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 2018, at 3,780. Sweetwater, FL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 72. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest3,780Jacksonville, FL

Lowest0Sweetwater, FL

Median72171 cities

Top 40 cities, 2018

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	2018 count	Change on 2017
1	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	3,780	+25.8%
2	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	2,245	+21.9%
3	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	2,102	+43.5%
4	North Port, FL Estimated	1,274	+19.7%
5	Tampa, FL Estimated	1,109	+9.8%
6	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	960	+29.9%
7	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	851	+11.8%
8	Orlando, FL Estimated	790	-4.6%
9	Winter Haven, FL Estimated	774	+9.8%
10	Palm Coast, FL Estimated	755	+19.7%
11	Palm Bay, FL Estimated	689	+22.2%
12	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	616	+25.7%
13	Groveland, FL Estimated	611	+52%
14	Winter Garden, FL Estimated	569	+11.8%
15	Doral, FL Estimated	476	+277.8%
16	DeLand, FL Estimated	461	+13.5%
17	Lakeland, FL Estimated	435	+0.5%
18	Ocoee, FL Estimated	428	+23%
19	New Smyrna Beach, FL Estimated	410	+14.5%
20	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	396	+4.5%
21	Parkland, FL Estimated	379	-13.1%
22	Clermont, FL Estimated	377	-10.2%
23	Sanford, FL Estimated	373	+55.4%
24	Kissimmee, FL Estimated	366	-23.3%
25	Haines City, FL Estimated	340	+42.9%
26	St. Petersburg, FL Estimated	335	-17.1%
27	Homestead, FL Estimated	333	+26.1%
28	Davenport, FL Estimated	303	-16.1%
29	Apopka, FL Estimated	261	-30.2%
30	Venice, FL Estimated	245	+12.4%
31	Deltona, FL Estimated	240	+53.8%
32	Ocala, FL Estimated	226	-2.2%
33	Pembroke Pines, FL Estimated	221	+0.9%
34	Palm Beach Gardens, FL Estimated	219	+6.8%
35	Leesburg, FL Estimated	212	+26.2%
36	Melbourne, FL Estimated	210	-28.8%
37	Miami Lakes, FL Estimated	209	-16.4%
38	Hollywood, FL Estimated	208	+23.8%
39	Port Orange, FL Estimated	203	-1.5%
39	West Melbourne, FL Estimated	203	-24%
41	Zephyrhills, FL Estimated	193	+91.1%
42	Crestview, FL Estimated	180	-15.9%
43	Bradenton, FL Estimated	178	+12.7%
44	Sebastian, FL Estimated	177	0%
45	Fernandina Beach, FL Estimated	175	+10.1%
46	Tamarac, FL Estimated	162	+11%
47	Daytona Beach, FL Estimated	141	+13.7%
48	Mascotte, FL Estimated	136	+97.1%
49	Minneola, FL Estimated	135	-26.6%
50	Panama City Beach, FL Estimated	134	+12.6%
51	Plant City, FL Estimated	132	-3.6%
52	Mount Dora, FL Estimated	129	+8.4%
53	Gainesville, FL Estimated	128	+8.5%
54	Oviedo, FL Estimated	127	-53.5%
55	Lady Lake, FL Estimated	122	+43.5%
56	Royal Palm Beach, FL Estimated	117	+200%
57	Naples, FL Estimated	115	+26.4%
58	Estero, FL Estimated	114	-20.8%
58	Jupiter, FL Estimated	114	-27.4%
58	Winter Park, FL Estimated	114	+67.6%
61	Boca Raton, FL Estimated	112	+24.4%
61	Pensacola, FL Estimated	112	-15.2%
63	Panama City, FL Estimated	111	+7.8%
64	Auburndale, FL Estimated	110	+168.3%
65	Fort Lauderdale, FL Estimated	109	-18%
66	Green Cove Springs, FL Estimated	107	-18.3%
67	Punta Gorda, FL Estimated	106	-13.8%
68	Lake Alfred, FL Estimated	102	+385.7%
69	Titusville, FL Estimated	101	+60.3%
70	Jacksonville Beach, FL Estimated	97	-1%
71	Lynn Haven, FL Estimated	95	+13.1%
72	Sarasota, FL Estimated	93	-26.2%
73	Margate, FL Estimated	89	+323.8%
74	Marco Island, FL Estimated	87	-25%
75	Marathon, FL Estimated	84	+104.9%
76	Tarpon Springs, FL Estimated	83	-15.3%
77	Atlantic Beach, FL Estimated	82	-23.4%
78	Longwood, FL Estimated	81	+97.6%
78	Niceville, FL Estimated	81	+42.1%
80	Miami, FL Estimated	80	-11.1%
80	Palm Springs, FL Estimated	80	+207.7%
82	Largo, FL Estimated	79	+146.9%
83	Hialeah, FL Estimated	75	-43.2%
83	Riviera Beach, FL Estimated	75	+733.3%
85	Lake Wales, FL Estimated	73	-46.7%
86	Dunedin, FL Estimated	72	+1,340%
86	Lake Mary, FL Estimated	72	0%
88	St. Augustine, FL Estimated	71	-1.4%
89	DeBary, FL Estimated	70	+12.9%
90	Ormond Beach, FL Estimated	66	-58.2%
91	Orange City, FL Estimated	64	+392.3%
92	Fort Pierce, FL Estimated	61	+238.9%
93	Bartow, FL Estimated	59	+5.4%
94	Destin, FL Estimated	55	-25.7%
94	Pompano Beach, FL Estimated	55	+44.7%
96	Callaway, FL Estimated	54	+12.5%
96	Delray Beach, FL Estimated	54	-21.7%
96	Tavares, FL Estimated	54	-78.5%
99	Wellington, FL Estimated	48	+65.5%
100	Rockledge, FL Estimated	45	-25%
101	Alachua, FL Estimated	44	+238.5%
102	Clearwater, FL Estimated	43	+26.5%
