Where new homes are being built in Clearwater
Pinellas is Florida's most densely populated county, about 3,465 people per square mile, and there is little vacant land left. Census building permit data shows what that means: in 2025 the county permitted 1,376 single-family units, valued at about $732 million, plus 2,703 units in 34 buildings of five or more units, 94 units in duplexes and 25 in three- and four-unit buildings. More new homes were permitted in apartment and condo buildings than as houses.
In Clearwater, new homes tend to appear in three ways:
Infill townhome projects
Small builders assemble a lot or two and put up a dozen to a few dozen townhomes or villas. These are the closest thing Clearwater has to a new community.
Rebuilds on existing lots
Where storm damage crosses the substantial damage threshold, the home must be brought up to current floodplain code, raised or replaced, and a replacement on an old lot is built to current flood elevation.
Condos and mid-rise buildings
Larger multi-unit projects make up most of the county's permitted units. Buying a unit off plan is a different contract from buying a house; our guide to buying a condo in Florida covers it.
Clearwater new construction communities and builders
Builders in Clearwater rarely publish prices online. Everything below comes from the builder's own website; call the sales office for current prices, lot availability and completion dates.
Summerset Villas (DiGiovanni Homes, Countryside)
DiGiovanni Homes lists Summerset Villas as "Now Selling": 39 new townhomes and villas in the Countryside area of Clearwater, with three floor plans (Heron, Osprey and Pelican) and a model home open for tours. The builder does not publish prices or HOA dues, so ask for both along with the plat and flood zone.
Mearshire Park (DiGiovanni Homes)
A 12-unit townhome community in Clearwater that the builder now lists as sold out. It is a useful reference for the scale of infill projects here; resales may appear later.
Woodbridge Townhomes (DiGiovanni Homes)
The builder's page announces Woodbridge as "coming soon" to Clearwater but gives no address, unit count or price, and the page appears to be several years old. Ask the builder whether the project is active before you plan around it.
Bayway Townhomes (DiGiovanni Homes, Clearwater Beach)
At 656 Bayway Boulevard on Clearwater Beach, three-story townhomes with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and about 2,100 square feet. The builder's page lists them as sold out and built in 2003 to 2004, so these are resales now, not new homes. It shows the typical beach format: a few tall units on one parcel, with parking and storage at ground level.
The Towns at Spring Lake (Gulfwind Homes)
Gulfwind Homes, which describes itself as a coastal home builder, lists a Clearwater townhome project called The Towns at Spring Lake. Its site did not load for us, so we could not confirm status, size or price. Contact the builder directly.
Custom and rebuild builders
Much of the new work on the beach and in older neighborhoods is custom. Verify any contractor's license on Florida's DBPR license search, and ask to see recent Pinellas projects built to current flood elevation.
Clearwater new construction at a glance
| Community | Builder | Homes | Status (builder site, Sept 2026) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerset Villas | DiGiovanni Homes | 39 townhomes and villas | Now selling | Not published |
| Mearshire Park | DiGiovanni Homes | 12 townhomes | Sold out | Not published |
| Woodbridge Townhomes | DiGiovanni Homes | Townhomes | Coming soon (undated page) | Not published |
| The Towns at Spring Lake | Gulfwind Homes | Townhomes | Not confirmed | Not published |
For comparison, Zillow's typical value for all Clearwater homes was $342,820 in August 2026. Where you want a large new-build subdivision with many plans, you will find more choice outside Pinellas, as on our Bradenton new construction page.
Rebuilding after Helene: substantial damage and flood elevation
This is the rule that shapes new construction on Clearwater's coast more than any other.
The 49% rule
Pinellas County treats a home as substantially damaged if the cost to repair it is 49% or more of the structure's value, not counting the land. A substantially damaged home cannot be repaired unless it is brought up to current floodplain code, which can mean raising it or replacing it. The county also says all improvements are subject to the 49% structure value rule, not only storm repairs.
City or county?
The county runs this for unincorporated areas and tells residents of cities to contact their city about its substantial damage plan. A home inside Clearwater city limits goes through the City of Clearwater; one with a Clearwater mailing address in unincorporated Pinellas goes through the county. Check which applies before you make an offer on a damaged home or lot.
How high a new home must sit
The county's floodplain page says new or substantially improved buildings must be built at least one foot above the base flood elevation. You need an elevation certificate to prove it, and it is the document your flood insurer will rate from.
Tools to use before you buy
The county publishes a substantial damage letter lookup map, reassessment instructions and a FEMA cost breakdown worksheet. Look up the address on the county's flood map site and FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and read our Florida flood zones guide.
How much does it cost to build a house in Clearwater, FL?
