100	-3.8%
128	Gilroy, CA Estimated	99	+25.3%
128	Lemoore, CA Estimated	99	+10%
130	Dinuba, CA Estimated	96	+6.7%
131	Vista, CA Estimated	95	-63.6%
132	La Mirada, CA Estimated	94	+2,250%
133	San Fernando, CA Estimated	92	+4.5%
134	Lynwood, CA Estimated	90	+1,700%
134	Saratoga, CA Estimated	90	+34.3%
136	Berkeley, CA Estimated	88	+7.3%
137	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	86	+109.8%
138	Anaheim, CA Estimated	85	-1.2%
139	Campbell, CA Estimated	82	+127.8%
140	Alhambra, CA Estimated	80	+281%
140	Ridgecrest, CA Estimated	80	+9.6%
142	Orange, CA Estimated	79	+97.5%
143	Atwater, CA Estimated	77	+2,466.7%
143	Los Altos, CA Estimated	77	+57.1%
143	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	77	+6.9%
143	Richmond, CA Estimated	77	-43.8%
143	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	77	+11.6%
148	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	76	+123.5%
149	Milpitas, CA Estimated	73	+32.7%
150	Oceanside, CA Estimated	72	+118.2%
151	Chowchilla, CA Estimated	71	+1,083.3%
152	Santee, CA Estimated	69	-13.8%
153	Calimesa, CA Estimated	68	-80.2%
153	La Mesa, CA Estimated	68	+78.9%
153	San Mateo, CA Estimated	68	+385.7%
156	Atascadero, CA Estimated	67	+52.3%
156	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	67	+15.5%
158	Temple City, CA Estimated	66	+29.4%
158	Wasco, CA Estimated	66	+94.1%
158	Watsonville, CA Estimated	66	+10%
161	Gardena, CA Estimated	64	+1.6%
161	Redlands, CA Estimated	64	-19%
161	Salinas, CA Estimated	64	-33.3%
164	La Habra, CA Estimated	63	+425%
164	Martinez, CA Estimated	63	+950%
166	Placentia, CA Estimated	62	+463.6%
167	Calexico, CA Estimated	60	+445.5%
167	Concord, CA Estimated	60	+15.4%
167	Laguna Beach, CA Estimated	60	+160.9%
167	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	60	+122.2%
171	Patterson, CA Estimated	59	+9.3%
172	Redwood City, CA Estimated	56	+1.8%
173	Greenfield, CA Estimated	55	+31%
173	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	55	+19.6%
175	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	54	+10.2%
175	Hillsborough, CA Estimated	54	+145.5%
177	Glendora, CA Estimated	53	+89.3%
177	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	53	+32.5%
179	Oxnard, CA Estimated	52	+44.4%
179	Wildomar, CA Estimated	52	+4%
179	Yuba City, CA Estimated	52	-3.7%
182	Compton, CA Estimated	51	+142.9%
183	Upland, CA Estimated	50	+11.1%
184	Dana Point, CA Estimated	49	+122.7%
184	Riverbank, CA Estimated	49	+63.3%
186	Pico Rivera, CA Estimated	48	+23.1%
186	San Leandro, CA Estimated	48	+166.7%
188	Novato, CA Estimated	47	+74.1%
188	Rialto, CA Estimated	47	+11.9%
190	Pasadena, CA Estimated	46	+100%
191	Avenal, CA Estimated	45	+136.8%
191	Cupertino, CA Estimated	45	-4.3%
191	Simi Valley, CA Estimated	45	-71%
194	Colton, CA Estimated	44	-49.4%
195	Soledad, CA Estimated	43	+72%
196	Oakdale, CA Estimated	40	+8.1%
196	Torrance, CA Estimated	40	+48.1%
198	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	39	+39.3%
199	Danville, CA Estimated	38	+18.8%
199	Kerman, CA Estimated	38	+90%
199	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	38	+72.7%
199	Livingston, CA Estimated	38	-63.8%
199	San Carlos, CA Estimated	38	+35.7%
204	El Cajon, CA Estimated	37	-28.8%
204	Lompoc, CA Estimated	37	n/a
204	Monrovia, CA Estimated	37	+54.2%
207	Daly City, CA Estimated	36	-28%
207	El Monte, CA Estimated	36	+16.1%
207	Livermore, CA Estimated	36	-35.7%
210	California City, CA Estimated	35	+9.4%
210	Fortuna, CA Estimated	35	+29.6%
210	San Clemente, CA Estimated	35	+75%
213	Pacifica, CA Estimated	34	+3,300%
213	Scotts Valley, CA Estimated	34	+209.1%
215	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	33	+175%
215	Poway, CA Estimated	33	+32%
215	San Francisco, CA Estimated	33	+57.1%
218	Mission Viejo, CA Estimated	32	+128.6%
218	Montebello, CA Estimated	32	+18.5%
220	Hawthorne, CA Estimated	31	0%
220	Highland, CA Estimated	31	-35.4%
222	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	30	-31.8%
222	Fountain Valley, CA Estimated	30	-23.1%
222	Vallejo, CA Estimated	30	+11.1%
225	Bellflower, CA Estimated	29	-31%
226	Delano, CA Estimated	28	-66.3%
226	Foster City, CA Estimated	28	+180%
226	Hermosa Beach, CA Estimated	28	-20%
229	Burlingame, CA Estimated	27	+42.1%
229	Davis, CA Estimated	27	+50%
229	Healdsburg, CA Estimated	27	+8%
229	Kingsburg, CA Estimated	27	+125%
229	Mill Valley, CA Estimated	27	+3.8%
229	Walnut, CA Estimated	27	+237.5%
235	Coronado, CA Estimated	26	+18.2%
235	Solana Beach, CA Estimated	26	+116.7%
235	South San Francisco, CA Estimated	26	+766.7%
238	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	25	+38.9%
238	El Cerrito, CA Estimated	25	+47.1%
238	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	25	+19%
238	Murrieta, CA Estimated	25	-81.6%
238	San Rafael, CA Estimated	25	-7.4%
243	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	24	+1,100%
244	Costa Mesa, CA Estimated	23	-62.9%
244	Union City, CA Estimated	23	+666.7%
246	Eureka, CA Estimated	22	+340%
246	Paramount, CA Estimated	22	n/a
246	San Ramon, CA Estimated	22	-26.7%
246	West Covina, CA Estimated	22	+22.2%
250	Azusa, CA Estimated	21	-12.5%

Showing the top 250 of 368. 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. 4 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2021 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/we2021a.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. (2022). 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, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2021a.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, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Apr. 2022, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2021a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2022. 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, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2021a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2022) 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, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2021a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2021,
  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, 2021}},
  year = {2022},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2021a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2021. 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/we2021a.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, 2021
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/04/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2021a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2021.
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/we2021a.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 2,475 in 2021, 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 2021.

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. 4 cities have no value for 2021 and are not ranked.