In 2007, before the Great Recession, voters started to notice the rapid growth in local counties due to the housing boom.
The attitude of “not in my backyard,” often referred to as “nimby,” began among Floridians, and then the housing market crashed.
But now, with Florida seeing a huge influx of newcomers, the “nimby” crowd is back in full force.
In 2024, in several “Red” counties, voters ousted county commissioners in GOP primaries, even those endorsed by Trump and Desantis, because they felt there was too much unchecked growth taking place again. This may be a factor in local races in 2026.
New numbers from the Building Permits Survey (BPS), taken from the U.S. Census, show several Florida communities have the fastest-growing new construction projects in the U.S., including construction spending and the number of housing permits issued in each area.
Here is the list of the fastest-growing areas in Florida in 2025.
At number one was Cape Coral-Fort Myers; at number 2, Ocala. Third was Punta Gorda, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Naples-Marco Island, Port St. Lucie, Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford.
Ten to twenty years ago, locations like Ocala, Port St. Lucie, Sanford, Lakeland, and the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin area were known as more rural communities, not hot spots for out-of-towners to move into. However, commercial General contractors S-Line Contractors view the growth as positive news that will increase the local tax base and provide economic vitality.
“The housing market may feel stagnant right now in many places across the US, but these cities are operating against the trend. A high number of new residences reflects both an increase in residential demand and the willingness of local government to devote the necessary funds to developing these areas,” said Sam Bitar, a spokesperson for S-Line Contractors.
