Highlands County — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS

Overview

Highlands County, Florida has 312 food establishments with 3,584 inspections on record. 11 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 82%, below the state average of 85.9%. Inspections average 5.6 violations per visit.

Most recent closure: Cang Tong in Sebring, shut down April 30, 2026 for rodent, roach & fly activity.

Largest fine: $800 assessed to Jimmy's Greek American Grill in Sebring on December 29, 2025.

Data from Florida DBPR (restaurants) and FDACS (retail food). Updated June 2026.

312Facilities
3,584Total Inspections
11Closures 2026
82%Pass Rate
5.6Avg Violations

Most-Inspected Facilities

BusinessCityInspectionsViolationsClosures
Cang Tong Sebring59 643 6
Dimitri's Family Restaurant Sebring49 409 3
Lake Jackson Landing Sebring31 337 2
Oscar's Family Restaurant Sebring32 215 2
Charlie Faye's Depot Avon Park27 195 2

Highlands County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages

Highlands County 82% Pass Rate 82%
Florida Average 85.9% Pass Rate 85.9%
Highlands County 5.6 Avg Violations / Inspection 5.6
Florida Average 4.7 Avg Violations / Inspection 4.7
Highlands County 3.53 Closures per 100 Facilities 3.53
Florida Average 1.35 Closures per 100 Facilities 1.35

Highlands County Restaurants: Recent Closures (2)

DateBusinessCityReason
Cang Tong SebringRodent, Roach & Fly activity
Cang Tong SebringRoach activity

Highlands County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)

DateBusinessCityViolationsResult
Bob Evans Restaurant 478 Sebring0 Call Back - Complied
Cang Tong Sebring3 Call Back - Complied
Bob Evans Restaurant 478 Sebring1 Warning Issued
Cody's Original Roadhouse Sebring7 (1 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Cang Tong Sebring7 (1 high) Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
Cang Tong Sebring17 (8 high) Administrative complaint recommended
Cellar Grill and Wine Bar Sebring2 Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant # 1741 Sebring0 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
China Wok Avon Park0 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Classy Bar and Grill Avon Park1 Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Highlands County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations

Highlands County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines

93Actions on Record
$33,680Total Fines
$383Avg Fine
$800Largest Fine
61Facilities Fined

Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)

DateBusinessFineCase
Dec 29, 2025 Jimmy's Greek American Grill $800 7--2025083762
Dec 4, 2025 Cang Tong $800 7--2025076667
May 14, 2026 Solorzanos Pizzeria Sebring $800 7--2026010700
Aug 7, 2025 Family Taste $800 7--2025038757
Jan 12, 2026 Jimmy's Greek American Grill $800 7--2025067727
Dec 10, 2025 Solorzanos Pizzeria Sebring $400 7--2025068028
Jan 26, 2026 Oscar's Family Restaurant $400 7--2025092137
Mar 19, 2026 Solorzanos Pizzeria Sebring $400 7--2025083737
Dec 1, 2025 Avon Park Diner $400 7--2025081615
Oct 14, 2025 Sophie's Cafe $400 7--2025052987

Highlands County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations

82Fire Violations
42Facilities Cited

Most Common Fire Safety Issues

IssueCitations
Fire extinguisher in red zone 31
Other fire safety violation 22
Exit blocked or locked 19
Cooking without hood suppression 4
Propane tank stored inside building 3
Missing boiler certificate/report 3

Highlands County Retail Food: FDACS Inspection Records

In addition to restaurants, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects grocery stores, markets, gas station food sections, and other retail food establishments. Highlands County has 134 FDACS-regulated facilities with 242 inspections on record and 319 stop-sale orders issued.

134Retail Facilities
242FDACS Inspections
319Stop-Sale Orders
7Orders in 2026

Highlands County FDACS: Recent Stop-Sale Orders

A stop-sale order prohibits a retail food establishment from selling specific products found to be unsafe, improperly stored, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code. Products may be embargoed, destroyed, or returned to the distributor.

DateFacilityCityProductReason
Lake Placid Mobil Lake PlacidBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling
Lake Placid Mobil Lake PlacidBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling
Lake Placid Mobil Lake PlacidBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Container Requirements
Lake Placid Mobil Lake PlacidBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Container Requirements
Lake Placid Mobil Lake PlacidBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Physical Facilities: Plumbing insta…
Lake Placid Mobil Lake PlacidBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Preventing Contamination By Hands: …
Frontage-sunoco-421897 SebringBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Physical Facilities: Plumbing insta…
Frontage-sunoco-421897 SebringBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food: Pro…
Frontage-sunoco-421897 SebringBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Physical Facilities: Plumbing insta…
Legendary Vapes SebringBrand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Container Requirements Comments…

Browse all FDACS stop-sale order categories →

Highlands County FDACS: Most Cited Code Violations

Browse all FDACS violation codes →

Highlands County Retail Food Chains (FDACS)

ChainLocationsStop-Sale OrdersCitations
Dollar General 9 57 2,871
Family Dollar 3 316 950
Publix 3 30 875
Wawa 3 14 430
Winn-Dixie 2 170 584
Dollar Tree 1 9 1,084
Save-A-Lot 1 36 399
Subway 1 27 304

