Cities in Florida by housing units authorized by building permits
Jacksonville, FL had the highest housing units authorized by building permits of 171 cities in 2017, at 5,879. Opa-locka, FL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 107 and the figure for Florida was 122,719. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.
Top 40 cities, 2017
Full ranking
| Rank | Cities | 2017 | Change on 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville, FL Estimated | 5,879 | +6.6% |
| 2 | Miami, FL Estimated | 4,761 | +21.8% |
| 3 | Tampa, FL Estimated | 3,175 | -25.5% |
| 4 | Cape Coral, FL Estimated | 2,550 | +60.7% |
| 5 | Orlando, FL Estimated | 1,646 | -0.8% |
| 6 | Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated | 1,601 | +27.2% |
| 7 | Tallahassee, FL Estimated | 1,535 | +76.6% |
| 8 | Gainesville, FL Estimated | 1,318 | +308% |
| 9 | Fort Lauderdale, FL Estimated | 1,274 | +778.6% |
| 10 | Fort Myers, FL Estimated | 1,151 | -17% |
| 11 | North Port, FL Estimated | 1,088 | +21.2% |
| 12 | St. Petersburg, FL Estimated | 934 | -28% |
| 13 | North Miami, FL Estimated | 826 | +3,491.3% |
| 14 | St. Cloud, FL Estimated | 739 | -16.6% |
| 15 | Bonita Springs, FL Estimated | 719 | -8.5% |
| 15 | Pompano Beach, FL Estimated | 719 | +229.8% |
| 17 | Winter Haven, FL Estimated | 705 | +62.8% |
| 18 | Palm Coast, FL Estimated | 697 | +27.2% |
| 19 | Kissimmee, FL Estimated | 633 | +67.5% |
| 20 | West Melbourne, FL Estimated | 575 | +101% |
| 21 | Palm Bay, FL Estimated | 564 | +31.5% |
| 22 | Hollywood, FL Estimated | 538 | +19.3% |
| 23 | Ocala, FL Estimated | 535 | +435% |
| 24 | Panama City Beach, FL Estimated | 520 | +213.3% |
| 25 | Clermont, FL Estimated | 518 | -32.2% |
| 26 | Winter Garden, FL Estimated | 509 | +24.1% |
| 27 | Lakeland, FL Estimated | 485 | +58.5% |
| 28 | Royal Palm Beach, FL Estimated | 447 | +964.3% |
| 29 | Parkland, FL Estimated | 436 | -1.8% |
| 30 | Bradenton, FL Estimated | 432 | -43.5% |
| 31 | Pembroke Pines, FL Estimated | 425 | -6.6% |
| 32 | North Miami Beach, FL Estimated | 415 | +713.7% |
| 33 | DeLand, FL Estimated | 406 | +11.2% |
| 34 | Sarasota, FL Estimated | 405 | -5.8% |
| 35 | Groveland, FL Estimated | 402 | +6.3% |
| 36 | Clearwater, FL Estimated | 400 | -14.3% |
| 37 | Apopka, FL Estimated | 390 | -39.5% |
| 38 | Sunrise, FL Estimated | 384 | +38,300% |
| 39 | Doral, FL Estimated | 375 | -60% |
| 40 | Davenport, FL Estimated | 371 | +49% |
| 41 | Destin, FL Estimated | 370 | +150% |
| 42 | New Smyrna Beach, FL Estimated | 362 | +14.6% |
| 43 | Ocoee, FL Estimated | 348 | -26.7% |
| 44 | Davie, FL Estimated | 342 | -6.8% |
| 45 | Lake Mary, FL Estimated | 336 | +286.2% |
| 46 | West Palm Beach, FL Estimated | 324 | -37% |
| 47 | Boca Raton, FL Estimated | 321 | -46.3% |
| 48 | Venice, FL Estimated | 301 | -24.9% |
| 49 | Melbourne, FL Estimated | 295 | +14.8% |
| 50 | Winter Springs, FL Estimated | 288 | -31.6% |
| 51 | Hialeah, FL Estimated | 285 | -62.6% |
| 52 | Oviedo, FL Estimated | 275 | -45.1% |
| 53 | Homestead, FL Estimated | 264 | -35.6% |
| 54 | Tavares, FL Estimated | 263 | -31% |
| 55 | Palm Beach Gardens, FL Estimated | 262 | +2.7% |
| 56 | Sanford, FL Estimated | 260 | -4.1% |
| 57 | Miami Lakes, FL Estimated | 250 | +12,400% |
| 58 | Haines City, FL Estimated | 238 | +16.1% |
| 59 | Casselberry, FL Estimated | 227 | -62.5% |
| 60 | Crestview, FL Estimated | 214 | +82.9% |
| 61 | Port Orange, FL Estimated | 206 | -51.4% |
| 62 | Estero, FL Estimated | 200 | +65.3% |
| 62 | Naples, FL Estimated | 200 | +34.2% |
| 64 | Sweetwater, FL Estimated | 193 | +19,200% |
| 65 | Lynn Haven, FL Estimated | 188 | +14.6% |
| 66 | Delray Beach, FL Estimated | 184 | -57.6% |
| 66 | Minneola, FL Estimated | 184 | -13.2% |
| 68 | Sebastian, FL Estimated | 177 | +16.4% |
| 69 | Leesburg, FL Estimated | 168 | -12% |
| 70 | Jupiter, FL Estimated | 163 | -25.2% |
| 71 | Oakland Park, FL Estimated | 161 | -27.5% |
| 72 | Fernandina Beach, FL Estimated | 159 | +31.4% |
| 73 | Ormond Beach, FL Estimated | 158 | +6% |
| 74 | Deltona, FL Estimated | 156 | +54.5% |
| 75 | Tamarac, FL Estimated | 146 | +31.5% |
| 76 | Lake Wales, FL Estimated | 137 | +95.7% |
| 76 | Plant City, FL Estimated | 137 | +6.2% |
| 78 | Punta Gorda, FL Estimated | 135 | +11.6% |
| 79 | Pensacola, FL Estimated | 132 | +153.8% |
| 80 | Green Cove Springs, FL Estimated | 131 | -9% |
