When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, it changed Orange County forever. Tourism boomed, with 72 million visitors in 2017, and the population increased nearly 300% to over 1.3 million residents today. This massive growth required permitting over $66 billion of new construction from 1971 to 2017, averaging $1.4 billion per year. Nearly 165,000 single family homes and over 287,000 total residential units have been built. In addition, over $6 billion of hotel construction and $21 billion of commercial construction have occurred to support the tourism industry and local community. The Division of Building Safety has overseen this construction boom to ensure safety for residents and visitors.

1. July 2016

2. When the Magic Kingdom opened in southwest Orange County in 1971, our community was changed forever.
With 72 million visitors arriving in 2017, we remain America’s most-visited destination. The population of
Orange County in 1970 was 344,311 and today it is estimated at 1,347,975, an increase of nearly 300%. This
increase in population and tourism required massive growth, including housing, retail, office space, public
services and lodging. Originally known as the Building Department, the Division of Building Safety has been
overseeing construction permitting in unincorporated Orange County throughout this period.
During the period from 1971 to 2017, unincorporated Orange County grew in amazing ways. When adjusting
for inflation, this growth equated to $66 billion worth of new construction, an average of $1.4 billion per year
for nearly 50 years. In just the past three years, $7 billion worth of construction was permitted averaging $200
million a month. Nearly 165,000 single family homes have been permitted and over 287,000 total residential
units were constructed.
In support of our tourism industry, over $6 billion worth of hotel construction has occurred in Orange County.
Our commercial construction, which includes retail, industrial, offices, amusement, public works and
education, serves both our visitors and the greater Central Florida community. Permitting for commercial
activities was nearly $21 billion since 1971, averaging $441 million annually and exceeding $2.5 billion over the
past five years. All of this growth needs to be reviewed and permitted to ensure our buildings are safe for our
residents and visitors, and the Orange County Division of Building Safety will continue to provide this service.

3. 0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Single Family
Residential
New Construction
Total Permits
Issued
Average permits/month
Total permits issued
Highest year
2004
Busiest month
June, 366 average permits
Slowest month
November, 250 average permits
300
164,645
5,491
724Lowest year
2009

4. $0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Millions Single Family
Residential
New Construction
Total Project
Valuation
(Adjusted for Inflation)
Total valuation
$29B
Highest Year
2004
Lowest Year
1975
$1.4B
$78M

5. $0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
$250,000
$300,000
$350,000
$400,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Single Family
Residential
New Construction
Average Permit
Valuation
(Adjusted for Inflation)
Average permit valuation
Average permit valuation in 1971
Average valuation increase
during period
Average permit valuation in 2017
$190K
308%
$14,479
$90,192

6. Single Family
Residential
New Construction
By Year

7. 0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Townhome
Residential
New Construction
Total Permits
Issued
Average townhome permits
per month (2000-2017)
Permits issued in Nov 2005
(highest)
Total permitted
43
326
10,948

8. $0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
$180
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Millions Townhome
Residential
New Construction
Total Project
Valuation
(Adjusted for Inflation)
total valuation
$1.8B

9. Townhome
Residential
New Construction
By Year

10. 0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Multi-Family
Residential
New Construction
Total Permits
Issued
Total permits issued
Average permits per year
11,233
239

11. $0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Millions Multi-Family
Residential
New Construction
Total Project
Valuation
(Adjusted for Inflation)
Inflation adjusted total valuation
Average per month
$8.5B
$15M

12. 0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Multi-Family
Residential
New Construction
Total Permit
Units Issued
Total units
Average units per year
In December 1985, Orange
County experienced the
highest total new home
growth value in the period
with 3,250 units permitted
for a value today of
112,070
2,384
$208M

13. Multi-Family
Residential
New Construction
By Year

14. 0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
All Residential
New Construction
Total Permits
Issued
Total residential permits issued
Average units per year
186,826
2,384
Busiest month
December, 1985
Slowest month
February, 1975
1,947
30

15. $0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Millions All Residential
New Construction
Total Project
Valuation
(Adjusted for Inflation)
Total residential construction
Average per month
$40B
$70M
Peak valuation year
2016
Lowest valuation year
1976
$2B
$104M

16. 0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
All Residential
New Construction
Total Permit
Units Issued
Total residential units permitted
Average units per month
287,663
510
Average units per year
6,120

17. $0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$1,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Millions Hotels
New Construction
Total Project
Valuation
(Adjusted for Inflation)
In hotels have been constructed.
Permitted in April 2007
$6.2B
$362M
Surpassed during 11 different
months
$100M

18. Hotels
New Construction
By Year

19. 0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Commercial
New Construction
Total Permits
Issued
Total new commercial
construction permits
Average permits per month
56,889
100

20. $0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Millions Commercial
New Construction
Total Project
Valuation
(Adjusted for Inflation)
Commercial construction
total valuation
Annual average
July 1985, Orange County
permitted the Stanton
Energy Plant, with an
adjusted value of
$20B
$441M
$1.1B

21. Commercial
New Construction
By Year

22. $1,968
$2,147
$1,423
$531
$612
$828
$1,308
$1,471
$1,646
$1,929
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Millions
$99
$139
$129
$122
$133
$234
$205
$108
$134
$235
$109
$283
$197
$130
$238
$154
$189 $198
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350Millions
2015
2016
Combined
Residential &
Commercial
New Construction
Total Project
Valuation
(Adjusted for Inflation)
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016
Millions
Total construction value
Annual average
The last three years have
averaged nearly
per month
$66B
$1.4B
$200M

23. Prepared by CEDS Development Services
and the Division of Building Safety
July 2018
Visit the all-new Fast Track Online Services to
submit and obtain permits online and access
the full suite of search and research tools.
Visit FastTrack.OCFL.net to get started.
Fast Track Member Registration
: 407-836-5522
: contractorlicensing@ocfl.net
201 S. Rosalind Avenue • Orlando, FL 32801