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 2021, at 6,191. Sweetwater, FL had the lowest, at 0. The median was 75. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest6,191Jacksonville, FL

Lowest0Sweetwater, FL

Median75171 cities

Top 40 cities, 2021

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	2021 count	Change on 2020
1	Jacksonville, FL Estimated	6,191	+11.6%
2	Port St. Lucie, FL Estimated	5,160	+38.7%
3	Cape Coral, FL Estimated	4,279	+58.9%
4	Palm Bay, FL Estimated	2,486	+94.5%
5	North Port, FL Estimated	2,013	+29%
6	Palm Coast, FL Estimated	1,938	+55.5%
7	Haines City, FL Estimated	1,515	+97.3%
8	Tampa, FL Estimated	1,312	+0.3%
9	Daytona Beach, FL Estimated	1,225	+61.2%
10	St. Cloud, FL Estimated	1,209	+10.2%
11	Davenport, FL Estimated	1,043	+102.5%
12	Winter Haven, FL Estimated	1,007	+13.5%
13	Orlando, FL Estimated	990	+3.6%
14	Lakeland, FL Estimated	858	+15.8%
15	DeLand, FL Estimated	763	+46.4%
16	Bonita Springs, FL Estimated	742	+55.6%
17	Venice, FL Estimated	701	+106.2%
18	Groveland, FL Estimated	674	+25%
19	Clermont, FL Estimated	662	+37.9%
20	Apopka, FL Estimated	604	+29.9%
21	Homestead, FL Estimated	559	-0.5%
22	Tallahassee, FL Estimated	540	+14.4%
23	New Smyrna Beach, FL Estimated	534	+14.1%
24	Leesburg, FL Estimated	499	+43.8%
25	Parkland, FL Estimated	498	+103.3%
26	Auburndale, FL Estimated	479	+18%
27	St. Petersburg, FL Estimated	455	+28.2%
28	Zephyrhills, FL Estimated	450	+23%
29	Deltona, FL Estimated	427	-3.4%
30	Fort Myers, FL Estimated	416	-36.3%
31	Minneola, FL Estimated	392	+82.3%
32	Sanford, FL Estimated	362	+25.3%
33	Ocoee, FL Estimated	299	-23.9%
34	Sebastian, FL Estimated	288	+63.6%
35	Palm Beach Gardens, FL Estimated	285	+12.6%
36	Miami Lakes, FL Estimated	279	+14.3%
37	Bradenton, FL Estimated	271	+266.2%
38	Port Orange, FL Estimated	263	+37%
39	Marco Island, FL Estimated	257	+99.2%
40	Fort Pierce, FL Estimated	255	+8.5%
41	Winter Garden, FL Estimated	250	+2.9%
42	Kissimmee, FL Estimated	248	-5.3%
43	Tavares, FL Estimated	231	+111.9%
44	Miramar, FL Estimated	214	+328%
44	Plant City, FL Estimated	214	+62.1%
46	St. Augustine, FL Estimated	213	+153.6%
47	Doral, FL Estimated	206	+100%
48	Fort Lauderdale, FL Estimated	202	+30.3%
49	Mascotte, FL Estimated	192	+4.9%
50	Ocala, FL Estimated	188	+8.7%
51	Lake Alfred, FL Estimated	179	+397.2%
52	Gainesville, FL Estimated	171	+14.8%
53	Sarasota, FL Estimated	165	+54.2%
54	Mount Dora, FL Estimated	162	+20%
55	Ormond Beach, FL Estimated	153	+14.2%
56	Melbourne, FL Estimated	149	-32.6%
56	Titusville, FL Estimated	149	+14.6%
58	Crestview, FL Estimated	148	+1.4%
59	Boca Raton, FL Estimated	147	+20.5%
60	Lady Lake, FL Estimated	146	+15.9%
60	Punta Gorda, FL Estimated	146	+28.1%
62	Panama City, FL Estimated	145	+8.2%
63	Dade City, FL Estimated	144	+928.6%
64	Lynn Haven, FL Estimated	138	+1.5%
65	Fernandina Beach, FL Estimated	131	+5.6%
66	Clearwater, FL Estimated	125	+45.3%
67	Destin, FL Estimated	112	+128.6%
68	Tarpon Springs, FL Estimated	111	+109.4%
69	Naples, FL Estimated	109	-23.8%
70	Cocoa, FL Estimated	103	-34.8%
70	DeBary, FL Estimated	103	+14.4%
72	Miami, FL Estimated	102	+25.9%
72	West Palm Beach, FL Estimated	102	+9.7%
72	Winter Springs, FL Estimated	102	0%
75	Jacksonville Beach, FL Estimated	100	+72.4%
75	Winter Park, FL Estimated	100	+2%
77	Alachua, FL Estimated	98	+44.1%
77	Deerfield Beach, FL Estimated	98	-67.3%
79	Delray Beach, FL Estimated	97	-11%
79	Pompano Beach, FL Estimated	97	+14.1%
81	Royal Palm Beach, FL Estimated	93	+29.2%
82	Riviera Beach, FL Estimated	85	-76.8%
83	Callaway, FL Estimated	79	+14.5%
84	Niceville, FL Estimated	78	-21.2%
85	Hollywood, FL Estimated	76	-56.3%
86	Largo, FL Estimated	75	-11.8%
86	West Melbourne, FL Estimated	75	-66.8%
88	Tamarac, FL Estimated	70	-9.1%
89	Orange City, FL Estimated	69	-63.7%
90	Dunedin, FL Estimated	67	+11.7%
91	Davie, FL Estimated	65	+16.1%
92	Brooksville, FL Estimated	64	+73%
92	Palmetto, FL Estimated	64	+39.1%
92	Panama City Beach, FL Estimated	64	-17.9%
95	Marathon, FL Estimated	62	-31.1%
96	Bartow, FL Estimated	60	+7.1%
97	Pinecrest, FL Estimated	51	+88.9%
98	Jupiter, FL Estimated	50	-37.5%
98	Miami Beach, FL Estimated	50	+51.5%
100	Green Cove Springs, FL Estimated	49	+8.9%
101	Lauderdale Lakes, FL Estimated	46	n/a
101	North Lauderdale, FL Estimated	46	n/a
101	Pinellas Park, FL Estimated	46	+7%
