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 2024, at 3,041. Susanville, CA had the lowest, at 0. The median was 48. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest3,041Los Angeles, CA

Lowest0Susanville, CA

Median48369 cities

Top 40 cities, 2024

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	2024 count	Change on 2023
1	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	3,041	+4.2%
2	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,547	+9.6%
3	Manteca, CA Estimated	1,294	+126.6%
4	Roseville, CA Estimated	1,216	+0.2%
5	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	1,161	+83.7%
6	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	1,010	+23%
7	Fresno, CA Estimated	983	-19.8%
8	Irvine, CA Estimated	959	+145.3%
9	Menifee, CA Estimated	942	+7.7%
10	San Diego, CA Estimated	775	+50.2%
11	Folsom, CA Estimated	739	-17.7%
12	Lathrop, CA Estimated	725	+28.1%
13	Sacramento, CA Estimated	708	+8.4%
14	Clovis, CA Estimated	649	-7.4%
15	Tracy, CA Estimated	646	+375%
16	San Jose, CA Estimated	642	+10.5%
17	Lincoln, CA Estimated	585	-6.7%
18	Lancaster, CA Estimated	570	-17.3%
19	Lake Elsinore, CA Estimated	535	+195.6%
20	Stockton, CA Estimated	527	+7.3%
21	Victorville, CA Estimated	461	-9.4%
22	Fontana, CA Estimated	454	-52.9%
23	Vacaville, CA Estimated	449	+106.9%
24	Chino, CA Estimated	441	+175.6%
25	Shafter, CA Estimated	433	+143.3%
26	Moreno Valley, CA Estimated	412	+165.8%
27	Hemet, CA Estimated	410	+180.8%
28	Tulare, CA Estimated	390	+7.4%
29	Perris, CA Estimated	379	-4.5%
30	Dixon, CA Estimated	375	+77.7%
31	Paradise, CA Estimated	345	+18.6%
32	Riverside, CA Estimated	331	+6.1%
33	Hanford, CA Estimated	326	+4.2%
34	Hesperia, CA Estimated	320	+91.6%
35	Antioch, CA Estimated	319	-12.8%
36	Merced, CA Estimated	309	+28.2%
37	Ontario, CA Estimated	306	-49.1%
38	El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA Estimated	296	+557.8%
39	Jurupa Valley, CA Estimated	294	+10.1%
40	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	292	-33.8%
41	Beaumont, CA Estimated	280	-52.6%
42	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	269	-62%
43	Riverbank, CA Estimated	265	+79.1%
44	Lodi, CA Estimated	262	+144.9%
45	Chula Vista, CA Estimated	261	+7%
46	Rocklin, CA Estimated	252	+16.1%
47	Indio, CA Estimated	251	-18.2%
48	Pomona, CA Estimated	249	-38.5%
49	Visalia, CA Estimated	248	-23.7%
50	Temecula, CA Estimated	246	-58.4%
51	San Marcos, CA Estimated	237	+38.6%
52	Corona, CA Estimated	232	+66.9%
53	Huntington Beach, CA Estimated	226	-2.2%
54	Encinitas, CA Estimated	215	+9.7%
55	Fairfield, CA Estimated	214	-37.4%
56	San Jacinto, CA Estimated	213	+23.1%
57	Santa Ana, CA Estimated	211	-7.5%
58	South Gate, CA Estimated	202	+6.3%
59	Morgan Hill, CA Estimated	190	+68.1%
60	San Luis Obispo, CA Estimated	189	-9.1%
61	Long Beach, CA Estimated	185	+10.8%
61	Rohnert Park, CA Estimated	185	+10.8%
63	Vista, CA Estimated	181	+81%
64	Santa Maria, CA Estimated	178	+12.7%
65	Temple City, CA Estimated	172	+84.9%
66	Palo Alto, CA Estimated	170	+15.6%
67	Escondido, CA Estimated	168	+63.1%
67	Redlands, CA Estimated	168	+102.4%
69	Oceanside, CA Estimated	167	+19.3%
70	Galt, CA Estimated	164	-11.4%
71	Richmond, CA Estimated	161	+27.8%
72	Hayward, CA Estimated	160	-1.2%
73	Modesto, CA Estimated	159	-24.6%
74	Highland, CA Estimated	155	+203.9%
75	Gilroy, CA Estimated	153	+41.7%
76	West Sacramento, CA Estimated	147	+14.8%
77	Porterville, CA Estimated	145	+83.5%
78	Los Banos, CA Estimated	140	+53.8%
79	Downey, CA Estimated	136	-11.7%
79	Salinas, CA Estimated	136	+30.8%
79	Woodland, CA Estimated	136	-48.5%
82	La Mesa, CA Estimated	135	+45.2%
83	Alhambra, CA Estimated	130	+4.8%
83	Madera, CA Estimated	130	-6.5%
85	Inglewood, CA Estimated	128	-46.2%
86	Rosemead, CA Estimated	126	-14.3%
87	Santa Paula, CA Estimated	125	+111.9%
87	Walnut, CA Estimated	125	+177.8%
89	Delano, CA Estimated	123	+30.9%
89	Marina, CA Estimated	123	-8.9%
89	Redding, CA Estimated	123	+30.9%
92	Newport Beach, CA Estimated	120	+10.1%