| 81 | Belle Glade, FL Estimated | 126 | +34% |
| 82 | Daytona Beach, FL Estimated | 124 | -10.8% |
| 83 | Margate, FL Estimated | 121 | |
| 84 | Mount Dora, FL Estimated | 119 | -6.3% |
| 85 | Marco Island, FL Estimated | 116 | +11.5% |
| 86 | Atlantic Beach, FL Estimated | 107 | +10.3% |
| 87 | Panama City, FL Estimated | 103 | +74.6% |
| 88 | Zephyrhills, FL Estimated | 101 | -29.9% |
| 89 | Jacksonville Beach, FL Estimated | 98 | -23.4% |
| 89 | Tarpon Springs, FL Estimated | 98 | +27.3% |
| 91 | Winter Park, FL Estimated | 86 | -77% |
| 92 | Lady Lake, FL Estimated | 85 | +19.7% |
| 93 | Plantation, FL Estimated | 74 | -62.4% |
| 94 | Rockledge, FL Estimated | 72 | -45.9% |
| 94 | St. Augustine, FL Estimated | 72 | +89.5% |
| 96 | Deerfield Beach, FL Estimated | 69 | +115.6% |
| 96 | Mascotte, FL Estimated | 69 | +245% |
| 96 | Safety Harbor, FL Estimated | 69 | +122.6% |
| 99 | Marathon, FL Estimated | 67 | +71.8% |
| 99 | Sunny Isles Beach, FL Estimated | 67 | -13% |
| 101 | Eustis, FL Estimated | 66 | -45% |
| 102 | Titusville, FL Estimated | 65 | -47.2% |
| 103 | DeBary, FL Estimated | 62 | +17% |
| 104 | Greenacres, FL Estimated | 61 | -20.8% |
| 104 | Pinellas Park, FL Estimated | 61 | +74.3% |
| 106 | Miramar, FL Estimated | 60 | -24.1% |
| 107 | Niceville, FL Estimated | 57 | -12.3% |
| 108 | Bartow, FL Estimated | 56 | +5.7% |
| 109 | Edgewater, FL Estimated | 54 | +22.7% |
| 110 | Oldsmar, FL Estimated | 52 | +18.2% |
| 111 | Callaway, FL Estimated | 48 | +433.3% |
| 112 | Miami Beach, FL Estimated | 46 | -60.3% |
| 113 | Fort Walton Beach, FL Estimated | 44 | +7.3% |
| 114 | Altamonte Springs, FL Estimated | 43 | -89.5% |
| 115 | Auburndale, FL Estimated | 41 | -73.9% |
| 115 | Longwood, FL Estimated | 41 | -8.9% |
| 117 | Seminole, FL Estimated | 40 | +21.2% |
| 118 | New Port Richey, FL Estimated | 39 | +8.3% |
| 119 | Boynton Beach, FL Estimated | 37 | -94.9% |
| 120 | Fort Pierce, FL Estimated | 36 | +38.5% |
| 121 | Coconut Creek, FL Estimated | 35 | -90.9% |
| 122 | Brooksville, FL Estimated | 34 | +750% |
| 122 | Coral Springs, FL Estimated | 34 | -89.4% |
| 124 | Orange City, FL Estimated | 33 | +37.5% |
| 125 | Largo, FL Estimated | 32 | -65.2% |
| 126 | Dania Beach, FL Estimated | 30 | +25% |
| 126 | Hallandale Beach, FL Estimated | 30 | +7.1% |
| 128 | Wellington, FL Estimated | 29 | -54% |
| 129 | Key Biscayne, FL Estimated | 27 | -42.6% |
| 129 | Lauderdale Lakes, FL Estimated | 27 | -94.5% |
| 129 | Pinecrest, FL Estimated | 27 | -44.9% |
| 132 | Palm Springs, FL Estimated | 26 | +225% |
| 133 | Coral Gables, FL Estimated | 23 | -54.9% |
| 134 | Lake Alfred, FL Estimated | 21 | -68.2% |
| 134 | Miami Gardens, FL Estimated | 21 | -85.7% |
| 134 | Temple Terrace, FL Estimated | 21 | +110% |
| 137 | Sebring, FL Estimated | 20 | +17.6% |
| 138 | West Park, FL Estimated | 19 | +137.5% |
| 139 | Key West, FL Estimated | 18 | +5.9% |
| 139 | Satellite Beach, FL Estimated | 18 | -85% |
| 141 | North Lauderdale, FL Estimated | 17 | +21.4% |
| 142 | Dade City, FL Estimated | 16 | -46.7% |
| 142 | Stuart, FL Estimated | 16 | -30.4% |
| 144 | Lighthouse Point, FL Estimated | 15 | -31.8% |
| 144 | Palmetto Bay, FL Estimated | 15 | -21.1% |
| 146 | Riviera Beach, FL Estimated | 14 | -50% |
| 146 | Weston, FL Estimated | 14 | -30% |
| 148 | Alachua, FL Estimated | 13 | -65.8% |
| 149 | Cutler Bay, FL Estimated | 12 | -20% |
| 149 | Lauderhill, FL Estimated | 12 | 0% |
| 149 | South Miami, FL Estimated | 12 | -45.5% |
| 152 | Gulfport, FL Estimated | 11 | +22.2% |
| 153 | Cocoa Beach, FL Estimated | 10 | -16.7% |
| 153 | Cooper City, FL Estimated | 10 | +66.7% |
| 155 | Wilton Manors, FL Estimated | 8 | -55.6% |
| 156 | Cocoa, FL Estimated | 7 | -96.3% |
| 156 | Lantana, FL Estimated | 7 | -97.2% |
| 158 | North Palm Beach, FL Estimated | 6 | +20% |
| 158 | Palmetto, FL Estimated | 6 | +100% |
| 160 | Dunedin, FL Estimated | 5 | +66.7% |
| 160 | Lake City, FL Estimated | 5 | |
| 162 | Palatka, FL Estimated | 4 | 0% |
| 163 | Hialeah Gardens, FL Estimated | 2 | -60% |
| 163 | Holly Hill, FL Estimated | 2 | -33.3% |
| 165 | Maitland, FL Estimated | 1 | -98.8% |
| 165 | Miami Shores, FL Estimated | 1 | -50% |
| 165 | Miami Springs, FL Estimated | 1 | -66.7% |
| 165 | South Daytona, FL Estimated | 1 | 0% |
| 169 | Aventura, FL Estimated | 0 | -100% |
