HousingPermits

Metro area in California · part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA combined area

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area authorized 15,937 new housing units in 2025, the second-largest total of the 48 metro areas based in the Pacific states. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 64% below the 2004–2006 average, the second-weakest recovery by this measure among the 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents. Its 2025 total was only 31% of the 2004 high of 51,463 units, the third-furthest below a series peak among the 56 metro areas with 1 million or more residents.

015k30k45k60k2004: 51,463 units (43,142 single-family, 1,085 in 2–4 unit, 7,236 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 51,008 units (45,485 single-family, 1,071 in 2–4 unit, 4,452 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 38,089 units (33,498 single-family, 963 in 2–4 unit, 3,628 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 20,086 units (16,019 single-family, 721 in 2–4 unit, 3,346 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 8,946 units (5,796 single-family, 217 in 2–4 unit, 2,933 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 6,335 units (4,887 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 1,380 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 6,336 units (5,287 single-family, 174 in 2–4 unit, 875 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,736 units (3,378 single-family, 71 in 2–4 unit, 1,287 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 5,949 units (4,488 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 1,332 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 9,348 units (6,472 single-family, 308 in 2–4 unit, 2,568 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 10,166 units (7,222 single-family, 295 in 2–4 unit, 2,649 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 9,926 units (7,816 single-family, 230 in 2–4 unit, 1,880 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 10,921 units (8,837 single-family, 150 in 2–4 unit, 1,934 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 14,676 units (10,955 single-family, 447 in 2–4 unit, 3,274 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 14,809 units (11,591 single-family, 445 in 2–4 unit, 2,773 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 14,599 units (11,147 single-family, 281 in 2–4 unit, 3,171 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 15,232 units (12,897 single-family, 535 in 2–4 unit, 1,800 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 15,606 units (11,962 single-family, 586 in 2–4 unit, 3,058 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 16,747 units (12,467 single-family, 623 in 2–4 unit, 3,657 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 20,268 units (12,463 single-family, 457 in 2–4 unit, 7,348 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 15,824 units (11,633 single-family, 463 in 2–4 unit, 3,728 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 15,937 units (9,977 single-family, 545 in 2–4 unit, 5,415 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 51,4632011 low · 4,736020k40k60k2004: 51,463 units (43,142 single-family, 1,085 in 2–4 unit, 7,236 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 51,008 units (45,485 single-family, 1,071 in 2–4 unit, 4,452 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 38,089 units (33,498 single-family, 963 in 2–4 unit, 3,628 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 20,086 units (16,019 single-family, 721 in 2–4 unit, 3,346 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 8,946 units (5,796 single-family, 217 in 2–4 unit, 2,933 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 6,335 units (4,887 single-family, 68 in 2–4 unit, 1,380 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 6,336 units (5,287 single-family, 174 in 2–4 unit, 875 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 4,736 units (3,378 single-family, 71 in 2–4 unit, 1,287 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 5,949 units (4,488 single-family, 129 in 2–4 unit, 1,332 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 9,348 units (6,472 single-family, 308 in 2–4 unit, 2,568 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 10,166 units (7,222 single-family, 295 in 2–4 unit, 2,649 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 9,926 units (7,816 single-family, 230 in 2–4 unit, 1,880 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 10,921 units (8,837 single-family, 150 in 2–4 unit, 1,934 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 14,676 units (10,955 single-family, 447 in 2–4 unit, 3,274 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 14,809 units (11,591 single-family, 445 in 2–4 unit, 2,773 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 14,599 units (11,147 single-family, 281 in 2–4 unit, 3,171 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 15,232 units (12,897 single-family, 535 in 2–4 unit, 1,800 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 15,606 units (11,962 single-family, 586 in 2–4 unit, 3,058 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 16,747 units (12,467 single-family, 623 in 2–4 unit, 3,657 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 20,268 units (12,463 single-family, 457 in 2–4 unit, 7,348 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 15,824 units (11,633 single-family, 463 in 2–4 unit, 3,728 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 15,937 units (9,977 single-family, 545 in 2–4 unit, 5,415 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 51,463

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis. Annual permits fell from 51,463 during the mid-2000s boom to 4,736 in 2011, a drop of 91%. The nearest bust profile in the Pacific states was Bend's (91%).

The wider Los Angeles-Long Beach region

The Census Bureau groups Riverside with 2 neighboring metro areas in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 48,092 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Riverside accounted for 35%. The others, with their yearly averages: Los Angeles (29,763), Oxnard (1,453).

Where in the metro

Riverside County accounted for 61% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, San Bernardino County for 39%.

  • Riverside County61% (9,697 in 2025)
  • San Bernardino County39% (6,240 in 2025)

Relative to population

With 4,769,007 residents in July 2025, Riverside authorized 3.6 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Bismarck (3.6) and Evansville (3.6).

Houses or apartments

In Riverside, 69% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 28% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Idaho Falls (27% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 11%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2023 (7,348), single-family houses in 2005 (45,485).

2021–202569.3%69%3.2%27.5%28%2004–200686.9%87%2.2%10.9%11%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202569.3%69%3.2%27.5%28%2004–200686.9%87%2.2%10.9%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 54 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Riverside County (unincorporated), with 10,701 units or 13% of the total, followed by Ontario with 7,177. Among the three largest, Ontario put 56% of its units in five-plus buildings, Riverside County (unincorporated) 0%.

  • Riverside County (unincorporated)13% (10,701 units)
  • Ontario8.5% (7,177 units)
  • Fontana7.6% (6,400 units)
  • Menifee6.3% (5,298 units)
  • Murrieta4.3% (3,595 units)
  • Riverside4.2% (3,538 units)
  • Rancho Cucamonga3.9% (3,299 units)
  • Temecula3.6% (3,042 units)

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

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ39,6999.036%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH10,0722.562%
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA15,9373.628%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA7,7502.062%
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI8,8051.832%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Riverside beside San Francisco

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