HousingPermits

Metro area in California

Chico, CA

The Chico metro area authorized 997 new housing units in 2025. Relative to population, the rate was 6.5 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, the highest rate of the 25 metro areas based in California. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2021, with 2,050 units; 2025 came to 49% of that.

06001,2001,8002,4002004: 1,989 units (1,498 single-family, 138 in 2–4 unit, 353 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,693 units (1,493 single-family, 194 in 2–4 unit, 6 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,282 units (1,189 single-family, 43 in 2–4 unit, 50 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 985 units (804 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 148 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 592 units (532 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 25 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 360 units (306 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 48 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 512 units (157 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 297 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 240 units (202 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 38 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 351 units (213 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 131 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 520 units (307 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 178 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 550 units (355 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 183 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 621 units (356 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 215 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 697 units (445 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 213 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 823 units (457 single-family, 11 in 2–4 unit, 355 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 703 units (595 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 74 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,426 units (885 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 471 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,837 units (1,430 single-family, 177 in 2–4 unit, 230 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 2,050 units (1,193 single-family, 111 in 2–4 unit, 746 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,853 units (989 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 766 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 929 units (691 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 202 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 946 units (657 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 254 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 997 units (662 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 301 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252021 high · 2,0502011 low · 24008001,6002,4002004: 1,989 units (1,498 single-family, 138 in 2–4 unit, 353 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,693 units (1,493 single-family, 194 in 2–4 unit, 6 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,282 units (1,189 single-family, 43 in 2–4 unit, 50 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 985 units (804 single-family, 33 in 2–4 unit, 148 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 592 units (532 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 25 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 360 units (306 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 48 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 512 units (157 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 297 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 240 units (202 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 38 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 351 units (213 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 131 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 520 units (307 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 178 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 550 units (355 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 183 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 621 units (356 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 215 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 697 units (445 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 213 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 823 units (457 single-family, 11 in 2–4 unit, 355 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 703 units (595 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 74 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,426 units (885 single-family, 70 in 2–4 unit, 471 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 1,837 units (1,430 single-family, 177 in 2–4 unit, 230 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 2,050 units (1,193 single-family, 111 in 2–4 unit, 746 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,853 units (989 single-family, 98 in 2–4 unit, 766 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 929 units (691 single-family, 36 in 2–4 unit, 202 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 946 units (657 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 254 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 997 units (662 single-family, 34 in 2–4 unit, 301 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252021 high · 2,050

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 4 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Paradise town, with 2,641 units or 39% of the total, followed by Chico with 2,244. Among the three largest, Chico put 62% of its units in five-plus buildings, Butte County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Paradise town39% (2,641 units)
  • Chico33% (2,244 units)
  • Butte County (unincorporated)18% (1,234 units)
  • Oroville9.7% (656 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 27 other metro areas, among them Binghamton, Tyler, Bloomington, IN. Annual permits fell from 1,989 during the mid-2000s boom to 240 in 2011, a drop of 88%. The nearest bust profile in the Pacific states was Napa's (88%). The 2021–2025 pace of 1,355 units a year is 18% below the 2004–2006 pace. Permits rose 6 years in a row up to 2017. From 2024 to 2025 the count rose 5.4%.

Houses or apartments

In Chico, 62% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 34% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Charlottesville (34% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 8.2%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (766), single-family houses in 2004 (1,498).

2021–202561.9%62%4.6%33.5%34%2004–200684.2%84%7.6%8.2%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202561.9%62%4.6%33.5%34%2004–200684.2%84%7.6%8.2%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Chico, CA9976.534%
Joplin, MO-KS6204.222%
Elkhart-Goshen, IN7772.329%
Warner Robins, GA1,3578.825%
Auburn-Opelika, AL1,5818.816%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Chico beside Joplin

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: California. Counting rules.