| 169 | Florida City, FL Estimated | 0 | |
| 169 | Opa-locka, FL Estimated | 0 | -100% |
Other periods
About this ranking
Number of new privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in the year or month, from the US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey. Annual totals for the nation, states and counties; monthly counts for the nation and states.
Counts housing units, not buildings, starts, completions or sales. Monthly counts are not seasonally adjusted and do not add up exactly to the annual total, which includes later corrections; the national seasonally adjusted annual rate in the monthly New Residential Construction release is a different measure.
Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. 3 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2017 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.
How to cite
U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2017a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.Citation styles
APA 7
U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (Cities in Florida by housing units authorized by building permits, 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2017a.txt
MLA 9
Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Florida by housing units authorized by building permits, 2017. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2018, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2017a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/florida-cities?period=2017. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.
Chicago (author-date)
U.S. Census Bureau. 2018. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Cities in Florida by housing units authorized by building permits, 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2017a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/florida-cities?period=2017.
Harvard
U.S. Census Bureau (2018) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Florida by housing units authorized by building permits, 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2017a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/florida-cities?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_florida_by_2017,
author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
title = {{Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in Florida by housing units authorized by building permits, 2017}},
year = {2018},
howpublished = {Data set},
url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2017a.txt},
urldate = {2026-10-12},
note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/florida-cities?period=2017. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South\%20Region/so2017a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY - DATA
AU - U.S. Census Bureau
TI - Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in Florida by housing units authorized by building permits, 2017
PY - 2018
DA - 2018/05/01
PB - U.S. Census Bureau
DB - Invokely
UR - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2017a.txt
L2 - https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/florida-cities?period=2017
Y2 - 2026/10/12
N1 - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/building-permit-housing-units/florida-cities?period=2017.
N1 - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2017a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER -
Use this data in your AI agent
Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:
Rank Cities in Florida by housing units authorized by building permits using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"building_permit_units","level":"municipality","within":"Florida","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=building_permit_units&level=municipality&within=Florida&limit=10Questions
Which city has the highest housing units authorized by building permits?
Jacksonville, FL, with 5,879 in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Which city has the lowest housing units authorized by building permits?
Opa-locka, FL, with 0 in 2017.
Where does this ranking come from?
Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 3 cities have no value for 2017 and are not ranked.
Housing units authorized by building permits: other rankings
- Cities in South Dakota
- Cities in New Mexico
- Cities in Kentucky
- Counties in Maine
- Counties in Louisiana
- Counties in Texas