104	Dania Beach, FL Estimated	45	+18.4%
104	Wellington, FL Estimated	45	+60.7%
106	Edgewater, FL Estimated	40	+14.3%
107	Boynton Beach, FL Estimated	37	+94.7%
107	Eustis, FL Estimated	37	+60.9%
109	Pensacola, FL Estimated	36	-60.9%
110	Lake Wales, FL Estimated	34	+13.3%
111	Key Biscayne, FL Estimated	31	+3.3%
112	Casselberry, FL Estimated	30	+30.4%
112	Longwood, FL Estimated	30	-40%
112	Sebring, FL Estimated	30	+50%
115	Estero, FL Estimated	29	-57.4%
115	Lake Mary, FL Estimated	29	+11.5%
117	Coral Gables, FL Estimated	28	-15.2%
118	Weston, FL Estimated	26	+85.7%
119	Coral Springs, FL Estimated	25	-58.3%
120	Atlantic Beach, FL Estimated	22	-37.1%
121	Rockledge, FL Estimated	21	-62.5%
122	Belle Glade, FL Estimated	19	-58.7%
122	Gulfport, FL Estimated	19	+35.7%
122	Lake Worth Beach, FL Estimated	19	n/a
122	Oakland Park, FL Estimated	19	+5.6%
126	Fort Walton Beach, FL Estimated	17	-46.9%
126	Lake City, FL Estimated	17	+70%
126	North Palm Beach, FL Estimated	17	+41.7%
129	New Port Richey, FL Estimated	16	+14.3%
129	Temple Terrace, FL Estimated	16	-81%
131	Miami Gardens, FL Estimated	15	+50%
132	Greenacres, FL Estimated	14	+250%
132	Lighthouse Point, FL Estimated	14	-12.5%
132	Plantation, FL Estimated	14	0%
135	Wilton Manors, FL Estimated	13	+85.7%
136	Hallandale Beach, FL Estimated	12	+100%
136	Key West, FL Estimated	12	-25%
136	Margate, FL Estimated	12	-57.1%
139	South Miami, FL Estimated	11	+22.2%
139	West Park, FL Estimated	11	+10%
141	North Miami, FL Estimated	10	+25%
141	Oviedo, FL Estimated	10	-28.6%
143	Cocoa Beach, FL Estimated	9	+50%
143	Palm Springs, FL Estimated	9	+28.6%
145	Maitland, FL Estimated	8	+166.7%
145	Oldsmar, FL Estimated	8	+33.3%
145	Stuart, FL Estimated	8	-20%
148	Cutler Bay, FL Estimated	7	+133.3%
149	Cooper City, FL Estimated	6	-25%
149	Holly Hill, FL Estimated	6	+20%
149	Lantana, FL Estimated	6	+100%
149	Miami Shores, FL Estimated	6	+100%
153	Palmetto Bay, FL Estimated	5	+66.7%
153	Seminole, FL Estimated	5	-58.3%
155	Pembroke Pines, FL Estimated	4	-90.9%
156	Safety Harbor, FL Estimated	3	-70%
156	Satellite Beach, FL Estimated	3	-89.7%
158	Hialeah, FL Estimated	2	-97.4%
158	North Miami Beach, FL Estimated	2	+100%
158	Opa-locka, FL Estimated	2	0%
158	South Daytona, FL Estimated	2	+100%
162	Hialeah Gardens, FL Estimated	1	n/a
162	Sunny Isles Beach, FL Estimated	1	n/a
164	Altamonte Springs, FL Estimated	0	-100%
164	Aventura, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	Coconut Creek, FL Estimated	0	-100%
164	Florida City, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	Lauderhill, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	Miami Springs, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	Sunrise, FL Estimated	0	n/a
164	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 2021 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/so2021a.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. (2022). 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, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.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, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Apr. 2022, https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2022. 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, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2022) 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, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{census_cities_in_florida_by_2021,
  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, 2021}},
  year = {2022},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2021. 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/so2021a.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, 2021
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/04/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/South%20Region/so2021a.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/single-family-building-permits/florida-cities?period=2021.
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/so2021a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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Questions

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

Jacksonville, FL, with 6,191 in 2021, 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 2021.

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 2021 and are not ranked.