Florida Residential Construction Report – Q1 2025

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As the Florida construction industry moves through the first quarter of 2025, the latest building permit data collected and compiled by HBW indicates an upward trend in new residential construction across the state. With 28,408 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database from January through March, Florida has experienced approximately a 6 percent year-over-year (YOY) increase in comparison to Q1 2024. This growth marks a noteworthy change in market momentum, following a few consecutive years of slowing activity.

Construction Trends and Regional Highlights

Historically, Florida’s new residential construction activity has seen moderate declines since 2022. According to HBW’s Building Activity Trend Report for New Residential Construction, 2022 closed with a 5 percent YOY decrease, and 2023 exhibited a more significant 14 percent drop in residential construction permit issuance. By 2024, the market began to show signs of stabilization, and now in early 2025, industry data suggests a cautious return to growth.

The current landscape varies significantly by region, with Central Florida emerging as the front-runner, demonstrating approximately a 37 percent YOY increase in new home construction activity with 4,303 permits in Q1 alone. This spike reflects renewed residential development interest and increased demand in the heart of the state.

Other notable regional insights include:

  • West Florida: 7,686 permits | +9.5% YOY
  • Southeast Florida: 2,432 permits | +7% YOY
  • Northwest Florida: 3,132 permits | +12% YOY
  • Southwest Florida: 6,102 permits | -2% YOY
  • Northeast Florida: 4,753 permits | -11% YOY

While Northeast and Southwest Florida reflect minor dips in new residential construction, the broader picture shows moderate-to-strong gains, suggesting a potential market rebound in select areas.

County-Level Perspective

From a county-level perspective, several counties are leading the way in terms of residential construction permit volume. The top five counties with the highest concentration of new residential permits in Q1 2025 include:

The above listed counties account for a significant share of new home construction statewide, with Pasco and Duval experiencing particularly strong year-over-year growth, pointing to potential for a rising demand in both West and Northeast Florida.

High-Value Residential Construction

In Q1 2025, HBW also tracked notable growth in higher-value residential construction, defined as homes with construction values exceeding $500,000. The counties with the highest volume of these high-end permits include:

Why Permit Data Matters

For contractors, builders, suppliers, and other construction professionals, staying current with building permit data is essential. Quarterly and annual permit tracking offers clear insights into market conditions, allowing businesses to:

  • Identify growth markets and opportunities for expansion
  • Forecast seasonal activity and resource needs
  • Monitor competitor presence
  • Generate targeted prospect lists
  • Align marketing and business development strategies with real-world activity

In addition to current construction activity, historical permit data can serve as a powerful tool for professionals to recognize long-term trends, gauge market health, and make strategic business decisions based on years of regional construction performance.

Looking Ahead

While the first quarter of 2025 signals a welcome increase in residential construction across many parts of Florida, it’s important to maintain a close watch on developing trends. With Central and Northwest Florida showing strong early performance, the state may be on track for a stronger year—though continued monitoring will be key as the market adjusts.

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.

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