32,519 recent building permits filed in California.
32,519 permits
Non-DCE-Standard- Standalone:3782/Granada - NORTH PARK: Right of way permit for proposed work to include new water service, remove/replace sidewalk, remove existing driveway and install curb & gutter,...
General-Standard-Building Construction:6926/Mohawk - **Scope Change (03/04/2026)**COLLEGE AREA; Combination building permit; For the proposed, new, detached 1-story ADU to an existing SDU. RM-1-1
Standard- Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Standalone:2552/Torrey Pines - LA JOLLA: Plumbing Permit to replace with existing grease interceptor with a new 250-gallon grease interceptor at an existing he...
California's construction market is running hot right now. We're tracking 21,624 permits on file across the state, with 6,683 filed in just the last 30 days. That's real work happening on real projects, and it translates directly into lead opportunities for contractors. Los Angeles dominates the activity with 15,195 permits, followed by San Francisco with 6,429. Renovation work leads the charge at 11,473 permits, but roofing is solid too at 4,770 permits. Pool work, demolition, and specialty permits round out the rest. The point: there's enough variety here that roofers, HVAC techs, plumbers, and electricians can all find their next job. Permit data works because it's a record of decisions already made. When a property owner pulls a permit, they've committed money and timeline. DigPermit gives you access to this data so you can reach out before competitors do. You're not guessing who's building. You know exactly who filed what, where, and when.
Use permit data. Every building permit filed represents a property owner or GC who has already decided to build or renovate. DigPermit tracks permits as they're filed, so you can identify projects in your area, check the permit type to see if it matches your trade, and reach out directly. This beats waiting for bids to go public or hoping someone refers you work. You're working from actual filed permits, not speculation.
Los Angeles leads significantly with 15,195 permits on file. San Francisco is second with 6,429 permits. These two cities represent a huge share of construction activity in the state. If you're based in or willing to travel to either market, the volume of work is there. Even smaller cities show steady permit activity, so check your local area in DigPermit to see what's actually happening near you.
Renovation permits are most common at 11,473 permits. Roofing is second at 4,770 permits, which is significant work for roofers and GCs. Pool permits account for 1,317, demolition for 674, and another 1,986 are miscellaneous permit types. Your trade likely appears in the data. Use the permit type filters in DigPermit to narrow results to work that matches your services.