Highlands County — Food Safety Records

Overview

Highlands County, Florida has 188 food establishments with 3,750 inspections on record. 11 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 81.1%, below the state average of 85.7%. Inspections average 5.6 violations per visit.

Most recent closure: Legacy 1912 in Sebring, shut down July 17, 2026 for roach activity.

Largest fine: $800 assessed to China Max in Sebring on August 11, 2026.

Data from Florida DBPR. Updated September 2026.

188Facilities
3,750Inspections
11Closures 2026
81.1%Pass Rate
5.6Avg Violations

Highlands County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages

Highlands County 81.1% Pass Rate 81.1%
Florida Average 85.7% Pass Rate 85.7%
Highlands County 5.6 Avg Violations / Inspection 5.6
Florida Average 4.7 Avg Violations / Inspection 4.7
Highlands County 5.85 Closures per 100 Facilities 5.85
Florida Average 1.96 Closures per 100 Facilities 1.96

Highlands County Restaurants: Recent Closures (2)

DateBusinessCityReason
Legacy 1912 SebringRoach activity
Compass Bar and Grill Lake PlacidRodent activity

Highlands County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)

DateBusinessCityViolationsResult
Jaxson's Lake Placid5 (1 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Dock 633 Lake Placid6 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Lake Jackson Landing Sebring2 Call Back - Complied
Gavaghan's Irish Pub Sebring7 (3 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Liams Soda and Ice Cream Works LLC Sebring3 (1 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Lykes Kitchen Okeechobee2 (2 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
McDonald's Corporation 009-1358 Sebring3 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Seven Sebring Raceway Hotel Sebring2 Call Back - Complied
Dairy Queen Grill and Chill Sebring0 Call Back - Complied
Dunkin Donuts Sebring1 Call Back - Complied

Highlands County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations

Highlands County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines

96Actions on Record
$32,040Total Fines
$373Avg Fine
$800Largest Fine
61Facilities Fined

Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)

DateBusinessFineCase
Aug 11, 2026 China Max $800 7--2026052187
Dec 4, 2025 Cang Tong $800 7--2025076667
May 14, 2026 Solorzanos Pizzeria Sebring $800 7--2026010700
Jan 26, 2026 Oscar's Family Restaurant $400 7--2025092137
Dec 1, 2025 Avon Park Diner $400 7--2025081615
Oct 14, 2025 Sophie's Cafe $400 7--2025052987
Aug 28, 2026 Compass Bar and Grill $400 7--2026050771
May 4, 2026 Bori-bowls $400 7--2025084793
Jul 27, 2026 Jaxson's $400 7--2026046138
Jan 13, 2026 La Michoacana of Lake Placid INC $400 7--2025082271

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
Missing boiler certificate/report 3
Propane tank stored inside building 3

Highlands County: Notable Restaurants

Highlands County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)

ChainLocationsViolationsClosures
Subway 7 637 0
Dunkin 5 662 1
Burger King 4 333 0
McDonalds 4 471 0
Taco Bell 3 255 0
Wendys 3 325 0
Dairy Queen 2 281 0
Culvers 2 43 0
Hungry Howies 2 197 0
Pizza Hut 2 148 0

Highlands County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ

How many restaurants are in Highlands County?
Highlands County, Florida has 188 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 81.1%. The Florida state average is 85.7%.
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?
Legacy 1912 in Sebring was shut down on July 17, 2026 for roach activity.
How does Highlands County compare to the Florida state average?
Highlands County has a pass rate of 81.1%, which is 4.6 percentage points below the state average of 85.7%. The average violations per inspection is 5.6 compared to the state average of 4.68.
How often are restaurants inspected in Highlands County?
Food establishments in Highlands County have an average of 19.9 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 $32,040 in fines across 96 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $373 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.

In the News Highlands County

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Highlands County Restaurants & Food Establishments (187)

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

33 inspections · 348 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Oscar's Family Restaurant 2 closures

267 US 27 N, Sebring

33 inspections · 222 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Charlie Faye's Depot 2 closures

21 W MAIN ST, Avon Park

28 inspections · 198 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Tienda & Restaurante Lamalquerida LLC 2 closures

600 W MAIN ST, Avon Park

29 inspections · 184 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Family Taste 2 closures

1019 US 27 S, Avon Park

21 inspections · 128 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Jaxson's 1 closure

443 LAKE JUNE RD, Lake Placid

30 inspections · 307 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Hibachi Buffet 1 closure

2870 US HWY 27 N, Sebring

28 inspections · 303 violations · Last: May 2026

Azul Tequila Mexican Cuisine 1 closure

2521 US HWY 27 N, Sebring

26 inspections · 302 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Broken Egg Diner 1 closure

950 SEBRING SQUARE PLAZA, Sebring

44 inspections · 273 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Bufalucca 1 closure

7429 US HWY 27 N, Sebring

35 inspections · 239 violations · Last: Sep 2026

China One 1 closure

3218 US H WY 27 S, Sebring

30 inspections · 223 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Schooni's Italian American Restaurant 1 closure

209 N MAIN AVE, Lake Placid

33 inspections · 222 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Dock 633 1 closure

633 LAKE JUNE RD, Lake Placid

25 inspections · 221 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Yums Chinese Food 1 closure

2926 US HWY 27 S, Sebring

32 inspections · 215 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Compass Bar and Grill 1 closure

1506 US 27 S, Lake Placid

32 inspections · 214 violations · Last: Sep 2026

Mr Sammy's New York Style Pizza 1 closure

312 WEST INTERLAKE BLVD, Lake Placid

28 inspections · 197 violations · Last: Aug 2026

Sonic Drive-in 6668 1 closure

650 US HWY 27 N, Sebring

26 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Jul 2026

Dunkin 1 closure

195 US HWY 27, Lake Placid

29 inspections · 164 violations · Last: Jul 2026