US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits

Houston, TX had the highest single-family housing units authorized by building permits of 3010 cities in 2019, at 5,120. Zion, IL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 38. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest5,120Houston, TX

Lowest0Zion, IL

Median383010 cities

Top 40 cities, 2019

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	2019 count	Change on 2018
1	Houston, TX Estimated	5,120	-5.5%
2	Fort Worth, TX Estimated	5,063	-7.6%
3	Austin, TX Estimated	4,568	+3%
4	Phoenix, AZ Estimated	4,175	+11.9%
5	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	4,155	+9.9%
6	San Antonio, TX Estimated	3,890	+19.1%
7	Nashville, TN Estimated	3,830	+7.6%
8	Oklahoma City, OK Estimated	3,243	+9.7%
9	Buckeye, AZ Estimated	2,652	+20.9%
10	Los Angeles, CA Estimated	2,647	+0.4%
11	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	2,591	+23.3%
12	Henderson, NV Estimated	2,314	-2.5%
13	Denver, CO Estimated	2,257	-7%
14	Meridian, ID Estimated	2,163	+17.6%
15	Dallas, TX Estimated	2,093	+4.2%
16	Frisco, TX Estimated	2,081	-5.6%
17	Jersey City, NJ Estimated	2,003	+95.2%
18	Durham, NC Estimated	1,945	+2.7%
19	Las Vegas, NV Estimated	1,885	+5.1%
20	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	1,878	-16.3%
21	El Paso, TX Estimated	1,873	+17.9%
22	Apex, NC Estimated	1,868	+11.7%
23	North Las Vegas, NV Estimated	1,834	+17%
24	Leander, TX Estimated	1,769	+14.9%
25	Surprise, AZ Estimated	1,715	+30.4%
26	Mesa, AZ Estimated	1,710	-35.7%
27	Goodyear, AZ Estimated	1,602	+28.6%
28	New Braunfels, TX Estimated	1,549	+13.4%
29	Sacramento, CA Estimated	1,538	-4.5%
30	Aurora, CO Estimated	1,523	+7%
31	Georgetown, TX Estimated	1,509	+24.5%
32	McKinney, TX Estimated	1,491	-34.7%
33	Queen Creek, AZ Estimated	1,485	+14.6%
34	Huntsville, AL Estimated	1,436	+15.7%
35	Clarksville, TN Estimated	1,428	+113.5%
36	Bakersfield, CA Estimated	1,419	+33.7%
37	Lubbock, TX Estimated	1,403	+7.6%
38	Peoria, AZ Estimated	1,363	+9.5%
39	Murfreesboro, TN Estimated	1,317	-12.1%
39	North Port, FL Estimated	1,317	+3.4%
41	Lehi, UT Estimated	1,303	-2.8%
42	Laredo, TX Estimated	1,302	+20.8%
43	Midland, TX Estimated	1,290	+5.6%
44	Fulshear, TX Estimated	1,253	+59.6%
45	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	1,246	+29.8%
46	Celina, TX Estimated	1,238	-0.8%
47	Bluffton, SC Estimated	1,190	+2%
48	Winston-Salem, NC Estimated	1,185	-5.3%
49	Conroe, TX Estimated	1,180	-5.5%
50	Omaha, NE Estimated	1,179	-4.7%
51	Reno, NV Estimated	1,176	-13%
52	Ontario, CA Estimated	1,167	+10.5%
53	Tampa, FL Estimated	1,159	+4.5%
54	Fresno, CA Estimated	1,153	+40.4%
55	Gilbert, AZ Estimated	1,143	-21.7%
56	Nampa, ID Estimated	1,113	+29.9%
57	Eagle Mountain, UT Estimated	1,105	+28.6%
58	St. George, UT Estimated	1,088	+10.2%
59	Corpus Christi, TX Estimated	1,074	+5.7%
60	Herriman, UT Estimated	1,035	-21.2%
61	Menifee, CA Estimated	1,017	+4.2%
62	Sioux Falls, SD Estimated	1,013	-6.5%
63	Maricopa, AZ Estimated	1,003	+1.5%
64	Temple, TX Estimated	1,000	+26.7%
65	Tucson, AZ Estimated	999	+46.9%
66	Roseville, CA Estimated	998	+23.5%
67	Denton, TX Estimated	994	-1.1%
68	Chesapeake, VA Estimated	991	+7.6%
69	Little Elm, TX Estimated	960	-17.4%
70	Ankeny, IA Estimated	941	+59%
71	Santa Rosa, CA Estimated	939	-42.5%
72	Castle Rock, CO Estimated	935	-11.5%
73	Irvine, CA Estimated	918	-50.8%
74	Albuquerque, NM Estimated	906	-18.7%
75	Philadelphia, PA Estimated	894	+30.9%
76	Pflugerville, TX Estimated	867	+21.1%
77	Lincoln, NE Estimated	863	+0.5%
78	Spring Hill, TN Estimated	857	-2.3%
79	Prosper, TX Estimated	847	-8.3%
80	Arlington, TX Estimated	840	+34.6%
81	Anchorage, AK Estimated	838	-3.6%
82	Charleston, SC Estimated	828	+2.2%
83	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	818	-3.9%
84	Palm Coast, FL Estimated	817	+8.2%
85	Fort Mill, SC Estimated	815	+2.3%
86	Marana, AZ Estimated	808	-2.4%
87	Cary, NC Estimated	805	-25.7%
88	Windsor, CO Estimated	802	+48.2%
89	Palm Bay, FL Estimated	782	+13.5%
90	South Jordan, UT Estimated	765	-19.9%
