Florida Restaurant Closures: Sewage Leaks
Florida DBPR health inspectors have ordered 336 emergency restaurant closures for "Sewage leaks" since 2015, affecting 155 food service establishments. 5 of those establishments have been closed for this same reason more than once. In 2026: 4 closures (2.2% of all 2026 DBPR shutdowns), -82.6% vs. 2025. Duval County leads in Sewage leaks closures; Jacksonville is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR emergency closure records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is Sewage Leaks?
Raw sewage contains billions of bacteria, viruses, and parasites per milliliter — including Norovirus, E. coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A, and Cryptosporidium. Active sewage leaks in a food service establishment mean raw human waste is pooling beneath equipment, seeping through walls, or contacting food contact surfaces. The pathogens in sewage are not neutralized by cooking. Food prepared in an environment with active sewage leaks is not safe to serve.
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.
Raw sewage contains Norovirus, E. coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A, and Cryptosporidium — pathogens that contaminate food contact surfaces and aerosolize in the heat of a kitchen.
5 of 155 affected establishments have been emergency closed for sewage leaks on more than one occasion — raising questions about whether corrective actions are fully addressing the underlying conditions.
Top Counties — Sewage Leaks
| County | Closures |
|---|---|
| Duval County | 19 |
| Miami-Dade County | 16 |
| Orange County | 11 |
| Hillsborough County | 11 |
| Pinellas County | 10 |
| Collier County | 9 |
| Broward County | 8 |
| St. Johns County | 6 |
| Leon County | 6 |
| Brevard County | 5 |
Top Cities — Sewage Leaks
| City | Closures |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 15 |
| Orlando | 10 |
| Tampa | 9 |
| Tallahassee | 6 |
| Miami | 6 |
| Naples | 5 |
| Immokalee | 4 |
| Largo | 3 |
| Miami Beach | 3 |
| Milton | 3 |
Top Chains — Sewage Leaks
Restaurant chains with the most emergency closures for sewage leaks.
| Chain | Closures |
|---|---|
| Burger King | 8 |
| Taco Bell | 5 |
| Popeyes | 5 |
| Dunkin | 5 |
| Wendys | 5 |
| Checkers | 4 |
| McDonalds | 3 |
| KFC | 3 |
| Firehouse Subs | 2 |
| LongHorn Steakhouse | 2 |
Sewage Leaks Closures — Year Over Year
Recent Sewage Leaks Closures
| Date | Business | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabor Maracucho | Bradenton | Manatee | |
| El Paraiso Restaurant & Taqueria | Fanning Springs | Levy | |
| Longhorn Steakhouse of Talla | Tallahassee | Leon | |
| Rio Bravo | Pensacola | Escambia | |
| Bento Cafe | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Stix Pool & Bar | Tallahassee | Leon | |
| Checkers #3271 | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Firehouse Subs Palm Coast | Palm Coast | Flagler | |
| Citrus Spgs Golf&country Club | Citrus Spgs | Citrus | |
| Ginger Bistro | Saint Augustine | St. Johns | |
| La Esquina Trinitaria Restaurant | Macclenny | Baker | |
| Wendy's Restaurant | Jacksonville | Duval | |
| Bhimavaram Ruchulu | Temple Terrace | Hillsborough | |
| Taco Bell #39584 | Saint Cloud | Osceola | |
| Breakfast in Havana | Melbourne | Brevard | |
| Minerva Indian Restaurant | Tampa | Hillsborough | |
| Stones Throw | Tampa | Hillsborough | |
| Kaze Poke and Hibachi | Saint Johns | St. Johns | |
| Taco Bell | Orlando | Orange | |
| Mama Rose Pizzeria | Largo | Pinellas |
FAQ: Sewage Leaks Restaurant Closures
- Why do Florida restaurants get emergency closed for Sewage leaks?
- Raw sewage contains billions of bacteria, viruses, and parasites per milliliter — including Norovirus, E. coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A, and Cryptosporidium. Active sewage leaks in a food service establishment mean raw human waste is pooling beneath equipment, seeping through walls, or contacting food contact surfaces. The pathogens in sewage are not neutralized by cooking. Food prepared in an environment with active sewage leaks is not safe to serve. 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 leaks cause in a restaurant?
- Raw sewage contains Norovirus, E. coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A, and Cryptosporidium — pathogens that contaminate food contact surfaces and aerosolize in the heat of a kitchen. 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 leaks?
- DBPR has ordered 336 emergency restaurant closures for "Sewage leaks" since 2015, affecting 155 unique food service establishments. Of those, 5 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 leaks more than once?
- 5 Florida restaurants have been closed for "Sewage leaks" 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 leaks restaurant closures?
- Duval County has the highest documented Sewage leaks 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 leaks restaurant closure last in Florida?
- A Florida DBPR emergency closure for Sewage leaks 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.