Cities in Florida by single-family housing units authorized by building permits

Jacksonville, FL had the highest single-family housing units authorized by building permits of 171 cities in 2016, at 2,678. Royal Palm Beach, FL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 63. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest2,678Jacksonville, FL

Lowest0Royal Palm Beach, FL

Median63171 cities

Top 40 cities, 2016

count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

Rank	Cities	2016 count	Change on 2015
1	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	2,678	+14%
2	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	1,443	+32.4%
3	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	1,114	+42.3%
4	Tampa, FL Estimated	934	-10.7%
5	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	897	-0.9%
6	North Port, FL Estimated	890	+4.6%
7	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	886	+19.7%
8	Orlando, FL Estimated	730	-14.1%
9	Doral, FL Estimated	558	-1.8%
10	Palm Coast, FL Estimated	538	+51.5%
11	Clermont, FL Estimated	484	+50.3%
12	Parkland, FL Estimated	444	+3.3%
13	Winter Haven, FL Estimated	433	+22.3%
14	Palm Bay, FL Estimated	429	+32.8%
15	Winter Garden, FL Estimated	410	-23.6%
16	St. Petersburg, FL Estimated	404	+34.7%
17	Hialeah, FL Estimated	388	+417.3%
18	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	382	-25.2%
19	Groveland, FL Estimated	378	+24.3%
19	Kissimmee, FL Estimated	378	+10.9%
21	Apopka, FL Estimated	373	+17.3%
22	Homestead, FL Estimated	369	-11.7%
23	Venice, FL Estimated	366	+161.4%
24	DeLand, FL Estimated	363	+4.6%
25	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	330	+9.6%
26	New Smyrna Beach, FL Estimated	316	+45%
27	Lakeland, FL Estimated	297	+22.2%
28	West Melbourne, FL Estimated	286	+71.3%
29	Davenport, FL Estimated	249	+21.5%
30	Oviedo, FL Estimated	220	+27.9%
31	Melbourne, FL Estimated	214	+36.3%
32	Minneola, FL Estimated	212	+182.7%
33	Bradenton, FL Estimated	208	+79.3%
34	Haines City, FL Estimated	205	+44.4%
35	West Palm Beach, FL Estimated	193	+14.2%
36	Leesburg, FL Estimated	191	+99%
37	Palm Beach Gardens, FL Estimated	187	+10.7%
38	Jupiter, FL Estimated	185	-17%
39	Pembroke Pines, FL Estimated	175	+121.5%
40	Ocoee, FL Estimated	173	+33.1%
41	Auburndale, FL Estimated	157	+37.7%
42	Sebastian, FL Estimated	152	-23.2%
43	Ormond Beach, FL Estimated	149	+8%
44	Boca Raton, FL Estimated	146	+11.5%
44	Panama City Beach, FL Estimated	146	+8.1%
46	Green Cove Springs, FL Estimated	144	+1.4%
47	Oakland Park, FL Estimated	142	+1,477.8%
48	Tavares, FL Estimated	141	-26.2%
49	Daytona Beach, FL Estimated	139	-1.4%
50	Naples, FL Estimated	134	-17.3%
51	Mount Dora, FL Estimated	127	+62.8%
52	Plant City, FL Estimated	125	+4.2%
53	Fort Lauderdale, FL Estimated	124	0%
53	Jacksonville Beach, FL Estimated	124	-6.8%
55	Titusville, FL Estimated	123	+50%
56	Fernandina Beach, FL Estimated	121	+39.1%
57	Punta Gorda, FL Estimated	117	-11.4%
58	Eustis, FL Estimated	113	+17.7%
59	Sarasota, FL Estimated	109	-6%
60	Crestview, FL Estimated	107	+25.9%
61	Winter Park, FL Estimated	106	+20.5%
62	Marco Island, FL Estimated	104	-8%
63	Deltona, FL Estimated	101	+110.4%
64	Ocala, FL Estimated	100	-9.1%
65	Atlantic Beach, FL Estimated	97	-4%
65	Estero, FL Estimated	97	n/a
67	Coconut Creek, FL Estimated	93	+106.7%
68	Tamarac, FL Estimated	91	-63.7%
69	Sanford, FL Estimated	88	+54.4%
70	Miami, FL Estimated	87	-11.2%
70	Rockledge, FL Estimated	87	+112.2%
72	Delray Beach, FL Estimated	85	-34.1%
73	Destin, FL Estimated	82	+28.1%
74	Miramar, FL Estimated	79	+36.2%
75	Greenacres, FL Estimated	77	+196.2%
75	Tarpon Springs, FL Estimated	77	+13.2%
77	Gainesville, FL Estimated	76	+7%
78	Lynn Haven, FL Estimated	72	-18.2%
79	Lady Lake, FL Estimated	71	+9.2%
79	Lake Mary, FL Estimated	71	+255%
81	Lake Wales, FL Estimated	70	+52.2%
82	Casselberry, FL Estimated	66	+6,500%
82	Lake Alfred, FL Estimated	66	-23.3%
84	Niceville, FL Estimated	65	-21.7%
85	Port Orange, FL Estimated	64	-50.8%
86	Largo, FL Estimated	63	-92.3%
87	Miami Beach, FL Estimated	62	-17.3%
88	Panama City, FL Estimated	59	+210.5%
89	Davie, FL Estimated	54	+10.2%
90	Bartow, FL Estimated	53	-38.4%
90	DeBary, FL Estimated	53	+82.8%
92	Pensacola, FL Estimated	52	+10.6%
93	North Miami Beach, FL Estimated	51	+6.3%
93	Winter Springs, FL Estimated	51	-76.6%
95	Coral Springs, FL Estimated	50	+4,900%
96	Coral Gables, FL Estimated	49	+2.1%
96	Pinecrest, FL Estimated	49	+63.3%
98	Cocoa, FL Estimated	47	-42.7%
98	Key Biscayne, FL Estimated	47	-2.1%
100	Edgewater, FL Estimated	44	-30.2%
100	Oldsmar, FL Estimated	44	+4.8%
100	Zephyrhills, FL Estimated	44	+91.3%
103	Miami Gardens, FL Estimated	43	-63.6%
104	Hollywood, FL Estimated	42	+7.7%
105	Fort Walton Beach, FL Estimated	41	+24.2%
106	Alachua, FL Estimated	38	-19.1%
107	St. Augustine, FL Estimated	36	-56.1%
108	Clearwater, FL Estimated	35	-16.7%
108	Marathon, FL Estimated	35	-36.4%
108	Pinellas Park, FL Estimated	35	-23.9%
111	Seminole, FL Estimated	33	-34%
112	Deerfield Beach, FL Estimated	32	+220%
