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
Publix 3 30 875
Wawa 3 14 430
Family Dollar 3 316 950
Winn-Dixie 2 170 584
Save-A-Lot 1 36 399
Subway 1 27 304
Walgreens 1 1 743

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.

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Highlands County Restaurants & Food Establishments (308)

Vw Cvs 03130 FDACS Retail

5 US 27 S, Lake Placid

FDACS Retail Food · Vended Water

Thn Sebring FDACS Retail

199 US Highway 27 S, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Health Food Store w/FS

Snow in Central Florida FDACS Retail

2105 Gresham ST, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Mobile Vendor

Mizrah Promotions INC FDACS Retail

3012 us hwy 27 n suite 111, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Minor Outlet/Prepackaged/No PHF

Dollar General #30176 FDACS Retail

1346 Sebring Pkwy, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Minor Outlet with Perishables

The Brew Crew FDACS Retail

577 Anna Ave, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Mobile Vendor

Racetrac #2643 FDACS Retail

7909 US 27 S, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Convenience Store Significant FS AND/OR Packaged Ice

Locals Lake Placid LLC FDACS Retail

1070 US 27 N, Lake Placid

FDACS Retail Food · Convenience Store Significant FS AND/OR Packaged Ice

The Underground Bite FDACS Retail

651 Holmes Ave, Lake Placid

FDACS Retail Food · Mobile Vendor

6-d LLC FDACS Retail

1552 Lakeview DR, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Packaged Ice Self Vending

McMexican's Frozen Treats FDACS Retail

1568 Lakeview DR, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Specialty Food Shops

Astons Caribbean Foods FDACS Retail

32337 Broadway ST, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Specialty Food Shops

Dollar General #25680 FDACS Retail

81 Lake Henry Drive, Lake Placid

FDACS Retail Food · Minor Outlet with Perishables

Vw Family Dollar 1362 FDACS Retail

170 Plaza Ave, Lake Placid

FDACS Retail Food · Vended Water

Arbuckle Cattle LLC FDACS Retail

1240 katcalani ave, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Mobile Vendor (Free)

Publix Liquor Store # 1517 FDACS Retail

2848 US HIGHWAY 27 S SUITE 109, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Minor Outlet with Perishables

Highlands Seafood FDACS Retail

3276 US Highway 27 S, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Seafood Market Retail

Dollar General # 6676 FDACS Retail

6013 US Highway 98, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Minor Outlet with Perishables

Antler Pines Cafe FDACS Retail

3500 Lake Josephine DR, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Retail Bakery w/FS

Cvs Pharmacy # 03155 FDACS Retail

2728 US Highway 27 S, Sebring

FDACS Retail Food · Minor Outlet with Perishables