91	Elk Grove, CA Estimated	764	+10.2%
91	Fuquay-Varina, NC Estimated	764	+39.9%
93	Clovis, CA Estimated	760	-14.8%
94	Winter Haven, FL Estimated	757	-2.2%
95	Holly Springs, NC Estimated	755	+47.5%
96	Thornton, CO Estimated	752	-8.7%
96	Westfield, IN Estimated	752	-17.4%
98	Orlando, FL Estimated	747	-5.4%
99	Lebanon, TN Estimated	746	+78.5%
100	Greer, SC Estimated	745	+41.4%
101	Odessa, TX Estimated	743	+3.8%
102	League City, TX Estimated	742	+9.3%
103	Caldwell, ID Estimated	739	+29.2%
104	Atlanta, GA Estimated	728	-38.5%
105	Saratoga Springs, UT Estimated	727	+11.3%
106	Portland, OR Estimated	703	-9.3%
107	Killeen, TX Estimated	700	+10.9%
108	Boise City, ID Estimated	698	-17.3%
109	Haines City, FL Estimated	696	+104.7%
110	Hayward, CA Estimated	695	+144.7%
110	Woodbury, MN Estimated	695	+68.3%
112	Manor, TX Estimated	690	+28.5%
113	Wake Forest, NC Estimated	681	-10.6%
114	Brownsville, TX Estimated	679	+2.1%
115	Visalia, CA Estimated	678	+30.1%
116	Merced, CA Estimated	668	+767.5%
117	Virginia Beach, VA Estimated	667	+24.9%
118	Round Rock, TX Estimated	654	-29.1%
119	Pearland, TX Estimated	651	-20.4%
120	Princeton, TX Estimated	650	-27%
121	Bend, OR Estimated	642	-25.8%
121	Fontana, CA Estimated	642	+55.4%
123	Anna, TX Estimated	637	+74.5%
124	Washington, UT Estimated	632	-3.2%
125	Commerce City, CO Estimated	629	-12.5%
125	Kyle, TX Estimated	629	+5%
125	Tulsa, OK Estimated	629	+33.5%
128	Fishers, IN Estimated	628	-7.4%
129	Waco, TX Estimated	624	+16.9%
130	Waukee, IA Estimated	621	+137.9%
131	Kansas City, MO Estimated	619	-23.9%
132	Wichita, KS Estimated	618	+16.2%
133	Lakeville, MN Estimated	616	+21.5%
134	Irving, TX Estimated	613	+18.6%
135	Bryan, TX Estimated	611	+28.9%
135	Iowa Colony, TX Estimated	611	+20%
137	Lakeland, FL Estimated	606	+39.3%
138	Mount Juliet, TN Estimated	602	+24.1%
139	Kuna, ID Estimated	599	+15.9%
140	Tracy, CA Estimated	597	-7.3%
141	Clayton, NC Estimated	590	-5.4%
141	Scottsdale, AZ Estimated	590	-4.8%
143	Davenport, FL Estimated	585	+93.1%
144	Las Cruces, NM Estimated	584	+10.8%
145	Noblesville, IN Estimated	583	-2.3%
146	Chandler, AZ Estimated	581	+18.1%
147	San Diego, CA Estimated	580	-25.1%
148	Lexington, KY Estimated	579	-21%
149	San Marcos, TX Estimated	577	+3.6%
150	Waxahachie, TX Estimated	576	+3.8%
151	Broken Arrow, OK Estimated	575	+26.4%
152	Erie, CO Estimated	572	-1.2%
153	Missouri City, TX Estimated	570	+47.7%
154	Casa Grande, AZ Estimated	567	+125%
155	Rancho Cordova, CA Estimated	561	+158.5%
156	Melissa, TX Estimated	560	+7.3%
157	New Orleans, LA Estimated	558	+6.5%
158	Fayetteville, AR Estimated	554	-21%
159	Groveland, FL Estimated	553	-9.5%
160	New Smyrna Beach, FL Estimated	549	+33.9%
160	North Charleston, SC Estimated	549	+22.5%
162	Greensboro, NC Estimated	548	-8.2%
163	Mount Pleasant, SC Estimated	547	-30%
164	Rio Rancho, NM Estimated	546	-1.4%
165	Fate, TX Estimated	544	+6.9%
166	Katy, TX Estimated	539	-11.2%
167	McAllen, TX Estimated	536	-0.7%
168	Beaumont, CA Estimated	535	-21.8%
169	Hutto, TX Estimated	533	+24.5%
169	Valdosta, GA Estimated	533	+27.8%
171	Chino, CA Estimated	531	+21.5%
172	Auburn, AL Estimated	530	-9.1%
172	Yuma, AZ Estimated	530	+9.3%
174	Post Falls, ID Estimated	523	-1.9%
175	Northlake, TX Estimated	521	+167.2%
176	Manteca, CA Estimated	517	+0.2%
177	San Jose, CA Estimated	514	+116%
178	Columbus, OH Estimated	512	-7.7%
179	Myrtle Beach, SC Estimated	509	-7.5%
180	Seattle, WA Estimated	507	-3.1%
181	Franklin, TN Estimated	505	-11.6%
182	Bluffdale, UT Estimated	501	-5.6%
183	Rosenberg, TX Estimated	500	+104.9%
183	Suffolk, VA Estimated	500	-0.2%
185	Hardeeville, SC Estimated	499	+35.6%
186	Texas City, TX Estimated	496	-2.7%
187	Allen, TX Estimated	494	+8.1%
188	Leland, NC Estimated	490	-0.6%
188	Ocoee, FL Estimated	490	+14.5%
190	Little Rock, AR Estimated	480	+47.7%
191	Crowley, TX Estimated	478	+31.3%
192	Edmond, OK Estimated	477	+4.8%
192	Pasco, WA Estimated	477	-1.6%
194	Hillsboro, OR Estimated	476	+116.4%
195	Perry, GA Estimated	475	+51.8%
196	Midlothian, TX Estimated	474	+0.4%
