Florida Restaurant Closures: Rodent Activity
Florida DBPR health inspectors have ordered 3,095 emergency restaurant closures for "Rodent activity" since 2014, affecting 1,672 food service establishments. 324 of those establishments have been closed for this same reason more than once. In 2026: 73 closures (19.7% of all 2026 DBPR shutdowns), -77.1% vs. 2025. Pinellas County leads in Rodent activity closures; Jacksonville is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR emergency closure records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is Rodent Activity?
Rats and mice are biological contamination machines. A single rat produces 25,000 droppings per year — each containing Salmonella, Hantavirus, and Leptospira bacteria. Rodents gnaw through food packaging, urinate on surfaces continuously, and nest inside walls, stoves, and storage areas. Their urine and feces are nearly impossible to see and impossible to smell in a functioning kitchen. When DBPR inspectors find live or dead rodents, droppings, gnaw marks, or burrow holes near food preparation areas, the establishment is shut down immediately — no exceptions.
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.
Rats and mice shed Salmonella, Leptospira, and Hantavirus through urine and droppings deposited across food storage and prep surfaces.
324 of 1,672 affected establishments have been emergency closed for rodent activity on more than one occasion — raising questions about whether corrective actions are fully addressing the underlying conditions.
Top Counties — Rodent Activity
| County | Closures |
|---|---|
| Pinellas County | 243 |
| Broward County | 162 |
| Palm Beach County | 143 |
| Volusia County | 134 |
| Duval County | 112 |
| Miami-Dade County | 107 |
| Hillsborough County | 104 |
| Orange County | 91 |
| Brevard County | 86 |
| St. Johns County | 57 |
Top Cities — Rodent Activity
| City | Closures |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 96 |
| Tampa | 74 |
| Orlando | 72 |
| St. Petersburg | 50 |
| Miami | 49 |
| Clearwater | 43 |
| Largo | 39 |
| Sarasota | 39 |
| Gainesville | 37 |
| Daytona Beach | 37 |
Top Chains — Rodent Activity
Restaurant chains with the most emergency closures for rodent activity.
| Chain | Closures |
|---|---|
| Subway | 27 |
| Burger King | 15 |
| McDonalds | 7 |
| Dunkin | 6 |
| Arbys | 6 |
| Church's Chicken | 5 |
| Dennys | 5 |
| Hardees | 5 |
| Zaxbys | 5 |
| Carrabbas | 4 |
Rodent Activity Closures — Year Over Year
Recent Rodent Activity Closures
| Date | Business | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nero’s Cafe/tini Martini Bar | St Augustine | St. Johns | |
| Cypress Creek Golf Club | Sun City Center | Hillsborough | |
| Ichi Ni San | Daytona Beach | Volusia | |
| Steak N Shake | Sunrise | Broward | |
| Conch House Marina Resort | Saint Augustine | St. Johns | |
| Cmx Brickell Stone Sports Bar | Miami | Miami-Dade | |
| Discovery Indian Cuisine | Palm Harbor | Pinellas | |
| Club De La Milanesa | Miami | Miami-Dade | |
| King Buffet | Arcadia | DeSoto | |
| Manatee Pub | Homosassa | Citrus | |
| Macker Seafood | Daytona Beach | Volusia | |
| Xing Xing Kitchen | Lakeland | Polk | |
| Wingstop | Lakeland | Polk | |
| Mr Han Restaurant | Gainesville | Alachua | |
| Currents | Tarpon Springs | Pinellas | |
| Bonnie Jean | Bradenton | Manatee | |
| Verona Grill | Naples | Collier | |
| Belle&maxwells | W Palm Beach | Palm Beach | |
| Daytona Taproom | Daytona Beach | Volusia | |
| Randevou Caribbean Bar and Grill II | Orange Park | Clay |
FAQ: Rodent Activity Restaurant Closures
- Why do Florida restaurants get emergency closed for Rodent activity?
- Rats and mice are biological contamination machines. A single rat produces 25,000 droppings per year — each containing Salmonella, Hantavirus, and Leptospira bacteria. Rodents gnaw through food packaging, urinate on surfaces continuously, and nest inside walls, stoves, and storage areas. Their urine and feces are nearly impossible to see and impossible to smell in a functioning kitchen. When DBPR inspectors find live or dead rodents, droppings, gnaw marks, or burrow holes near food preparation areas, the establishment is shut down immediately — no exceptions. 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 Rodent activity cause in a restaurant?
- Rats and mice shed Salmonella, Leptospira, and Hantavirus through urine and droppings deposited across food storage and prep surfaces. 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 Rodent activity?
- DBPR has ordered 3,095 emergency restaurant closures for "Rodent activity" since 2014, affecting 1,672 unique food service establishments. Of those, 324 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 Rodent activity more than once?
- 324 Florida restaurants have been closed for "Rodent 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 Rodent activity restaurant closures?
- Pinellas County has the highest documented Rodent 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 Rodent activity restaurant closure last in Florida?
- A Florida DBPR emergency closure for Rodent 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.