93	El Cajon, CA Estimated	119	+65.3%
93	Rio Vista, CA Estimated	119	+58.7%
95	Hollister, CA Estimated	118	-44.6%
95	Monterey Park, CA Estimated	118	+257.6%
97	Turlock, CA Estimated	117	-5.6%
98	Napa, CA Estimated	116	+87.1%
99	Mountain View, CA Estimated	115	-36.5%
100	Murrieta, CA Estimated	111	-40%
100	Wildomar, CA Estimated	111	-17.2%
102	Bellflower, CA Estimated	109	+78.7%
102	Glendale, CA Estimated	109	-0.9%
102	Palm Desert, CA Estimated	109	-41.1%
105	Garden Grove, CA Estimated	108	-43.8%
106	California City, CA Estimated	106	+96.3%
106	Pico Rivera, CA Estimated	106	+21.8%
106	Saratoga, CA Estimated	106	+9.3%
109	Davis, CA Estimated	105	+288.9%
109	Santa Monica, CA Estimated	105	+26.5%
111	Desert Hot Springs, CA Estimated	104	+4%
112	San Ramon, CA Estimated	103	+114.6%
113	West Covina, CA Estimated	102	+17.2%
114	Lynwood, CA Estimated	101	-10.6%
115	Palmdale, CA Estimated	100	-58.8%
116	Berkeley, CA Estimated	98	+10.1%
117	Manhattan Beach, CA Estimated	97	+16.9%
118	Pasadena, CA Estimated	96	+74.5%
118	Redondo Beach, CA Estimated	96	-12.7%
120	Anaheim, CA Estimated	95	+13.1%
121	Palm Springs, CA Estimated	94	+10.6%
122	Oakley, CA Estimated	93	+2.2%
123	Santee, CA Estimated	92	+43.8%
123	Yuba City, CA Estimated	92	+109.1%
125	La Quinta, CA Estimated	90	-65.3%
126	Concord, CA Estimated	89	+7.2%
126	San Mateo, CA Estimated	89	+641.7%
126	Torrance, CA Estimated	89	-8.2%
129	Alameda, CA Estimated	88	-36.2%
129	Cupertino, CA Estimated	88	-22.8%
131	Reedley, CA Estimated	86	-36.8%
132	Fullerton, CA Estimated	85	+269.6%
133	Menlo Park, CA Estimated	84	+42.4%
134	Arcadia, CA Estimated	83	+12.2%
134	Compton, CA Estimated	83	-2.4%
136	Whittier, CA Estimated	81	+76.1%
137	Newark, CA Estimated	80	+14.3%
137	Rancho Cucamonga, CA Estimated	80	-12.1%
139	Fremont, CA Estimated	77	-47.6%
140	Banning, CA Estimated	76	-74.1%
140	Camarillo, CA Estimated	76	+1,800%
140	McFarland, CA Estimated	76	-22.4%
140	Monrovia, CA Estimated	76	-15.6%
144	Apple Valley, CA Estimated	75	+63%
144	Culver City, CA Estimated	75	-13.8%
146	Baldwin Park, CA Estimated	74	+94.7%
146	Loma Linda, CA Estimated	74	+957.1%
146	Pittsburg, CA Estimated	74	-39.8%
149	King City, CA Estimated	71	+24.6%
150	Los Altos, CA Estimated	70	+141.4%
151	Placentia, CA Estimated	69	+245%
152	American Canyon, CA Estimated	68	-15%
153	Cathedral City, CA Estimated	67	+31.4%
154	Carlsbad, CA Estimated	66	-46.3%
154	Imperial Beach, CA Estimated	66	+94.1%
154	Orange, CA Estimated	66	+24.5%
157	San Leandro, CA Estimated	65	+35.4%
158	Oakdale, CA Estimated	64	+45.5%
158	Pleasanton, CA Estimated	64	+10.3%
158	San Gabriel, CA Estimated	64	+6.7%
161	Milpitas, CA Estimated	63	+320%
161	Oxnard, CA Estimated	63	+96.9%
161	Poway, CA Estimated	63	-40%
164	Vallejo, CA Estimated	62	+26.5%
165	Glendora, CA Estimated	61	-17.6%
165	Santa Clara, CA Estimated	61	+13%
165	Yucaipa, CA Estimated	61	-72.5%
168	Colton, CA Estimated	60	+50%
168	Dublin, CA Estimated	60	-64.9%
170	Artesia, CA Estimated	59	+63.9%
171	Chico, CA Estimated	58	-65.7%
172	South San Francisco, CA Estimated	57	-1.7%
173	Danville, CA Estimated	56	-9.7%
173	Kingsburg, CA Estimated	56	+47.4%
175	Paramount, CA Estimated	54	+145.5%
176	Thousand Oaks, CA Estimated	53	-22.1%
177	Campbell, CA Estimated	52	-1.9%
178	Calexico, CA Estimated	51	+37.8%
178	Laguna Beach, CA Estimated	51	-41.4%
178	Rancho Mirage, CA Estimated	51	-44%
178	South Pasadena, CA Estimated	51	+15.9%
182	Diamond Bar, CA Estimated	50	+16.3%
183	Patterson, CA Estimated	49	+14%
184	Eastvale, CA Estimated	48	+433.3%
184	Moorpark, CA Estimated	48	+300%
184	Santa Cruz, CA Estimated	48	+14.3%
187	Dinuba, CA Estimated	47	+4.4%
187	San Bernardino, CA Estimated	47	-73.3%
189	Oakland, CA Estimated	46	+35.3%
189	San Bruno, CA Estimated	46	+35.3%
189	Watsonville, CA Estimated	46	+17.9%
192	Coachella, CA Estimated	45	-52.6%
192	Lompoc, CA Estimated	45	+87.5%
194	Burbank, CA Estimated	44	-26.7%
194	Lemon Grove, CA Estimated	44	-59.6%
194	San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA Estimated	44	-24.1%
