Florida Restaurant Closures: Roach Activity
Florida DBPR health inspectors have ordered 5,213 emergency restaurant closures for "Roach activity" since 2014, affecting 2,940 food service establishments. 521 of those establishments have been closed for this same reason more than once. In 2026: 135 closures (36.4% of all 2026 DBPR shutdowns), -73.2% vs. 2025. Broward County leads in Roach activity closures; Tampa is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR emergency closure records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is Roach Activity?
Cockroaches are among the most dangerous pests found in food service environments. They crawl through sewage, garbage, and decaying matter — then walk across your food, prep surfaces, and dishes. A single cockroach carries dozens of bacterial pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria on its legs and body. They defecate constantly as they move, contaminating everything they touch. Cockroach activity is the #1 cause of emergency restaurant closures in Florida, and inspectors order immediate shutdown the moment live roaches are observed near food contact surfaces.
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.
Cockroaches carry Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and Staphylococcus on their bodies and contaminate surfaces continuously as they move.
521 of 2,940 affected establishments have been emergency closed for roach activity on more than one occasion — raising questions about whether corrective actions are fully addressing the underlying conditions.
Top Counties — Roach Activity
| County | Closures |
|---|---|
| Broward County | 435 |
| Miami-Dade County | 417 |
| Hillsborough County | 337 |
| Palm Beach County | 313 |
| Pinellas County | 254 |
| Orange County | 236 |
| Duval County | 235 |
| Pasco County | 88 |
| Polk County | 87 |
| Marion County | 82 |
Top Cities — Roach Activity
| City | Closures |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 256 |
| Jacksonville | 222 |
| Orlando | 196 |
| Miami | 190 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 71 |
| Ocala | 69 |
| Boca Raton | 69 |
| Clearwater | 63 |
| St. Petersburg | 63 |
| West Palm Beach | 57 |
Top Chains — Roach Activity
Restaurant chains with the most emergency closures for roach activity.
| Chain | Closures |
|---|---|
| McDonalds | 18 |
| Subway | 17 |
| Wendys | 14 |
| Popeyes | 12 |
| Checkers | 12 |
| Burger King | 11 |
| Dairy Queen | 10 |
| Church's Chicken | 10 |
| Dunkin | 9 |
| Jersey Mikes | 8 |
Roach Activity Closures — Year Over Year
Recent Roach Activity Closures
| Date | Business | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keys Jam-rock Grill | Tarpon Springs | Pinellas | |
| Mi Lindo Ecuador | Miami | Miami-Dade | |
| Cooks Buffet Cafe Bakery | Deland | Volusia | |
| Longwood Country Kitchen | Longwood | Seminole | |
| Haystax Restaurant | Mount Dora | Lake | |
| Zen Noodles Bar | Gainesville | Alachua | |
| Maui Bus Stop | Fort Walton Beach | Okaloosa | |
| Luv'n Oven Ale House | Sunrise | Broward | |
| Tacology | Miami | Miami-Dade | |
| Hong Kong | South Pasadena | Pinellas | |
| Sweet Delight Jamaican Cuisine | Palm Bay | Brevard | |
| Ocean 5 Cafe | Miami Beach | Miami-Dade | |
| Cilantro Grill | Sarasota | Sarasota | |
| Dairy Queen | Fernandina Beach | Nassau | |
| Bluefin Sushi | Wesley Chapel | Pasco | |
| Fafa INC China Buffet | North Port | Sarasota | |
| Mosey's Dowtown | Panama City | Bay | |
| Thai Island Orlando Restaurant | Orlando | Orange | |
| Whiskey Park | Naples | Collier | |
| Greeks of Tarpon Springs | Tarpon Springs | Pinellas |
FAQ: Roach Activity Restaurant Closures
- Why do Florida restaurants get emergency closed for Roach activity?
- Cockroaches are among the most dangerous pests found in food service environments. They crawl through sewage, garbage, and decaying matter — then walk across your food, prep surfaces, and dishes. A single cockroach carries dozens of bacterial pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria on its legs and body. They defecate constantly as they move, contaminating everything they touch. Cockroach activity is the #1 cause of emergency restaurant closures in Florida, and inspectors order immediate shutdown the moment live roaches are observed near food contact surfaces. 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 Roach activity cause in a restaurant?
- Cockroaches carry Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and Staphylococcus on their bodies and contaminate surfaces continuously as they move. 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 Roach activity?
- DBPR has ordered 5,213 emergency restaurant closures for "Roach activity" since 2014, affecting 2,940 unique food service establishments. Of those, 521 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 Roach activity more than once?
- 521 Florida restaurants have been closed for "Roach activity" 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 Roach activity restaurant closures?
- Broward County has the highest documented Roach activity 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 Roach activity restaurant closure last in Florida?
- A Florida DBPR emergency closure for Roach activity 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.