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 2020, at 5,549. Sweetwater, FL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 74. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest5,549Jacksonville, FL

Lowest0Sweetwater, FL

Median74171 cities

Top 40 cities, 2020

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	2020 count	Change on 2019
1	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	5,549	+33.5%
2	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	3,719	+43.5%
3	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	2,693	+43.4%
4	North Port, FL Estimated	1,560	+18.5%
5	Tampa, FL Estimated	1,308	+12.9%
6	Palm Bay, FL Estimated	1,278	+63.4%
7	Palm Coast, FL Estimated	1,246	+52.5%
8	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	1,097	-12%
9	Orlando, FL Estimated	956	+28%
10	Winter Haven, FL Estimated	887	+17.2%
11	Haines City, FL Estimated	768	+10.3%
12	Daytona Beach, FL Estimated	760	+400%
13	Lakeland, FL Estimated	741	+22.3%
14	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	653	-20.2%
15	Homestead, FL Estimated	562	+149.8%
16	Groveland, FL Estimated	539	-2.5%
17	DeLand, FL Estimated	521	+10.4%
18	Davenport, FL Estimated	515	-12%
19	Clermont, FL Estimated	480	+10.9%
20	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	477	+2.1%
21	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	472	+16%
22	New Smyrna Beach, FL Estimated	468	-14.8%
23	Apopka, FL Estimated	465	+40.5%
24	Deltona, FL Estimated	442	+3.5%
25	Auburndale, FL Estimated	406	+68.5%
26	Ocoee, FL Estimated	393	-19.8%
27	Riviera Beach, FL Estimated	366	+266%
27	Zephyrhills, FL Estimated	366	+105.6%
29	St. Petersburg, FL Estimated	355	-5.6%
30	Leesburg, FL Estimated	347	+66%
31	Venice, FL Estimated	340	+102.4%
32	Deerfield Beach, FL Estimated	300	+39.5%
33	Sanford, FL Estimated	289	+31.4%
34	Kissimmee, FL Estimated	262	-0.8%
35	Palm Beach Gardens, FL Estimated	253	+15%
36	Parkland, FL Estimated	245	-39.5%
37	Miami Lakes, FL Estimated	244	+17.3%
38	Winter Garden, FL Estimated	243	-37.9%
39	Fort Pierce, FL Estimated	235	+70.3%
40	West Melbourne, FL Estimated	226	-2.6%
41	Melbourne, FL Estimated	221	+123.2%
42	Minneola, FL Estimated	215	+11.4%
43	Port Orange, FL Estimated	192	+48.8%
44	Orange City, FL Estimated	190	+37.7%
45	Mascotte, FL Estimated	183	+13%
46	Sebastian, FL Estimated	176	-2.8%
47	Hollywood, FL Estimated	174	-21.3%
48	Ocala, FL Estimated	173	-23.1%
49	Cocoa, FL Estimated	158	+77.5%
50	Fort Lauderdale, FL Estimated	155	+22%
51	Gainesville, FL Estimated	149	+15.5%
52	Crestview, FL Estimated	146	-19.8%
53	Naples, FL Estimated	143	+22.2%
54	Lynn Haven, FL Estimated	136	+40.2%
55	Mount Dora, FL Estimated	135	-6.3%
56	Ormond Beach, FL Estimated	134	+173.5%
56	Panama City, FL Estimated	134	-20.2%
58	Plant City, FL Estimated	132	+214.3%
59	Titusville, FL Estimated	130	+26.2%
60	Marco Island, FL Estimated	129	+19.4%
61	Lady Lake, FL Estimated	126	+21.2%
62	Fernandina Beach, FL Estimated	124	-24.8%
63	Boca Raton, FL Estimated	122	+8%
64	Punta Gorda, FL Estimated	114	+40.7%
65	Delray Beach, FL Estimated	109	+1.9%
65	Tavares, FL Estimated	109	+172.5%
67	Sarasota, FL Estimated	107	+10.3%
68	Doral, FL Estimated	103	-60.2%
69	Winter Springs, FL Estimated	102	+112.5%
70	Niceville, FL Estimated	99	-15.4%
71	Winter Park, FL Estimated	98	0%
72	West Palm Beach, FL Estimated	93	+34.8%
73	Pensacola, FL Estimated	92	+8.2%
74	DeBary, FL Estimated	90	+26.8%
74	Marathon, FL Estimated	90	-16.7%
76	Clearwater, FL Estimated	86	+120.5%
77	Largo, FL Estimated	85	+14.9%
77	Pompano Beach, FL Estimated	85	+13.3%
79	St. Augustine, FL Estimated	84	-61.5%
79	Temple Terrace, FL Estimated	84	+180%
81	Miami, FL Estimated	81	-24.3%
82	Jupiter, FL Estimated	80	-7%
83	Panama City Beach, FL Estimated	78	-65%
84	Hialeah, FL Estimated	77	-12.5%
84	Tamarac, FL Estimated	77	-30%
86	Bradenton, FL Estimated	74	+15.6%
87	Royal Palm Beach, FL Estimated	72	-58.4%
88	Callaway, FL Estimated	69	+25.5%
89	Alachua, FL Estimated	68	+70%
89	Estero, FL Estimated	68	+9.7%
91	Coral Springs, FL Estimated	60	+22.4%
91	Dunedin, FL Estimated	60	+3.4%
93	Jacksonville Beach, FL Estimated	58	-32.6%
94	Bartow, FL Estimated	56	+47.4%
94	Davie, FL Estimated	56	+12%
94	Rockledge, FL Estimated	56	+30.2%
97	Tarpon Springs, FL Estimated	53	-39.8%
98	Longwood, FL Estimated	50	-28.6%
98	Miramar, FL Estimated	50	+2%
100	Destin, FL Estimated	49	+58.1%
101	Belle Glade, FL Estimated	46	+1,433.3%
101	Palmetto, FL Estimated	46	-23.3%
