
The construction market in Florida started the year with a strong level of new activity in the swimming pool sector. According to the latest construction data reports from HBW, approximately 1,750 new swimming pool permits were issued statewide during January 2026 across the five major regions of Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast Florida, and Southwest Florida.
Collectively, the permits represent a total construction value of $149.75 million, underscoring continued investment in outdoor residential amenities and sustained demand within Florida’s single-family housing market.
Below is a regional breakdown of new swimming pool construction activity, including total permits, aggregate construction value, average project valuation, and leading counties by volume:
Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida led the state in new swimming pool construction activity during January.
- Total Permits: 695
- Total Construction Value: $60,422,472
- Average Construction Value: $86,939
The southwestern region accounted for nearly 40% of all statewide permits, reinforcing its position as Florida’s most active swimming pool construction submarket.
Leading Counties by Volume
- Manatee County: 171 permits | $15,057,487 in total value
- Collier County: 189 permits | $17,107,119 in total value
The concentration of activity in Manatee and Collier counties reflects continued residential expansion and strong discretionary investment in outdoor living. Average valuations indicate consistent mid-to-upper-tier pool construction, typical of this coastal market.
Tampa
The Tampa region maintained robust activity levels, ranking second statewide in total permit volume.
- Total Permits: 399
- Total Construction Value: $34,965,395
- Average Construction Value: $87,633
Leading Counties by Volume
- Hillsborough County: 91 permits | $9,792,095 in total value
- Pasco County: 79 permits | $8,240,663 in total value
- Sumter County: 85 permits | $3,825,000 in total value
The Tampa submarket demonstrated balanced geographic distribution of activity. Average valuations align closely with Southwest Florida, suggesting comparable project scopes and specification levels across West Central Florida.
Southeast Florida
Southeast Florida recorded solid activity, supported by consistent residential demand.
- Total Permits: 309
- Total Construction Value: $25,674,911
- Average Construction Value: $83,090
Leading Counties by Volume
- Palm Beach County: 126 permits | $12,580,299 in total value
- Miami-Dade County: 60 permits | $3,208,021 in total value
Palm Beach County represented a significant share of regional volume, accounting for more than 40% of Southeast Florida permits. While total valuations remain strong, the regional average construction value trends slightly below West Coast markets, which may reflect differences in lot size, pool configuration, or competitive pricing pressures.
Orlando
The Orlando region posted moderate but stable activity.
- Total Permits: 207
- Total Construction Value: $15,988,512
- Average Construction Value: $77,239
Leading Counties by Volume
- Orange County: 77 permits | $6,402,893 in total value
- Brevard County: 38 permits | $3,373,407 in total value
Average project valuation in this region is slightly lower than coastal submarkets, which may indicate smaller project scopes, entry-level pool packages, or increased price sensitivity in inland markets.
Jacksonville
The Jacksonville region recorded the highest average construction value statewide, despite having the lowest total permit volume among the five regions.
- Total Permits: 139
- Total Construction Value: $12,698,804
- Average Construction Value: $91,358
Leading County by Volume
- St. Johns County: 71 permits | $7,143,657 in total value
The elevated average valuation suggests higher-end pool construction and customization within this market, particularly in St. Johns County, which accounted for more than 50% of regional permits.
Overall, there are several key trends that have emerged and are worth noting from the January 2026 construction data:
- Regional Concentration: Southwest Florida remains the dominant submarket for new swimming pool construction, capturing the largest share of permits and total valuation.
- Stable Average Valuations: Most regions report average project values in the $83,000–$91,000 range, indicating relative pricing consistency statewide.
- Coastal Market Strength: Coastal counties—particularly Manatee, Collier, Palm Beach, and St. Johns—continue to drive higher volumes and stronger valuations.
- Balanced Q1 Start: January’s figures reflect a stable start to the year, with no extreme volatility in average project costs, suggesting steady material pricing and labor conditions within the sector.
For pool contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and building officials, the latest figures indicate a healthy and geographically diversified market entering 2026. The consistency in permit issuance and construction valuations suggests sustained homeowner investment in outdoor amenities. As we move further into Q1, monitoring month-over-month permit trends, valuation shifts, and county-level concentration will be important for assessing contractor backlog strength, competitive positioning, and regional demand.
To gain more information on the builders, homeowners and permits for the construction activity above, check out HBW for your copy of the latest construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.