103	Davie, FL Estimated	41	-31.7%
104	West Palm Beach, FL Estimated	40	-13%
105	Pinecrest, FL Estimated	39	+44.4%
106	Dania Beach, FL Estimated	37	+94.7%
106	Weston, FL Estimated	37	+164.3%
108	Brooksville, FL Estimated	36	+5.9%
108	Holly Hill, FL Estimated	36	+1,700%
108	Satellite Beach, FL Estimated	36	+100%
111	Coral Gables, FL Estimated	35	+66.7%
111	Oldsmar, FL Estimated	35	-7.9%
113	Plantation, FL Estimated	34	+183.3%
114	Coral Springs, FL Estimated	33	+10%
114	Winter Springs, FL Estimated	33	+266.7%
116	Eustis, FL Estimated	31	-50%
116	Miami Beach, FL Estimated	31	-32.6%
118	Altamonte Springs, FL Estimated	29	-12.1%
118	Fort Walton Beach, FL Estimated	29	-34.1%
120	Seminole, FL Estimated	28	-30%
121	Edgewater, FL Estimated	27	-50%
122	Key Biscayne, FL Estimated	26	-3.7%
123	Oakland Park, FL Estimated	23	-76.3%
124	Stuart, FL Estimated	22	+37.5%
125	Key West, FL Estimated	20	+11.1%
125	Safety Harbor, FL Estimated	20	-16.7%
127	Deerfield Beach, FL Estimated	17	-75.4%
127	Greenacres, FL Estimated	17	-72.1%
127	Gulfport, FL Estimated	17	+54.5%
127	North Miami, FL Estimated	17	-46.9%
127	Sebring, FL Estimated	17	-15%
132	Coconut Creek, FL Estimated	16	-54.3%
132	Miami Gardens, FL Estimated	16	0%
134	Boynton Beach, FL Estimated	15	0%
134	Cooper City, FL Estimated	15	+50%
134	Dade City, FL Estimated	15	-6.3%
134	Pinellas Park, FL Estimated	15	-75.4%
138	West Park, FL Estimated	14	-26.3%
139	South Miami, FL Estimated	13	+8.3%
140	Wilton Manors, FL Estimated	12	+50%
141	Lighthouse Point, FL Estimated	11	-26.7%
141	New Port Richey, FL Estimated	11	0%
143	Cocoa, FL Estimated	10	+42.9%
143	Cutler Bay, FL Estimated	10	-16.7%
143	Hallandale Beach, FL Estimated	10	-9.1%
146	North Miami Beach, FL Estimated	9	+50%
146	Sunny Isles Beach, FL Estimated	9	0%
148	Temple Terrace, FL Estimated	8	-61.9%
149	Cocoa Beach, FL Estimated	7	-30%
150	Miramar, FL Estimated	6	-75%
150	North Palm Beach, FL Estimated	6	0%
150	Palmetto, FL Estimated	6	0%
153	Belle Glade, FL Estimated	5	-16.7%
153	Lantana, FL Estimated	5	+66.7%
153	Lauderhill, FL Estimated	5	-58.3%
156	Casselberry, FL Estimated	4	-93.9%
157	Lake City, FL Estimated	3	-40%
157	Maitland, FL Estimated	3	+200%
157	Miami Shores, FL Estimated	3	+200%
157	Miami Springs, FL Estimated	3	+200%
161	Hialeah Gardens, FL Estimated	2	0%
161	Palmetto Bay, FL Estimated	2	-86.7%
163	Palatka, FL Estimated	1	-75%
164	Aventura, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	Florida City, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	Lauderdale Lakes, FL Estimated	0	-100%
164	North Lauderdale, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	Opa-locka, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	South Daytona, FL Estimated	0	-100%
164	Sunrise, FL Estimated	0	-100%
164	Sweetwater, 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 2018 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/so2018a.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. (2019). 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, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.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, 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 20 June 2019, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2019. 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, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2019) 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, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_florida_by_2018,
  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, 2018}},
  year = {2019},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2018. 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/so2018a.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, 2018
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/06/20
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2018a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2018.
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/so2018a.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.

rank_places {"indicator":"building_permit_single_family_units","level":"municipality","within":"Florida","limit":10}
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Questions

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

Jacksonville, FL, with 3,780 in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Sweetwater, FL, with 0 in 2018.

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 2018 and are not ranked.