Florida Restaurant Closures: Sewage Back Up
Florida DBPR health inspectors have ordered 264 emergency restaurant closures for "Sewage back up" since 2021, affecting 191 food service establishments. 8 of those establishments have been closed for this same reason more than once. In 2026: 8 closures (4.3% of all 2026 DBPR shutdowns), -83.3% vs. 2025. Hillsborough County leads in Sewage back up closures; Tampa is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR emergency closure records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is Sewage Back Up?
Sewage backup means raw human waste — containing Norovirus, E. coli, Hepatitis A, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and dozens of other pathogens — is actively flooding the establishment through floor drains, toilets, or plumbing systems. Standing sewage contaminates floors, equipment bases, and prep surfaces. The steam from hot cooking carries aerosolized sewage particles throughout the kitchen. DBPR inspectors treat sewage backup as one of the most serious imminent health hazards that can exist in a food service establishment.
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.
Sewage backup floods the establishment with raw human waste containing Norovirus, E. coli, Hepatitis A, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium — among the most dangerous foodborne pathogens.
8 of 191 affected establishments have been emergency closed for sewage back up on more than one occasion — raising questions about whether corrective actions are fully addressing the underlying conditions.
Top Counties — Sewage Back Up
| County | Closures |
|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | 33 |
| Pinellas County | 18 |
| Broward County | 14 |
| St. Lucie County | 14 |
| Miami-Dade County | 14 |
| Duval County | 14 |
| Palm Beach County | 8 |
| Leon County | 8 |
| Brevard County | 6 |
| Pasco County | 6 |
Top Cities — Sewage Back Up
| City | Closures |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 24 |
| Jacksonville | 12 |
| Tallahassee | 8 |
| Port St Lucie | 8 |
| Clearwater | 8 |
| Miami | 7 |
| Orlando | 6 |
| Fort Pierce | 5 |
| Riverview | 4 |
| Saint Augustine | 4 |
Top Chains — Sewage Back Up
Restaurant chains with the most emergency closures for sewage back up.
Sewage Back Up Closures — Year Over Year
Recent Sewage Back Up Closures
| Date | Business | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheddars | Pinellas Park | Pinellas | |
| Sacred Spice Tampa Bay | Clearwater | Pinellas | |
| Pizzavola Cb | Cocoa Beach | Brevard | |
| Irish31westchase | Tampa | Hillsborough | |
| Remys Diner | Port St Lucie | St. Lucie | |
| Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen #128 | Gainesville | Alachua | |
| Bamboos | Gainesville | Alachua | |
| Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits #93 | Tampa | Hillsborough | |
| Las Vegas II | Plantation | Broward | |
| Kfc Store Y351042 | Saint Augustine | St. Johns | |
| Taqueria La Yaquesita | Coral Springs | Broward | |
| Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen #146 | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Wingstop 1690 | Temple Terrace | Hillsborough | |
| Taco Bell #029567 | Dunedin | Pinellas | |
| Aromas Del Peru of Coral Gables | Coral Gables | Miami-Dade | |
| Hiccups & Churroholic | Tampa | Hillsborough | |
| Burger King #59 | West Palm Beach | Palm Beach | |
| Wrap Shack | Hawthorne | Alachua | |
| Y & O Peruvian Food LLC | Cutler Bay | Miami-Dade | |
| A Fuego Lento | Doral | Miami-Dade |
FAQ: Sewage Back Up Restaurant Closures
- Why do Florida restaurants get emergency closed for Sewage back up?
- Sewage backup means raw human waste — containing Norovirus, E. coli, Hepatitis A, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and dozens of other pathogens — is actively flooding the establishment through floor drains, toilets, or plumbing systems. Standing sewage contaminates floors, equipment bases, and prep surfaces. The steam from hot cooking carries aerosolized sewage particles throughout the kitchen. DBPR inspectors treat sewage backup as one of the most serious imminent health hazards that can exist in a food service establishment. 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 Sewage back up cause in a restaurant?
- Sewage backup floods the establishment with raw human waste containing Norovirus, E. coli, Hepatitis A, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium — among the most dangerous foodborne pathogens. 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 Sewage back up?
- DBPR has ordered 264 emergency restaurant closures for "Sewage back up" since 2021, affecting 191 unique food service establishments. Of those, 8 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 Sewage back up more than once?
- 8 Florida restaurants have been closed for "Sewage back up" 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 Sewage back up restaurant closures?
- Hillsborough County has the highest documented Sewage back up 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 Sewage back up restaurant closure last in Florida?
- A Florida DBPR emergency closure for Sewage back up 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.