103	Green Cove Springs, FL Estimated	45	-73.1%
104	Pembroke Pines, FL Estimated	44	-39.7%
105	Pinellas Park, FL Estimated	43	+19.4%
106	Dania Beach, FL Estimated	38	-5%
107	Brooksville, FL Estimated	37	-56%
108	Lake Alfred, FL Estimated	36	+12.5%
109	Atlantic Beach, FL Estimated	35	-7.9%
109	Edgewater, FL Estimated	35	+25%
111	Coral Gables, FL Estimated	33	+26.9%
111	Miami Beach, FL Estimated	33	-13.2%
113	Fort Walton Beach, FL Estimated	32	+23.1%
114	Key Biscayne, FL Estimated	30	+11.1%
114	Lake Wales, FL Estimated	30	-65.1%
116	Satellite Beach, FL Estimated	29	+26.1%
117	Margate, FL Estimated	28	+12%
117	Wellington, FL Estimated	28	-20%
119	Pinecrest, FL Estimated	27	-32.5%
120	Lake Mary, FL Estimated	26	-38.1%
121	Casselberry, FL Estimated	23	0%
121	Eustis, FL Estimated	23	+4.5%
123	Sebring, FL Estimated	20	+42.9%
124	Boynton Beach, FL Estimated	19	-13.6%
125	Oakland Park, FL Estimated	18	+50%
126	Key West, FL Estimated	16	-20%
126	Lighthouse Point, FL Estimated	16	+14.3%
128	Dade City, FL Estimated	14	+75%
128	Gulfport, FL Estimated	14	+27.3%
128	New Port Richey, FL Estimated	14	+16.7%
128	Oviedo, FL Estimated	14	-39.1%
128	Plantation, FL Estimated	14	-70.8%
128	Weston, FL Estimated	14	-41.7%
134	North Palm Beach, FL Estimated	12	+100%
134	Seminole, FL Estimated	12	-78.6%
136	Lake City, FL Estimated	10	+400%
136	Miami Gardens, FL Estimated	10	-83.3%
136	Safety Harbor, FL Estimated	10	-37.5%
136	Stuart, FL Estimated	10	+11.1%
136	West Park, FL Estimated	10	+25%
141	South Miami, FL Estimated	9	-10%
142	Cooper City, FL Estimated	8	+300%
142	North Miami, FL Estimated	8	-69.2%
144	Palm Springs, FL Estimated	7	-91.1%
144	Wilton Manors, FL Estimated	7	+40%
146	Cocoa Beach, FL Estimated	6	0%
146	Hallandale Beach, FL Estimated	6	-33.3%
146	Oldsmar, FL Estimated	6	+50%
149	Holly Hill, FL Estimated	5	+25%
150	Coconut Creek, FL Estimated	4	-66.7%
150	Greenacres, FL Estimated	4	-82.6%
152	Altamonte Springs, FL Estimated	3	n/a
152	Cutler Bay, FL Estimated	3	-70%
152	Lantana, FL Estimated	3	-25%
152	Maitland, FL Estimated	3	-25%
152	Miami Shores, FL Estimated	3	-25%
152	Palmetto Bay, FL Estimated	3	-40%
158	Opa-locka, FL Estimated	2	+100%
159	North Miami Beach, FL Estimated	1	-90%
159	South Daytona, FL Estimated	1	-50%
161	Aventura, FL Estimated	0	n/a
161	Florida City, FL Estimated	0	-100%
161	Hialeah Gardens, FL Estimated	0	-100%
161	Lauderdale Lakes, FL Estimated	0	n/a
161	Lauderhill, FL Estimated	0	n/a
161	Miami Springs, FL Estimated	0	-100%
161	North Lauderdale, FL Estimated	0	-100%
161	Palatka, FL Estimated	0	n/a
161	Sunny Isles Beach, FL Estimated	0	-100%
161	Sunrise, FL Estimated	0	n/a
161	Sweetwater, FL Estimated	0	n/a

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 2020 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/so2020a.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. (2021). 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, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2020a.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, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 3 May 2021, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2020a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2020. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2021. 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, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2020a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2020.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2021) 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, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2020a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_florida_by_2020,
  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, 2020}},
  year = {2021},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2020a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2020. 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/so2020a.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, 2020
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/05/03
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2020a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2020.
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/so2020a.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 5,549 in 2020, 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 2020.

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 2020 and are not ranked.