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 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 4 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 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 |
| Waffle House | 3 | 513 | 0 |
| Hardees | 3 | 463 | 1 |
| Burger King | 3 | 144 | 0 |
| Hungry Howies | 2 | 98 | 0 |
| McDonalds | 2 | 232 | 0 |
| Days Inn | 2 | 58 | 0 |
| Dunkin | 2 | 195 | 0 |
| Little Caesars | 2 | 169 | 2 |
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
See all 30 stories ↓Piesano's Stone Fired Pizza Logged 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
A Lake City pizza chain racked up 7 high-severity violations in one inspection, including undercooked food and no illnes…
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- Red Ginger in Lake City Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
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- Lake City Mexican Restaurant Racked Up 14 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- Captain Crab in Lake City Racked Up 11 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
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- Columbia County Restaurants Rack Up 14 High-Severity Violations at One Spot in a Single Week
- Columbia County Restaurants Rack Up 50+ High-Severity Violations in One Week
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Columbia County Restaurants & Food Establishments (126)
Ricardo's Latin Bakery
471 SR 247 STE 115, Lake City
3 inspections · 10 violations · Last: Oct 2025Tropical Smoothie Cafe
2786 W US HWY 90 STE 101, Lake City
4 inspections · 9 violations · Last: Nov 2025Retro City Arcade and Pizzereia
1051 E DUVAL ST, Lake City
3 inspections · 9 violations · Last: Dec 2025Comfort Suites
3690 W US HWY 90, Lake City
10 inspections · 7 violations · Last: Aug 2025Courtyard by Marriott Lake City
3004 W US HWY 90, Lake City
3 inspections · 6 violations · Last: Aug 2025Towneplace Suites by Marriott Lake City
178 NW COMMERCE DR, Lake City
2 inspections · 2 violations · Last: Aug 2025