Florida Restaurant Closures: No Handwashing Sink
Florida DBPR health inspectors have ordered 63 emergency restaurant closures for "No handwashing sink" since 2021, affecting 31 food service establishments. 1 of those establishments have been closed for this same reason more than once. In 2026: 1 closures (0.5% of all 2026 DBPR shutdowns), -90.9% vs. 2025. Broward County leads in No handwashing sink closures; Tampa is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR emergency closure records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is No Handwashing Sink?
A dedicated handwashing sink in food preparation areas is required by Florida food safety law for a critical reason: employee hands are the primary vehicle for pathogen transfer in food service environments. After handling raw chicken, touching their face, using the restroom, or taking out trash, employees must wash hands immediately before resuming food contact. Without a nearby handwashing sink, employees skip hand hygiene — and pathogens travel from hands to food to customers. This is how Norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli outbreaks begin.
Under Florida law, DBPR health inspectors have the authority to order the immediate emergency closure of any food service establishment when conditions present an imminent public health risk. The establishment cannot reopen until a follow-up inspection confirms the violation has been fully corrected.
Employees who cannot wash hands after handling raw meat, using the restroom, or touching contaminated surfaces become direct vectors for Norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli.
1 of 31 affected establishments have been emergency closed for no handwashing sink on more than one occasion — raising questions about whether corrective actions are fully addressing the underlying conditions.
Top Counties — No Handwashing Sink
| County | Closures |
|---|---|
| Broward County | 5 |
| Orange County | 5 |
| Hillsborough County | 5 |
| Miami-Dade County | 4 |
| Volusia County | 3 |
| Duval County | 2 |
| Osceola County | 1 |
| Palm Beach County | 1 |
| Brevard County | 1 |
| Leon County | 1 |
Top Cities — No Handwashing Sink
| City | Closures |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 4 |
| Orlando | 3 |
| Jacksonville | 2 |
| Hialeah | 1 |
| Deerfield Beach | 1 |
| Winter Park | 1 |
| Pembroke Park | 1 |
| Coral Gables | 1 |
| Plant City | 1 |
| Indian Harbour Beach | 1 |
Top Chains — No Handwashing Sink
Restaurant chains with the most emergency closures for no handwashing sink.
| Chain | Closures |
|---|---|
| Hampton Inn | 2 |
| Comfort Inn | 1 |
No Handwashing Sink Closures — Year Over Year
Recent No Handwashing Sink Closures
| Date | Business | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lily's Creole Restaurant | Orlando | Orange | |
| Sizler Tandoori LLC | Orlando | Orange | |
| Al's Coffee Shop | Coral Gables | Miami-Dade | |
| Popular Caribbean Restaurant Cuisine LLC | Orlando | Orange | |
| Hampton Inn and Suites Tallahassee Capitol University | Tallahassee | Leon | |
| Hampton Inn &suites | St. Petersburg | Pinellas | |
| Lets Dish Caribbean Restaurant | West Palm Beach | Palm Beach | |
| Billy Joe's the Conch Queen LLC | Pembroke Park | Broward | |
| Wine Room on Park Avenue | Winter Park | Orange | |
| Skinny Dip Frozen Yogurt Bar | Hollywood | Broward | |
| Restaurant Guatemex | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Mr Shuttle's Pizza by the Sea LLC | Fort Lauderdale | Broward | |
| Hot Wok | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Comfort Inn Plant City | Plant City | Hillsborough | |
| Pabellon Restaurant and Bar | Tampa | Hillsborough | |
| Pompano Pizza | Pompano Beach | Broward | |
| Miyis Cuban Cafe INC | Deerfield Beach | Broward | |
| Villa Canton | Kissimmee | Osceola | |
| Pisco Bar & Restaurant | Tampa | Hillsborough | |
| McSorley's on New York | Deland | Volusia |
FAQ: No Handwashing Sink Restaurant Closures
- Why do Florida restaurants get emergency closed for No handwashing sink?
- A dedicated handwashing sink in food preparation areas is required by Florida food safety law for a critical reason: employee hands are the primary vehicle for pathogen transfer in food service environments. After handling raw chicken, touching their face, using the restroom, or taking out trash, employees must wash hands immediately before resuming food contact. Without a nearby handwashing sink, employees skip hand hygiene — and pathogens travel from hands to food to customers. This is how Norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli outbreaks begin. Under Florida law, DBPR inspectors are required to order immediate emergency closure when conditions present an imminent public health threat that cannot be corrected while customers are being served.
- What diseases can No handwashing sink cause in a restaurant?
- Employees who cannot wash hands after handling raw meat, using the restroom, or touching contaminated surfaces become direct vectors for Norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli. These pathogens are responsible for the most common forms of foodborne illness in the United States — including Salmonellosis, E. coli infection, and Norovirus gastroenteritis — and can cause serious complications in children, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised customers.
- How many Florida restaurants have been closed for No handwashing sink?
- DBPR has ordered 63 emergency restaurant closures for "No handwashing sink" since 2021, affecting 31 unique food service establishments. Of those, 1 have been closed for this same reason more than once — a pattern that raises serious questions about whether the underlying conditions are being fully corrected between shutdowns.
- What does it mean when a restaurant is closed for No handwashing sink more than once?
- 1 Florida restaurants have been closed for "No handwashing sink" on more than one occasion. Repeat closures for the same reason can indicate that the root cause — whether structural, operational, or management-related — is not being fully addressed during the remediation period between closures. DBPR inspectors may impose additional penalties or pursue license revocation in cases of repeated violations.
- Which Florida county has the most No handwashing sink restaurant closures?
- Broward County has the highest documented No handwashing sink restaurant closure count in Florida. High-volume counties typically reflect their population density and the concentration of food service establishments rather than a disproportionate rate of violations per restaurant.
- How long does a No handwashing sink restaurant closure last in Florida?
- A Florida DBPR emergency closure for No handwashing sink remains in effect until a DBPR inspector conducts a callback inspection and confirms the violation has been fully corrected. Restaurants with pest-related closures typically undergo professional extermination, deep cleaning, and structural remediation before requesting a callback — a process that can take anywhere from 24 hours to several days depending on the severity of the infestation.