113	Safety Harbor, FL Estimated	31	+24%
114	Dade City, FL Estimated	30	+200%
115	Pompano Beach, FL Estimated	27	-89.1%
116	Fort Pierce, FL Estimated	24	+26.3%
116	Orange City, FL Estimated	24	+500%
118	North Miami, FL Estimated	23	+155.6%
118	Plantation, FL Estimated	23	+15%
118	Stuart, FL Estimated	23	n/a
121	Lighthouse Point, FL Estimated	22	0%
121	South Miami, FL Estimated	22	+633.3%
123	Boynton Beach, FL Estimated	20	-48.7%
123	Longwood, FL Estimated	20	+25%
123	Mascotte, FL Estimated	20	+900%
123	Weston, FL Estimated	20	+900%
127	Dania Beach, FL Estimated	19	+280%
127	Palmetto Bay, FL Estimated	19	+58.3%
127	Wellington, FL Estimated	19	-44.1%
130	Altamonte Springs, FL Estimated	18	+500%
130	Wilton Manors, FL Estimated	18	+1,700%
132	Key West, FL Estimated	17	+1,600%
132	Sebring, FL Estimated	17	+6.3%
134	Cutler Bay, FL Estimated	15	+15.4%
135	New Port Richey, FL Estimated	14	+600%
135	North Lauderdale, FL Estimated	14	n/a
137	Cocoa Beach, FL Estimated	12	+100%
137	Lauderhill, FL Estimated	12	-36.8%
137	Satellite Beach, FL Estimated	12	-55.6%
140	Riviera Beach, FL Estimated	10	+25%
140	Temple Terrace, FL Estimated	10	+100%
142	Gulfport, FL Estimated	9	+12.5%
142	Sunny Isles Beach, FL Estimated	9	n/a
144	Palm Springs, FL Estimated	8	-57.9%
144	West Park, FL Estimated	8	+14.3%
146	Hallandale Beach, FL Estimated	7	-12.5%
147	Cooper City, FL Estimated	6	-40%
148	Callaway, FL Estimated	5	-80%
148	Hialeah Gardens, FL Estimated	5	0%
148	North Palm Beach, FL Estimated	5	-16.7%
151	Belle Glade, FL Estimated	4	+100%
151	Brooksville, FL Estimated	4	0%
151	Lantana, FL Estimated	4	-42.9%
151	Palatka, FL Estimated	4	n/a
155	Dunedin, FL Estimated	3	-25%
155	Holly Hill, FL Estimated	3	-25%
155	Maitland, FL Estimated	3	+50%
155	Miami Springs, FL Estimated	3	-50%
155	Palmetto, FL Estimated	3	-70%
160	Lauderdale Lakes, FL Estimated	2	n/a
160	Miami Lakes, FL Estimated	2	-60%
160	Miami Shores, FL Estimated	2	+100%
163	Opa-locka, FL Estimated	1	n/a
163	South Daytona, FL Estimated	1	n/a
163	Sunrise, FL Estimated	1	-90%
163	Sweetwater, FL Estimated	1	-66.7%
167	Aventura, FL Estimated	0	n/a
167	Florida City, FL Estimated	0	n/a
167	Lake City, FL Estimated	0	n/a
167	Margate, FL Estimated	0	-100%
167	Royal Palm Beach, FL Estimated	0	-100%

Other periods

About this ranking

Annual number of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures (detached and attached single-family homes) authorized by building permits, from the US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.

Part of building_permit_units, which also counts units in buildings with two or more units. Counts housing units, not starts, completions or sales.

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 2016 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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2016a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2017). Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation (Cities in Florida by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2016a.txt

MLA 9

Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Florida by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 1 May 2017, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2016a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2017. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Cities in Florida by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2016a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2017) Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation, Cities in Florida by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2016a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_florida_by_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in Florida by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2016}},
  year = {2017},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2016a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South\%20Region/so2016a.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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation: Cities in Florida by single-family housing units authorized by building permits, 2016
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2017/05/01
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2016a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2016a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Rank Cities in Florida by single-family housing units authorized by building permits using official data, and cite the source.

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Questions

Which city has the highest single-family housing units authorized by building permits?

Jacksonville, FL, with 2,678 in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest single-family housing units authorized by building permits?

Royal Palm Beach, FL, with 0 in 2016.

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 in 1-unit structures authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 3 cities have no value for 2016 and are not ranked.