Last week, we took a look and shared data from the latest building permits on record in Florida for August, at which time we noted that the state posted 7,842 new residential construction permits, a 28% month‑over‑month increase, with an estimated $2.9 billion in total construction value. For construction professionals, this kind of surge can be a strategic data point, as permit activity is one of the clearest indicators of market velocity, competitive positioning, and pricing pressure.

Today, we are using the same reports to identify the builders behind the monthly boom. Across five major regions—Tampa, Southwest Florida, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Southeast Florida—we are highlighting the top five builders per market, identifying statewide leaders, and noting where builders are flexing their muscles across multiple metros.

Statewide Titans: The Big Three

Before we zoom into each region, it is worth acknowledging the statewide heavyweights—those builders whose permit activity consistently dominates across Florida:

• Lennar Homes (864 permits)
• D.R. Horton (829 permits)
• Pulte Homes (659 permits)

The above listed leading three appeared in the top five of every major region (with the exception of D.R. Horton in the Southeast), and they led the state in total permit volume for August 2026. Their multi‑market presence underscores their operational scale, land position strength, and ability to maintain production velocity even in fluctuating market conditions. That being stated, there are other home builders that are highly active and leading in certain areas; for this reason, here is a closer look at the leaders within each region:

Tampa – 2,170 Permits

Tampa continues to be one of Florida’s most active residential markets, and August was no exception.

Top Builders

• Lennar Homes – 257 permits Total value: $83.8M | Avg value: $326K | The highest permit count in the Tampa area.
• D.R. Horton – 229 permits Total value: $58.4M | Avg value: $255K
• The Villages of Lake Sumter – 144 permits Total value: $25.2M | Avg value: $175K
• Pulte Homes – 96 permits Total value: $40.4M | Avg value: $421K | The highest average value in Tampa out of the top five builders.
• Ryan Homes – 74 permits Total value: $18.7M | Avg value: $252K

Lennar Homes dominated volume, while Pulte Homes dominated average value, and Tampa continues to be a battleground for the state’s largest production builders.

Southwest Florida – 1,911 Permits

Southwest Florida remains a powerhouse for new construction, with three major builders neck‑and‑neck on the leaderboard.

Top Builders

• D.R. Horton – 238 permits Total value: $50.2M | Avg value: $211K
• Lennar Homes – 208 permits Total value: $44.6M | Avg value: $214K
• Pulte Homes – 205 permits Total value: $48.8M | Avg value: $238K
• Neal Communities of SW FL – 76 permits Total value: $27.6M | Avg value: $364K | The highest average value in the region out of the top five builders.
• Taylor Morrison – 71 permits Total value: $15.6M | Avg value: $220K

The top three—D.R. Horton, Lennar, and Pulte—are separated by only 33 permits. Last month was a tight race, and Neal Communities stands out with premium‑value builds.

Orlando – 1,443 Permits

The market in Orlando continued to show strong demand, with Pulte Homes taking a notable lead.

Top Builders

• Pulte Homes – 187 permits Total value: $68.9M | Avg value: $368K
• D.R. Horton – 136 permits Total value: $46.3M | Avg value: $340K
• Lennar Homes – 125 permits Total value: $38.6M | Avg value: $308K
• KB Homes – 78 permits Total value: $23.9M | Avg value: $307K
• Stanley Martin Homes – 61 permits Total value: $26.0M | Avg value: $425K | The highest average value in Orlando out of the top five builders.

Pulte Homes led in both volume and total value, while Stanley Martin captured the high‑end segment and held the highest average value of construction out of the top five builders in the region for the one-month period.

Jacksonville – 1,291 Permits

The Jacksonville area remained competitive last month, with Lennar Homes and D.R. Horton leading the charge.

Top Builders

• Lennar Homes – 168 permits Total value: $33.9M | Avg value: $202K
• D.R. Horton – 158 permits Total value: $41.3M | Avg value: $262K
• KB Homes – 69 permits Total value: $13.8M | Avg value: $200K
• Pulte Homes – 66 permits Total value: $21.8M | Avg value: $330K
• Dream Finders Construction – 62 permits Total value: $18.9M | Avg value: $305K

Lennar Homes led in volume, but D.R. Horton took the lead in terms of total value. Pulte Homes and Dream Finders Construction pushed the average value even higher, signaling strong mid‑to‑upper‑tier activity.

Southeast Florida – 1,027 Permits

Last month, Southeast Florida reflected a more diversified builder landscape, with GL Building Corporation and Minto Communities joining the usual statewide leaders.

Top Builders

• Lennar Homes – 106 permits Total value: $29.7M | Avg value: $281K
• Pulte Homes – 105 permits Total value: $52.6M | Avg value: $501K | The highest average value statewide out of the top five builders.
• GL Building Corporation – 98 permits Total value: $42.7M | Avg value: $436K
• Minto Communities – 80 permits Total value: $19.8M | Avg value: $247K
• CBI Construction Services – 73 permits Total value: $17.2M | Avg value: $235K

In the southeast, Pulte Home’s average value was unmatched by any builder listed in the top five across all regions, and GL Building Corporation exhibited a strong performance in the high‑value segment.

The data for August shows a market that is accelerating, competitive, and increasingly segmented by product type and price point. Builders with multi‑region dominance are leveraging scale, while regional players are carving out high‑value niches. For industry professionals—from suppliers to subcontractors to developers—the latest data helps forecast workload, negotiate pricing, and identify emerging opportunities. And in a market as dynamic as Florida, staying ahead of the permit curve is half the battle.

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.