All Florida retail food chains →

About FDACS Retail Food Inspections →

Highlands County: Notable Restaurants

Highlands County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)

ChainLocationsViolationsClosures
Subway 7 578 0
Dunkin 5 623 1
Burger King 4 327 0
McDonalds 4 461 0
Taco Bell 3 245 0
Wendys 3 319 0
Dairy Queen 2 267 0
Culvers 2 34 0
Hungry Howies 2 192 0
Pizza Hut 2 143 0

Highlands County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ

How many restaurants are in Highlands County?
Highlands County, Florida has 312 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Highlands County?
The current pass rate for food establishments in Highlands County is 82%. The Florida state average is 85.9%.
How many restaurants were shut down in Highlands County this year?
11 food establishments in Highlands County have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
What are the most common health violations in Highlands County?
The most frequently cited violations in Highlands County are: Food contact surfaces, Clean multi-use utensils, Proper hand/arm washing.
Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Highlands County?
Subway has the most locations in Highlands County with 7 establishments.
What was the most recent restaurant closure in Highlands County?
Cang Tong in Sebring was shut down on April 30, 2026 for rodent, roach & fly activity.
How does Highlands County compare to the Florida state average?
Highlands County has a pass rate of 82%, which is 3.9 percentage points below the state average of 85.9%. The average violations per inspection is 5.6 compared to the state average of 4.66.
How often are restaurants inspected in Highlands County?
Food establishments in Highlands County have an average of 11.5 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
How much in fines have restaurants in Highlands County been assessed?
Food establishments in Highlands County have been assessed $33,680 in fines across 93 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $383 and the largest single fine was $800.
How many fire safety violations have been found in Highlands County restaurants?
82 fire safety violations have been documented across 42 food establishments in Highlands County. The most common issue is fire extinguisher in red zone.
Are grocery stores and retail food stores in Highlands County inspected?
Yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects retail food establishments — grocery stores, gas station food sections, markets, and convenience stores. Highlands County, Florida has 134 FDACS-regulated retail food facilities with 242 inspections on record.
How many FDACS stop-sale orders have been issued in Highlands County?
FDACS has issued 319 stop-sale orders at retail food establishments in Highlands County, including 7 in 2026. A stop-sale order prohibits a facility from selling specific products found to be unsafe, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code.

In the News Highlands County

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Highlands County Restaurants & Food Establishments (308)

Cang Tong 6 closures

110 SEBRING SQUARE, Sebring

59 inspections · 643 violations · Last: Jun 2026

Dimitri's Family Restaurant 3 closures

2710 KENILWORTH BLVD, Sebring

49 inspections · 409 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Lake Jackson Landing 2 closures

2640 US HWY 27 S, Sebring

31 inspections · 337 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Oscar's Family Restaurant 2 closures

267 US 27 N, Sebring

32 inspections · 215 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Charlie Faye's Depot 2 closures

21 W MAIN ST, Avon Park

27 inspections · 195 violations · Last: Oct 2025

Tienda & Restaurante Lamalquerida LLC 2 closures

600 W MAIN ST, Avon Park

28 inspections · 173 violations · Last: May 2026

Family Taste 2 closures

1019 US 27 S, Avon Park

21 inspections · 128 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Hibachi Buffet 1 closure

2870 US HWY 27 N, Sebring

28 inspections · 303 violations · Last: May 2026

Jaxson's 1 closure

443 LAKE JUNE RD, Lake Placid

29 inspections · 302 violations · Last: May 2026

Azul Tequila Mexican Cuisine 1 closure

2521 US HWY 27 N, Sebring

25 inspections · 294 violations · Last: May 2026

Broken Egg Diner 1 closure

950 SEBRING SQUARE PLAZA, Sebring

43 inspections · 266 violations · Last: Dec 2025

Bufalucca 1 closure

7429 US HWY 27 N, Sebring

34 inspections · 229 violations · Last: Jan 2026

China One 1 closure

3218 US H WY 27 S, Sebring

29 inspections · 217 violations · Last: Jan 2026

Dock 633 1 closure

633 LAKE JUNE RD, Lake Placid

24 inspections · 215 violations · Last: May 2026

Schooni's Italian American Restaurant 1 closure

209 N MAIN AVE, Lake Placid

31 inspections · 211 violations · Last: Dec 2025

Yums Chinese Food 1 closure

2926 US HWY 27 S, Sebring

31 inspections · 205 violations · Last: Jan 2026

Mr Sammy's New York Style Pizza 1 closure

312 WEST INTERLAKE BLVD, Lake Placid

27 inspections · 191 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Sonic Drive-in 6668 1 closure

650 US HWY 27 N, Sebring

25 inspections · 163 violations · Last: Dec 2025

Chicanes 1 closure

3101 GOLFVIEW DR, Sebring

23 inspections · 162 violations · Last: May 2026

Casa Tequila Mexican Restaurant and Bar LLC 1 closure

3601 PLACID LAKES BLVD, Lake Placid

26 inspections · 158 violations · Last: Feb 2026