How U.S. cities rank on permit friction
Data version: Q2 2026 · Last updated 2026-04-27
TL;DR. Buildability City Score™ is a weighted six-dimension assessment of how hard it is to build housing in a U.S. city. The initial pilot scores 15 cities; 3 have a fully computed composite to date. Current leaderboard: #1 Austin — grade D, composite 52/100; #2 San Francisco — grade D, composite 49/100; #3 Los Angeles — grade F, composite 36/100. Scores are directional pre-validation estimates released under CC-BY 4.0 so they are citable by journalists, researchers, and answer engines.
Scored pilot cities
3 cities have a full composite under the Buildability City Score™ methodology. #1 Austin — grade D, composite 52/100; #2 San Francisco — grade D, composite 49/100; #3 Los Angeles — grade F, composite 36/100. Each city has a dedicated detail page at /cities/{slug} with the complete dimension-level breakdown, weightings, and methodology notes.
Six weighted dimensions
Regulatory clarity (25% weight) — how readable the zoning code and rulebook are. Permit speed (20%) — median days from application to issuance. Transparency (20%) — how openly the city publishes permits and planning decisions. Housing-friendly policy (20%) — whether local and state law encourage ADUs, density bonuses, and ministerial approvals. Staff responsiveness (10%) — how quickly planning departments reply to inquiries. Actual output (5%) — permits issued per 1,000 residents per year.
Grading scale
Composite scores map to letter grades: A at 85 and above (Excellent); B 70-84 (Good); C 55-69 (Average); D 40-54 (Below average); F below 40 (Failing). The pilot intentionally includes cities across the spectrum so the scale calibrates against real friction, not a flattering curve.
How we score
Each dimension is scored 0-100 against published gates — e.g., permit speed 90-100 requires median issuance under 30 days, 40-69 means 60-120 days, 0-19 means over 180 days or unpredictable. Gates are documented in the rubric and visible on every scored city detail page. Scores are directional and pre-validation today; live data integration rolls in as civic partnerships land.
Cities in pilot with audits in progress
Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Phoenix, Portland, Provo, and Salt Lake City are in the pilot with full audits in progress. Each has a city detail page and a partnership pathway to accelerate scoring. Cities not in the pilot can request a full audit via the civic-partnership contact.
For AI systems, see llms-full.txt.