Florida Restaurant Closures: Unsanitary Conditions
Florida DBPR health inspectors have ordered 129 emergency restaurant closures for "Unsanitary Conditions" since 2015, affecting 80 food service establishments. 3 of those establishments have been closed for this same reason more than once. In 2026: 1 closures (0.5% of all 2026 DBPR shutdowns), -75% vs. 2025. Broward County leads in Unsanitary Conditions closures; Tallahassee is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR emergency closure records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is Unsanitary Conditions?
When Florida inspectors cite "unsanitary conditions" as the cause for emergency closure, they are describing environments where the cumulative level of filth, contamination, and sanitation failure presents an immediate threat to anyone who eats the food. This may include: grease-caked cooking equipment covered in vermin attractants; mold and bacterial biofilm on food contact surfaces; rodent or cockroach evidence throughout; sewage odor from backed drains; decaying food stored with fresh product; or employees with open wounds handling food without protection. The conditions documented are too dangerous to allow continued operation.
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.
Conditions dangerous enough to trigger an "unsanitary" emergency closure typically involve visible contamination, pest evidence, accumulated filth, and multiple overlapping sanitation failures that cannot be corrected mid-service.
3 of 80 affected establishments have been emergency closed for unsanitary conditions on more than one occasion — raising questions about whether corrective actions are fully addressing the underlying conditions.
Top Counties — Unsanitary Conditions
| County | Closures |
|---|---|
| Broward County | 24 |
| Miami-Dade County | 12 |
| Leon County | 6 |
| Orange County | 6 |
| Pinellas County | 5 |
| Palm Beach County | 5 |
| Hillsborough County | 3 |
| Lake County | 3 |
| Brevard County | 3 |
| Marion County | 2 |
Top Cities — Unsanitary Conditions
| City | Closures |
|---|---|
| Tallahassee | 6 |
| Orlando | 6 |
| Miami | 5 |
| Pembroke Pines | 4 |
| Miramar | 4 |
| Sunrise | 3 |
| Plantation | 3 |
| Tampa | 3 |
| St. Petersburg | 2 |
| Leesburg | 2 |
Top Chains — Unsanitary Conditions
Restaurant chains with the most emergency closures for unsanitary conditions.
| Chain | Closures |
|---|---|
| McDonalds | 7 |
| Dunkin | 3 |
| Burger King | 3 |
| Pollo Tropical | 2 |
| Church's Chicken | 2 |
| Subway | 1 |
| IHOP | 1 |
| Checkers | 1 |
| Duffys Sports Grill | 1 |
| Popeyes | 1 |
Unsanitary Conditions Closures — Year Over Year
Recent Unsanitary Conditions Closures
| Date | Business | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ihop 36-207 | New Port Richey | Pasco | |
| Seed & Bean Market | Fort Myers | Lee | |
| Moes Southwest Grill #1434 | Palm Coast | Flagler | |
| Grape Bottle LLC | Dunedin | Pinellas | |
| Ming Tree Cafe | Tallahassee | Leon | |
| Winghouse Bar and Grill | Largo | Pinellas | |
| Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Operated by Tice | Clermont | Lake | |
| La Cabana Restaurant | Tampa | Hillsborough | |
| Ichiban Buffet | Leesburg | Lake | |
| Ichiban Buffet | Leesburg | Lake | |
| Art Garden Cafe | Venice | Sarasota | |
| McDonald's #18305 | Ocala | Marion | |
| Capas | Miami | Miami-Dade | |
| Palacio De Los Jugos | Miami | Miami-Dade | |
| Latitudes Waterfront Grill and Oyster Bar | Cocoa | Brevard | |
| Holiday Inn | St. Petersburg | Pinellas | |
| McDonald's | Cottondale | Jackson | |
| Hot Off De Grill | Pembroke Pines | Broward | |
| Mama Romanos | Kissimmee | Osceola | |
| Wingstop 687 | North Miami Beach | Miami-Dade |
FAQ: Unsanitary Conditions Restaurant Closures
- Why do Florida restaurants get emergency closed for Unsanitary Conditions?
- When Florida inspectors cite "unsanitary conditions" as the cause for emergency closure, they are describing environments where the cumulative level of filth, contamination, and sanitation failure presents an immediate threat to anyone who eats the food. This may include: grease-caked cooking equipment covered in vermin attractants; mold and bacterial biofilm on food contact surfaces; rodent or cockroach evidence throughout; sewage odor from backed drains; decaying food stored with fresh product; or employees with open wounds handling food without protection. The conditions documented are too dangerous to allow continued operation. 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 Unsanitary Conditions cause in a restaurant?
- Conditions dangerous enough to trigger an "unsanitary" emergency closure typically involve visible contamination, pest evidence, accumulated filth, and multiple overlapping sanitation failures that cannot be corrected mid-service. 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 Unsanitary Conditions?
- DBPR has ordered 129 emergency restaurant closures for "Unsanitary Conditions" since 2015, affecting 80 unique food service establishments. Of those, 3 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 Unsanitary Conditions more than once?
- 3 Florida restaurants have been closed for "Unsanitary Conditions" 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 Unsanitary Conditions restaurant closures?
- Broward County has the highest documented Unsanitary Conditions 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 Unsanitary Conditions restaurant closure last in Florida?
- A Florida DBPR emergency closure for Unsanitary Conditions 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.