The latest residential building permit data added to the HBW database during January 2026 reflects geographic diversity across Florida’s new home construction market. Drawing from five major regions of Tampa, Southwest Florida, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Southeast Florida, this report provides a comprehensive snapshot of permit volume, total construction value, average valuation, and leading counties driving activity during the one-month period.
HBW, a leading provider of construction reports and building permit intelligence for industry professionals, tracks real-time permitting trends to deliver actionable market insights. The January data underscores Florida’s sustained residential demand, with measurable concentration in both high-growth suburban corridors and established coastal markets. Across the five major regions analyzed, HBW recorded the following for the Sunshine State:
- Total New Residential Permits: 4,889
- Total Construction Value: > $1.65 billion
- Weighted Average Permit Value (Statewide): Approximately $338,561 per home
This aggregate valuation reflects both entry-level and move-up housing activity, with notable variance between inland growth markets and higher-priced coastal regions. The distribution of permit volume highlights ongoing suburban expansion, while elevated average values in select markets indicate continued demand for higher-end product.
Tampa Region
- Total Permits: 1,545
- Total Value: $513,870,903
- Average Value: $332,603
The Tampa region led the state in total permit volume for January, accounting for approximately 31.6% of all permits reviewed. This level of performance reinforces Tampa’s position as one of Florida’s most active residential construction hubs.
Leading Counties:
- Pasco County: 423 permits | $182,885,515
- Polk County: 397 permits | $125,963,200
Together, the above-mentioned counties represented more than half of the region’s total permits for the month.
Southwest Florida
- Total Permits: 1,405
- Total Value: $427,950,220
- Average Value: $304,591
Southwest Florida followed closely behind Tampa in overall permit activity, reflecting steady rebuilding, in-migration, and continued demand for both primary and seasonal residences.
Leading Counties:
- Manatee County: 456 permits | $133,796,457
- Lee County: 414 permits | $117,163,879
Manatee County led the region in volume, while Lee County trailed close behind; both counties combined carried more than 60% of all new construction in the region.
Jacksonville Region
- Total Permits: 678
- Total Value: $209,670,168
- Average Value: $309,248
Northeast Florida’s Jacksonville market demonstrated consistent residential expansion in January. While permit totals are lower than Central and Southwest Florida markets, the region remains a stable contributor to statewide housing inventory.
Leading Counties:
- Duval County: 235 permits | $46,827,004
- St. Johns County: 215 permits | $77,009,351
St. Johns County’s higher construction valuation relative to permit count suggests a concentration of higher-priced new home developments compared to Duval County’s more moderate average pricing.
Orlando Region
- Total Permits: 637
- Total Value: $239,115,616
- Average Value: $375,378
The Orlando region recorded one of the higher average permit values statewide, indicating continued strength in mid-to-upper-tier residential construction.
Leading Counties:
- Orange County: 169 permits | $63,178,200
- Brevard County: 187 permits | $74,359,334
Brevard County led the region in permit volume, while Orange County trailed closely while maintaining solid overall valuation totals. The region’s pricing profile reflects sustained economic expansion and continued household formation in Central Florida.
Southeast Florida
- Total Permits: 624
- Total Value: $264,612,049
- Average Value: $424,058
Southeast Florida recorded the highest average permit value among the five regions reviewed, reinforcing its position as Florida’s premium residential construction market.
Leading Counties:
- St. Lucie County: 200 permits | $68,464,141
- Palm Beach County: 183 permits | $82,207,398
Palm Beach County’s elevated valuation totals signal continued demand for higher-end new home construction, while St. Lucie County remains a volume-driven growth corridor offering comparatively attainable price points within the region.
The construction data reports from last month reflect several notable statewide trends:
- Strong Geographic Diversification: No single region dominates entirely. While Tampa and Southwest Florida lead in volume, Southeast Florida commands the highest average home values.
- Suburban & Exurban Expansion: Counties such as Pasco, Polk, Manatee, and St. Lucie continue to absorb substantial residential growth, supported by land availability and relative affordability.
- Value Stratification by Region: The variance between Southwest Florida’s $304,591 average and Southeast Florida’s $424,058 average demonstrates clear segmentation in product type and pricing.
- Sustained Residential Demand: With over $1.65 billion in new residential construction value recorded across the five regions in a single month, Florida’s housing market remains active despite broader economic fluctuations.
For builders, developers, suppliers, and construction service providers, such trends reinforce the importance of regional intelligence and county-level targeting. As growth in Florida continues to be shaped by migration patterns, land availability, and pricing segmentation, timely permit data remains an essential strategic asset.
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.lahoma, please contact HBW for details.