197	Bentonville, AR Estimated	473	-7.1%
198	DeLand, FL Estimated	472	+2.4%
199	Smyrna, TN Estimated	469	+51.3%
200	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	467	-24.2%
201	Mansfield, TX Estimated	466	-16.5%
202	Manvel, TX Estimated	465	-10.4%
203	Columbia, SC Estimated	464	+3.3%
203	Marysville, WA Estimated	464	+90.2%
205	Eagle, ID Estimated	460	-33.4%
206	Hoover, AL Estimated	456	+46.2%
207	Prescott Valley, AZ Estimated	454	-8.5%
208	Folsom, CA Estimated	453	+6.8%
209	Canton, GA Estimated	452	+13.9%
210	Gallatin, TN Estimated	447	-16.8%
210	Rogers, AR Estimated	447	+1.4%
212	Amarillo, TX Estimated	446	-17.9%
212	Layton, UT Estimated	446	+4.4%
212	McDonough, GA Estimated	446	+2.3%
215	Lake Charles, LA Estimated	441	+29.3%
216	Rocklin, CA Estimated	439	-25%
216	Victorville, CA Estimated	439	+64.4%
218	Brighton, CO Estimated	437	+47.1%
219	Chattanooga, TN Estimated	434	-1.6%
219	Prescott, AZ Estimated	434	+20.9%
221	Clermont, FL Estimated	433	+14.9%
221	Flower Mound, TX Estimated	433	-24.7%
223	Hendersonville, TN Estimated	432	+53.2%
223	Salem, OR Estimated	432	-11.7%
225	Knoxville, TN Estimated	430	+28.4%
226	Deltona, FL Estimated	427	+77.9%
226	Longmont, CO Estimated	427	-14.4%
228	Madison, WI Estimated	426	+27.5%
229	Wylie, TX Estimated	424	-22.9%
230	Norman, OK Estimated	419	+5.5%
231	Hollister, CA Estimated	417	+12.4%
231	Parker, CO Estimated	417	+2.2%
233	Severance, CO Estimated	413	-19.5%
234	Centerton, AR Estimated	410	+26.5%
234	Chicago, IL Estimated	410	-6.6%
236	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	407	+2.8%
237	Crossville, TN Estimated	405	-55.7%
237	Parkland, FL Estimated	405	+6.9%
239	Fairhope, AL Estimated	404	+25.9%
240	O'Fallon, MO Estimated	403	+33.9%
241	Jonesboro, AR Estimated	401	-0.5%
242	Southaven, MS Estimated	400	+8.7%
243	College Station, TX Estimated	398	-13.3%
243	Holly Springs, GA Estimated	398	-15.5%
243	Lathrop, CA Estimated	398	+8.4%
246	Tyler, TX Estimated	392	+16.3%
247	Des Moines, IA Estimated	391	+117.2%
247	Winter Garden, FL Estimated	391	-31.3%
249	Daphne, AL Estimated	389	+94.5%
249	Santa Clarita, CA Estimated	389	+4.6%

Showing the top 250 of 3010. 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. 77 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2019 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/South%20Region/so2019a.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. (2020). Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2019a.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, US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2020, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2019a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2019. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2020. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2019a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2019.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2020) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2019a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_us_cities_by_single_2019,
  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: US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2019}},
  year = {2020},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2019a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2019. 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/South\%20Region/so2019a.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: US cities by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2019
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/05/01
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2019a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/us-cities?period=2019.
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/South%20Region/so2019a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

Houston, TX, with 5,120 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Zion, IL, with 0 in 2019.

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. 77 cities have no value for 2019 and are not ranked.