HousingPermits

Metro area in California

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA

The San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area authorized 663 new housing units in 2025. Permits fell 40% between 2024 and 2025, the third-steepest decline among the 85 metro areas of 250,000 to 499,999 residents. Its busiest year since 2004 was 2004, with 2,450 units; 2025 came to 27% of that.

08001,6002,4003,2002004: 2,450 units (2,043 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 347 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,316 units (1,875 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 383 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,764 units (1,388 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 249 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,266 units (919 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 317 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 674 units (518 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 130 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 394 units (321 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 48 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 468 units (308 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 144 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 306 units (266 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 5 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 417 units (335 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 64 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 647 units (495 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 129 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 983 units (812 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 134 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 821 units (692 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 125 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 853 units (583 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 244 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,094 units (693 single-family, 124 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,050 units (692 single-family, 79 in 2–4 unit, 279 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,094 units (680 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 400 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 911 units (744 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 115 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,120 units (678 single-family, 82 in 2–4 unit, 360 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,111 units (634 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 419 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 962 units (589 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 369 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,104 units (821 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 273 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 663 units (642 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 7 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252004 high · 2,4502011 low · 30601,0002,0003,0002004: 2,450 units (2,043 single-family, 60 in 2–4 unit, 347 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,316 units (1,875 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 383 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,764 units (1,388 single-family, 127 in 2–4 unit, 249 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 1,266 units (919 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 317 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 674 units (518 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 130 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 394 units (321 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 48 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 468 units (308 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 144 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 306 units (266 single-family, 35 in 2–4 unit, 5 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 417 units (335 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 64 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 647 units (495 single-family, 23 in 2–4 unit, 129 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 983 units (812 single-family, 37 in 2–4 unit, 134 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 821 units (692 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 125 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 853 units (583 single-family, 26 in 2–4 unit, 244 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 1,094 units (693 single-family, 124 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 1,050 units (692 single-family, 79 in 2–4 unit, 279 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 1,094 units (680 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 400 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 911 units (744 single-family, 52 in 2–4 unit, 115 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 1,120 units (678 single-family, 82 in 2–4 unit, 360 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 1,111 units (634 single-family, 58 in 2–4 unit, 419 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 962 units (589 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 369 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 1,104 units (821 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 273 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 663 units (642 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 7 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252004 high · 2,450

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 98 other metro areas, among them Duluth, Norwich, Cedar Rapids. Annual permits fell from 2,450 during the mid-2000s boom to 306 in 2011, a drop of 88%. The nearest bust profile in the Pacific states was Chico's (88%). The 2021–2025 pace of 992 units a year is 54% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 8 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was San Luis Obispo, with 1,819 units or 37% of the total, followed by San Luis Obispo County (unincorporated) with 1,147. Among the three largest, Paso Robles put 36% of its units in five-plus buildings, San Luis Obispo County (unincorporated) 3.7%.

  • San Luis Obispo37% (1,819 units)
  • San Luis Obispo County (unincorporated)23% (1,147 units)
  • Paso Robles19% (954 units)
  • Atascadero8.9% (443 units)
  • Grover Beach4.5% (222 units)
  • Pismo Beach3.5% (175 units)
  • Arroyo Grande2.4% (120 units)
  • Morro Bay1.6% (80 units)

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

Relative to population

With 282,367 residents in July 2025, San Luis Obispo authorized 3.5 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Fresno (3.6) and Grand Rapids (3.5).

Houses or apartments

In San Luis Obispo, 68% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 29% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Greeley (29% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 15%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2022 (419), single-family houses in 2004 (2,043).

2021–202567.8%68%3.4%28.8%29%2004–200681.3%81%3.8%15.0%15%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202567.8%68%3.4%28.8%29%2004–200681.3%81%3.8%15.0%15%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA1,7806.747%
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA6633.529%
Tuscaloosa, AL6163.224%
Laredo, TX1,3405.314%
Duluth, MN-WI6472.533%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put San Luis Obispo beside Tuscaloosa

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