According to the latest HBW Building Activity Trend Report, Florida’s home construction activity continued to ease during the first half of 2026, although several regions and counties posted gains that ran counter to the statewide trend. HBW, a DeBary-based building permit data company, recorded 51,444 residential construction permits statewide through the second quarter, down 7% from the same period in 2025, following a 4% annual decline in 2025. The report noted that mid‑year figures can be notoriously misleading, as Q2 is often too early to declare victory or defeat, so the prudent interpretation is that Florida’s residential construction market might be cooling, but there are signs of growth.
West Florida remained the state’s busiest construction region with 12,489 permits, despite a 14% decline. Southwest Florida followed with 10,988 permits, down 7%.
Higher-value residential construction also remained relatively strong. West Florida recorded 1,762 permits for homes valued at $500,000 or more, followed by Southwest Florida with 1,381 and Southeast Florida with 1,344.