We could not find a reliable published per-square-foot figure for Clearwater, and builder quotes vary with elevation and site work, so get written bids. What drives the number here:
- The lot. Buildable lots are rare, and a beach or waterfront lot can cost more than the house.
- Elevation. In a flood zone, building at least one foot above base flood elevation can mean pilings or a raised foundation.
- Demolition. Rebuilds start by clearing the old structure.
- Fees. Pinellas County publishes its building, transportation (multimodal impact) and zoning fees on one page; check the current amounts and whether the City of Clearwater adds its own.
- Wind design. Coastal Florida code sets wind resistance standards for roofs, windows and doors.
For builders active across the state, see Florida home builders compared.
HOA and CDD fees on Clearwater new homes
HOA dues on townhomes
Infill townhome projects almost always have an association that insures or maintains shared elements. Ask for the budget, what the dues cover (roof, exterior, insurance, landscaping) and whether reserves are funded.
CDDs
Community development districts are common in big new Florida subdivisions and rare on small infill sites. If a contract for a new home is in a CDD, Florida law requires a bold disclosure just above your signature that the district may levy taxes or assessments on top of county taxes. Our CDD fees guide explains how they work.
Property tax
Property is assessed as of January 1 each year, so ask when the finished home will first be assessed at full value. At 2025 rates, the City of Clearwater total is 19.3522 mills; see the Pinellas County property tax guide.
New build or resale in Clearwater?
Resale gives you far more choice and room to negotiate: across the metro about 31.2% of listings had a price cut in August 2026, and the Clearwater housing market page tracks prices by ZIP. New construction gives you current flood elevation, a new roof and code-level wind protection, which can lower insurance costs. On the coast, a resale that sits below base flood elevation carries the risk of the 49% rule after the next storm, so compare elevation, not just price.
Inspections, warranties and contracts
Hire your own inspector
Order inspections before drywall and before closing, even on a brand-new home.
Get the warranty in writing
Ask what the builder covers and for how long, and who handles claims.
Read the contract
Check deposit terms, completion dates, price escalation clauses and what happens if the project stalls.
Buying new with your own agent
The sales office works for the builder. Your own agent can compare the price with resales and review the contract. Start on the Clearwater hub, or compare the St. Petersburg market.
Common questions
Where can I find new construction homes in Clearwater, FL?+
Mostly in small infill townhome projects, condo buildings and rebuilds on existing lots. DiGiovanni Homes lists Summerset Villas in Countryside as now selling, and Gulfwind Homes lists a townhome project called The Towns at Spring Lake. Large new subdivisions are rare because Pinellas County is largely built out.
How much does it cost to build a house in Clearwater, FL?+
There is no reliable published average for Clearwater. The total depends on the lot, which is often the largest cost, flood elevation requirements, demolition of any existing home, county or city fees and wind design. Get written bids from licensed builders who have built to current Pinellas flood rules.
What is the 49% rule in Pinellas County?+
In unincorporated Pinellas County, if repairs cost 49% or more of a home's structure value, not counting land, the home is substantially damaged and must be brought up to current floodplain code, which can mean raising or replacing it. City residents, including those in Clearwater city limits, should check with their city.
How high does a new home have to be built in Pinellas County?+
Pinellas County's floodplain rules require new or substantially improved buildings to be built at least one foot above the base flood elevation. An elevation certificate documents the height, and flood insurers use it to rate the policy. Confirm your city's standard if the lot is inside city limits.
What is the nicest neighborhood in Clearwater, Florida?+
That depends on what you want, but by Zillow's August 2026 typical values the highest-priced areas include Countrypark ($851,896), Sand Key ($780,248), Coachman Ridge ($732,629) and Clearwater Beach ($723,352). Visit several and compare flood zones, commute and dues.
How many new homes are being built in Pinellas County?+
Census building permit data shows Pinellas permitted 1,376 single-family units in 2025, plus 2,703 units in buildings of five or more units. Neighboring Manatee County permitted 7,014 single-family units the same year, which shows how little land Pinellas has left.
Sources
- US Census Bureau: Building Permits Survey, county annual 2025
- DiGiovanni Homes: Summerset Villas
- DiGiovanni Homes: Mearshire Park
- DiGiovanni Homes: Coming soon to Clearwater, Woodbridge Townhomes
- DiGiovanni Homes: Bayway Townhomes
- Gulfwind Homes: The Towns at Spring Lake (did not load, 403)
- Pinellas County: Substantial damage and substantial improvement
- Pinellas County: Construction in a floodplain
- Pinellas County: Building, transportation and zoning fees
- Florida Statutes s.190.048: CDD sales disclosure
- Florida DBPR: license search
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- Zillow Research: Home Value Index (August 2026)
- Pinellas County Tax Collector: 2025 millage rates (PDF)