If you have been following the HBW blog, then you already know that Florida’s residential construction market doesn’t do “slow seasons”—it simply shifts gears. And according to the latest HBW residential construction permit data, July 2026 was no exception. With 6,127 new residential construction permits filed statewide and a combined construction value approaching $2.2 billion, residential construction in the Sunshine State remained active—and revealing—as ever.
As HBW subscribers are aware, data is more than a scoreboard for construction industry professionals; it is a real‑time market diagnostic tool that is telling of who’s building, where they’re building, how much they’re investing, and how those trends ripple across pricing, competition, and regional demand. The latest figures for July offer a clear snapshot of the builders who are not just active, but dominant. Below is an in‑depth, region‑by‑region breakdown of the top five builders across Florida’s five major regions (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Southeast), along with statewide insights, crossover performers, and notable highs and lows in construction value.
Statewide Standouts: The Big Three
Before diving into regional details, it is worth taking the time to spotlight the statewide titans—those builders who consistently appear at or near the top across multiple regions.
Across all five major Florida markets, three builders clearly lead the pack in total permits:
- Lennar Homes (664 permits) – A powerhouse with #1 rankings in Tampa and Southeast, plus strong showings in Orlando and Southwest, as well as top-five ranking in every region.
- D.R. Horton (645 permits) – The prolific permit‑puller statewide, appearing in the top five in every region and ranking #1 in Southwest and Jacksonville.
- Pulte Homes (608 permits) – A high‑value builder with #1 placement in Orlando and #2 in Southwest, and top‑five rankings in every region.
The three major firms are the statewide “Top Three” for the month of July—the builders whose activity levels shape Florida’s residential market more than any others and carried more than 31% of all new permits on record for the month. And while they hold their own statewide, there are other regional leaders that were standouts throughout the month; for this reason, here is a breakdown of the top five builders in each region:
Southwest Florida – More than 310 active builders; top five based on total permits.
Southwest Florida continues to be a battleground for high‑volume production builders, with D.R. Horton leading the charge.
| Rank | Builder | Permits | Total Value | Avg. Value |
| 1 | D.R. Horton | 215 | $42.2M | $196,493 |
| 2 | Pulte Homes | 178 | $45.9M | $258,315 |
| 3 | Taylor Morrison | 110 | $28.4M | $258,206 |
| 4 | Lennar Homes | 108 | $22.1M | $205,470 |
| 5 | Neal Communities | 78 | $25.0M | $320,811 |
D.R. Horton came out on top in the region for total permits, while Pulte Homes surpassed the top builders in overall construction value, reflecting a strong balance of volume and investment between the two market leaders. Neal Communities distinguished itself with the highest average value (more than $320K per home), demonstrating a premium position within the top five. Notably, all three statewide heavyweights—D.R. Horton, Pulte Homes, and Lennar Homes—appeared in the Southwest’s leading ranks, underscoring their broad and sustained dominance across multiple Florida markets.
Tampa – Approximately 220 active builders; top five based on total permits.
Tampa’s numbers figures for July reflect Lennar Homes in full stride, pulling more permits here than in any other region.
| Rank | Builder | Permits | Total Value | Avg. Value |
| 1 | Lennar Homes | 224 | $79.8M | $356,140 |
| 2 | D.R. Horton | 171 | $53.4M | $312,692 |
| 3 | Homes by West Bay | 108 | $54.6M | $505,455 |
| 4 | Pulte Homes | 106 | $38.3M | $361,748 |
| 5 | The Villages of Lake Sumter | 101 | $17.7M | $175,000 |
Lennar Homes led the Tampa market with the highest permit count of any builder statewide, underscoring its strong regional momentum. Meanwhile, Homes by West Bay distinguished itself with the highest average value among Tampa’s top performers, exceeding half a million dollars per home. In contrast, The Villages of Lake Sumter delivered solid volume yet posted the lowest average value out of the top five in the area, highlighting the wide range of product types and price points shaping the region.
Orlando – Just over 150 active builders; top five based on total permits.
Orlando’s market continues to favor builders with strong master‑planned community footprints.
| Rank | Builder | Permits | Total Value | Avg. Value |
| 1 | Pulte Homes | 192 | $64.3M | $334,798 |
| 2 | Lennar Homes | 116 | $40.7M | $351,176 |
| 3 | D.R. Horton | 100 | $36.3M | $363,189 |
| 4 | Taylor Morrison | 66 | $24.0M | $364,432 |
| 5 | M/I Homes | 62 | $23.5M | $379,363 |
Pulte Homes took the lead in the Orlando market with nearly 200 permits, setting a strong pace for regional activity, while M/I Homes stood out with the highest average value among the top builders. Notably, Orlando is the only Florida region where every builder in the top five exceeds an average construction value of $330K, underscoring the area’s consistently robust mid‑ to upper‑tier residential market.
Jacksonville – More than 120 active builders; top five based on total permits.
Last month, the Jacksonville area’s permit activity displayed a mix of national and regional builders competing closely.
| Rank | Builder | Permits | Total Value | Avg. Value |
| 1 | D.R. Horton | 115 | $25.6M | $222,567 |
| 2 | Dream Finders Homes | 78 | $14.1M | $180,776 |
| 3 | Pulte Homes | 77 | $25.2M | $327,628 |
| 4 | Meritage Homes | 57 | $12.6M | $221,431 |
| 5 | Lennar Homes | 57 | $10.0M | $176,561 |
D.R. Horton ranked #1 in the Jacksonville area for total permits, reinforcing its strong foothold in the region, while Pulte Homes carried the highest average value out of the top five builders at more than $327K per home. Lennar Homes, despite its broad statewide presence, posted its lowest average value within the Jacksonville market, highlighting the area’s more moderate pricing compared to other regions where the builder typically performs at higher value levels.
Southeast Florida – Approximately 120 active builders; top five based on total permits.
Southeast Florida remains a high‑value market with a mix of national and luxury‑leaning builders.
| Rank | Builder | Permits | Total Value | Avg. Value |
| 1 | Lennar Homes | 159 | $42.7M | $268,658 |
| 2 | GL Building Corp. | 79 | $33.5M | $423,506 |
| 3 | Pulte Homes | 55 | $28.3M | $515,170 |
| 4 | D.R. Horton | 44 | $12.7M | $289,138 |
| 5 | Mattamy Homes | 33 | $10.0M | $303,651 |
Last month, Pulte Homes secured the lead in the Southeast region with the highest average value statewide out of the top five builders, surpassing $515K per home and reinforcing its strong upper‑tier market positioning. GL Building Corp. also delivered luxury‑leaning results, posting an impressive $423K average that reflects the region’s elevated construction profile. Meanwhile, Lennar Homes continued its multi‑market momentum by securing the top spot in total permits, demonstrating both scale and consistency across Florida’s most competitive coastal markets.
The data from July’s building permit report reinforces what industry professionals already know: Florida’s residential construction market is fast‑moving, competitive, and full of opportunity, especially if you know where to look. Permit data remains one of the most powerful tools for gauging market health, identifying rising competitors, and understanding where demand is accelerating. And while the numbers tell a story of dominance by the “big three,” they also highlight the nuance within each region—luxury pockets, mid‑market surges, and builders carving out specialized niches.
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.