Florida Restaurant Closures: No Potable Water
Florida DBPR health inspectors have ordered 254 emergency restaurant closures for "No potable water" since 2022, affecting 26 food service establishments. 1 of those establishments have been closed for this same reason more than once. In 2026: 13 closures (7% of all 2026 DBPR shutdowns), -77.6% vs. 2025. Broward County leads in No potable water closures; Orlando is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR emergency closure records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is No Potable Water?
Potable water is the foundation of every food safety protocol in a restaurant. Without safe, clean running water, employees cannot wash their hands between tasks, raw produce cannot be cleaned, equipment cannot be sanitized, and cooking water is unsafe. The absence of potable water eliminates the most basic barrier between pathogens and the food being served. Florida law treats no-potable-water conditions as an immediate public health emergency requiring shutdown.
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.
Without safe water, handwashing, produce cleaning, and equipment sanitization are impossible — eliminating every basic barrier against pathogen transfer to food.
1 of 26 affected establishments have been emergency closed for no potable water on more than one occasion — raising questions about whether corrective actions are fully addressing the underlying conditions.
Top Counties — No Potable Water
| County | Closures |
|---|---|
| Broward County | 7 |
| Pinellas County | 3 |
| Palm Beach County | 3 |
| Orange County | 3 |
| Sarasota County | 2 |
| Manatee County | 2 |
| Pasco County | 2 |
| Columbia County | 1 |
| Brevard County | 1 |
| Osceola County | 1 |
Top Cities — No Potable Water
| City | Closures |
|---|---|
| Orlando | 3 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 3 |
| Sunrise | 2 |
| Bradenton | 2 |
| Port Richey | 2 |
| Plantation | 1 |
| Delray Beach | 1 |
| Clearwater | 1 |
| Venice | 1 |
| Oakland Park | 1 |
Top Chains — No Potable Water
Restaurant chains with the most emergency closures for no potable water.
| Chain | Closures |
|---|---|
| Dunkin | 2 |
| McDonalds | 1 |
| Vicky Bakery | 1 |
| Wingstop | 1 |
| Jimmy Johns | 1 |
| Arbys | 1 |
No Potable Water Closures — Year Over Year
Recent No Potable Water Closures
| Date | Business | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woods | Lake City | Columbia | |
| Spark Orlando Universal Blvd | Orlando | Orange | |
| Dunkin Donuts 67 | West Palm Beach | Palm Beach | |
| China House | Palm Harbor | Pinellas | |
| Dunkin Donuts | Boynton Beach | Palm Beach | |
| Toa Toa Chinese Restaurant | Sunrise | Broward | |
| Taqueria Y Panederia La Chiquita | Clearwater | Pinellas | |
| Papa Vito's Pizza Spot | Merritt Island | Brevard | |
| Arby's #1310 | Port Richey | Pasco | |
| Wo Banh Trang Tram LLC | St. Petersburg | Pinellas | |
| Fat Freddy's Sub Shop | Oakland Park | Broward | |
| Vicky Bakery | Plantation | Broward | |
| Grio Express | Fort Lauderdale | Broward | |
| Amura Japanese Gourmet | Orlando | Orange | |
| K-ile Bar & Grill | Kissimmee | Osceola | |
| Sweet's Sensational Cuisine | Delray Beach | Palm Beach | |
| Piman | Fort Lauderdale | Broward | |
| Italiano's | Venice | Sarasota | |
| McDonald's Corp #75057505 | Bradenton | Manatee | |
| Grand Sushi Hibachi Buffet | Port Richey | Pasco |
FAQ: No Potable Water Restaurant Closures
- Why do Florida restaurants get emergency closed for No potable water?
- Potable water is the foundation of every food safety protocol in a restaurant. Without safe, clean running water, employees cannot wash their hands between tasks, raw produce cannot be cleaned, equipment cannot be sanitized, and cooking water is unsafe. The absence of potable water eliminates the most basic barrier between pathogens and the food being served. Florida law treats no-potable-water conditions as an immediate public health emergency requiring shutdown. 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 potable water cause in a restaurant?
- Without safe water, handwashing, produce cleaning, and equipment sanitization are impossible — eliminating every basic barrier against pathogen transfer to food. 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 potable water?
- DBPR has ordered 254 emergency restaurant closures for "No potable water" since 2022, affecting 26 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 potable water more than once?
- 1 Florida restaurants have been closed for "No potable water" 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 potable water restaurant closures?
- Broward County has the highest documented No potable water 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 potable water restaurant closure last in Florida?
- A Florida DBPR emergency closure for No potable water 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.