197	Montebello, CA Estimated	43	-46.3%
198	Stanton, CA Estimated	42	-27.6%
198	Sunnyvale, CA Estimated	42	+35.5%
198	Upland, CA Estimated	42	-38.2%
201	Union City, CA Estimated	41	+64%
202	Brentwood, CA Estimated	40	-66.4%
202	Selma, CA Estimated	40	+263.6%
202	Soledad, CA Estimated	40	+110.5%
205	La Cañada Flintridge, CA Estimated	39	+77.3%
205	Lemoore, CA Estimated	39	-70.7%
205	Rialto, CA Estimated	39	+18.2%
205	San Clemente, CA Estimated	39	+62.5%
205	Truckee, CA Estimated	39	-31.6%
210	Sanger, CA Estimated	38	+72.7%
211	Brawley, CA Estimated	37	-54.3%
211	Chino Hills, CA Estimated	37	+184.6%
211	Redwood City, CA Estimated	37	-5.1%
211	San Dimas, CA Estimated	37	+23.3%
215	El Segundo, CA Estimated	36	+5.9%
215	Hillsborough, CA Estimated	36	-12.2%
215	South El Monte, CA Estimated	36	+227.3%
215	Yucca Valley, CA Estimated	36	-39%
219	Chowchilla, CA Estimated	34	+25.9%
219	Duarte, CA Estimated	34	+88.9%
219	Santa Fe Springs, CA Estimated	34	+385.7%
222	Cypress, CA Estimated	33	+200%
222	Yorba Linda, CA Estimated	33	+50%
224	Adelanto, CA Estimated	32	-57.3%
225	Fountain Valley, CA Estimated	31	+6.9%
225	La Verne, CA Estimated	31	+181.8%
227	Imperial, CA Estimated	30	-14.3%
227	Tehachapi, CA Estimated	30	-3.2%
229	Atascadero, CA Estimated	29	-29.3%
229	Bell Gardens, CA Estimated	29	+866.7%
229	El Monte, CA Estimated	29	+20.8%
229	San Rafael, CA Estimated	29	-12.1%
233	Arroyo Grande, CA Estimated	28	+154.5%
233	Azusa, CA Estimated	28	-51.7%
233	Montclair, CA Estimated	28	+211.1%
233	Westminster, CA Estimated	28	-84.7%
237	Lake Forest, CA Estimated	27	-86.1%
237	San Francisco, CA Estimated	27	-6.9%
237	Windsor, CA Estimated	27	-10%
240	El Cerrito, CA Estimated	26	-25.7%
240	Lakewood, CA Estimated	26	-13.3%
240	Norco, CA Estimated	26	-31.6%
240	Twentynine Palms, CA Estimated	26	+23.8%
244	Beverly Hills, CA Estimated	25	+25%
244	Gardena, CA Estimated	25	-70.6%
244	Greenfield, CA Estimated	25	-24.2%
244	Kerman, CA Estimated	25	-52.8%
244	Tustin, CA Estimated	25	-70.2%
249	Coronado, CA Estimated	24	+100%
249	Lawndale, CA Estimated	24	-44.2%

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 2024 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/we2024a.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. (2025). 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, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2024a.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, 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2025, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2024a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2024. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. 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, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2024a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2024.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) 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, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2024a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2024 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_california_by_2024,
  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, 2024}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2024a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2024. 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/we2024a.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, 2024
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/05/01
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2024a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2024
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/california-cities?period=2024.
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/we2024a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

Los Angeles, CA, with 3,041 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Susanville, CA, with 0 in 2024.

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 2024 and are not ranked.