Columbia County — Food Safety Records
Columbia County, Florida has 129 food establishments with 2,744 inspections on record. 4 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 83%, below the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 5.2 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Wendy's in Lake City, shut down August 26, 2026 for fly activity.
Largest fine: $400 assessed to Woods in Lake City on July 7, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated September 2026.
Columbia County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Columbia County
83%
Pass Rate
83%
Florida Average
85.7%
Pass Rate
85.7%
Columbia County
5.2
Avg Violations / Inspection
5.2
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Columbia County
3.1
Closures per 100 Facilities
3.1
Florida Average
1.96
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.96
Columbia County Restaurants: Recent Closures (1)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wendy's | Lake City | Fly activity |
Columbia County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Potro Mexican Restaurant | Lake City | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Sonny's Real Pit BBQ | Lake City | 0 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Bob Evans 228 | Lake City | 12 (2 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Two Fat Guys Burgers and Fries | Lake City | 10 (4 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Denny's #9226 | Lake City | 8 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Baymont by Wyndham | Lake City | 4 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| El Potro Mexican Restaurant | Lake City | 19 (5 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Chick-fil-a | Lake City | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Sonny's Real Pit BBQ | Lake City | 4 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Good Times at the County Line | Lake City | 6 (1 high) | Administrative complaint recommended |
Columbia County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 33,635 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 31,735 |
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 29,367 |
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 17,229 |
| 03 | Employee health reporting | 15,665 |
Columbia County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2026 | Woods | $400 | 5--2026033462 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | U Mi Fl LLC | $400 | 5--2026022113 |
| Jul 20, 2026 | Tienda La Pinata Corp | $400 | 5--2026034235 |
Columbia County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 36 |
| Other fire safety violation | 13 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 6 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 4 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 4 |
Columbia County: Notable Restaurants
La Fiesta Tacos and Tequila
53 inspections
384 violations
3 closures
Hong Yip Restaurant
31 inspections
261 violations
3 closures
Roadhouse Chicken Co
39 inspections
209 violations
3 closures
Salsas Mexican Restaurant
51 inspections
503 violations
1 closures
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen #131
51 inspections
363 violations
1 closures
Baymont by Wyndham
27 inspections
83 violations
Columbia County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | 6 | 391 | 0 |
| Wendys | 4 | 522 | 1 |
| Burger King | 3 | 144 | 0 |
| Waffle House | 3 | 513 | 0 |
| Hardees | 3 | 463 | 1 |
| Dunkin | 2 | 195 | 0 |
| Little Caesars | 2 | 169 | 2 |
| Taco Bell | 2 | 219 | 0 |
| Hungry Howies | 2 | 98 | 0 |
| McDonalds | 2 | 232 | 0 |
Columbia County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Columbia County?
- Columbia County, Florida has 129 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Columbia County?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Columbia County is 83%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Columbia County this year?
- 4 food establishments in Columbia County have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Columbia County?
- The most frequently cited violations in Columbia County are: Food contact surfaces, Chemical properly stored, Consumer advisory.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Columbia County?
- Subway has the most locations in Columbia County with 6 establishments.
- What was the most recent restaurant closure in Columbia County?
- Wendy's in Lake City was shut down on August 26, 2026 for fly activity.
- How does Columbia County compare to the Florida state average?
- Columbia County has a pass rate of 83%, which is 2.8 percentage points below the state average of 85.7%. The average violations per inspection is 5.2 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Columbia County?
- Food establishments in Columbia County have an average of 21.3 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Columbia County been assessed?
- Food establishments in Columbia County have been assessed $17,840 in fines across 42 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $435 and the largest single fine was $1,600.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Columbia County restaurants?
- 63 fire safety violations have been documented across 36 food establishments in Columbia County. The most common issue is fire extinguisher in red zone.
In the News Columbia County
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Columbia County Restaurants & Food Establishments (126)
Denny's #9226
176 NW CENTURION CT, Lake City
28 inspections · 183 violations · Last: Sep 2026Cedar River Seafood
1592 W US HWY 90, Lake City
21 inspections · 182 violations · Last: Feb 2026Our Place Pizzeria and Ristorante
297 N MARION AVE, Lake City
27 inspections · 181 violations · Last: Apr 2026Captain Crab
2329 US W HIGHWAY 90, Lake City
16 inspections · 180 violations · Last: Aug 2026Shirley's Restaurant
746 E DUVAL ST, Lake City
25 inspections · 179 violations · Last: Jul 2026Kentucky Fried Chicken
313 SW BAYA AVE, Lake City
29 inspections · 172 violations · Last: Jan 2026Dairyqueen of Lake City
2984 W US HIGHWAY 90, Lake City
26 inspections · 170 violations · Last: Jul 2025Ihop #36-244
3322 WEST US HIGHWAY 90, Lake City
26 inspections · 166 violations · Last: Jul 2026China One
4556 SW HERITAGE CIR STE 107, Lake City
22 inspections · 165 violations · Last: Aug 2026Yum's Chinese Restaurant
295 NW COMMONS LOOP STE 109, Lake City
24 inspections · 165 violations · Last: Dec 2025Waffle House #719
3639 W US HWY 90, Lake City
25 inspections · 162 violations · Last: Jul 2026Waffle House #2254
348 SW BAYA DR, Lake City
29 inspections · 161 violations · Last: May 2026China Wok
471 SW SR 247 #113, Lake City
23 inspections · 157 violations · Last: Aug 2026Zaxby's
2640 W US HWY 90, Lake City
26 inspections · 155 violations · Last: Apr 2026Wendys 376
180 SW MAIN BLVD, Lake City
33 inspections · 145 violations · Last: Aug 2026Sonny's Real Pit BBQ
3177 HWY 90 W, Lake City
25 inspections · 142 violations · Last: Sep 2026Captain D's #3793
2404 W US HWY 90, Lake City
26 inspections · 138 violations · Last: Jul 2026Wendy's 375
3081 W US HWY 90, Lake City
28 inspections · 136 violations · Last: Mar 2026McDonalds
3133 W US HWY 90, Lake City
23 inspections · 136 violations · Last: Jun 2026Chili's
2893 WEST US HWY 90, Lake City
19 inspections · 136 violations · Last: May 2026