Florida Restaurant Inspections: Administrative complaint recommended
'Administrative complaint recommended' — a formal administrative complaint recommending enforcement action through the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants, which can result in fines, probation, suspension, or license revocation — has been recorded 40,341 times across 18,309 unique Florida restaurants in DBPR records since 2016. In 2026, 4,696 inspections resulted in this outcome, representing 6.6% of all inspections this year (-36.9% vs. 2025). Duval County leads in 'Administrative complaint recommended' outcomes; Jacksonville is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR food service inspection records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is "Administrative complaint recommended"?
An administrative complaint is a formal legal action that begins the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's enforcement process. The establishment must appear before a hearing officer or negotiate a settlement. Penalties can include fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, mandatory retraining, probation, suspension of the food service license, or permanent revocation. This outcome signals a serious and unresolved violation history.
Florida DBPR operates under a graduated enforcement framework that matches the regulatory response to the severity of conditions found during a food service inspection. Outcomes range from no action for fully compliant establishments through warnings, administrative complaints, and emergency closure orders for the most serious violations. Under Florida Statute § 509, DBPR inspectors are authorized to immediately close any food service establishment where conditions present an imminent public health hazard.
Top Counties — Administrative complaint recommended
| County | Count |
|---|---|
| Duval County | 6,665 |
| Palm Beach County | 5,472 |
| Broward County | 4,122 |
| Miami-Dade County | 2,142 |
| St. Johns County | 1,802 |
| Hillsborough County | 1,798 |
| Marion County | 1,722 |
| Pinellas County | 1,590 |
| Alachua County | 1,447 |
| Orange County | 1,186 |
Top Chains — Administrative complaint recommended
Restaurant chains with the most inspections resulting in administrative complaint recommended.
| Chain | Count |
|---|---|
| Subway | 446 |
| Dunkin | 364 |
| Wendys | 314 |
| McDonalds | 282 |
| Waffle House | 243 |
| Popeyes | 192 |
| Burger King | 163 |
| Taco Bell | 146 |
| Chipotle | 145 |
| Panera Bread | 138 |
Top Cities — Administrative complaint recommended
| City | Count |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 5,838 |
| Ocala | 1,316 |
| Tampa | 1,244 |
| West Palm Beach | 1,165 |
| Miami | 1,114 |
| Gainesville | 1,103 |
| Orlando | 994 |
| Saint Augustine | 883 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 766 |
| Orange Park | 601 |
Administrative complaint recommended — Year Over Year
Inspection Type Breakdown — Administrative complaint recommended
Which inspection types most commonly result in this outcome.
| Inspection Type | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Routine - Food | 34,355 | 85.2% |
| Complaint Full | 5,490 | 13.6% |
| Complaint Partial | 379 | 0.9% |
| Food-Licensing Inspection | 117 | 0.3% |
Recent Inspections — Administrative complaint recommended
| Date | Business | City | County | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Michoacana Ice Cream 2 | Wauchula | Hardee | 10 | |
| Hoots Restaurant | Marco Island | Collier | 7 | |
| Denny's | Tallahassee | Leon | 3 | |
| Fancy Sushi | St Johns | St. Johns | 11 | |
| Beijing Cafe | St. Johns | St. Johns | 6 | |
| China Wok | St. Johns | St. Johns | 12 | |
| Akita Sushi | Ocala | Marion | 15 | |
| China Star | Ocala | Marion | 6 | |
| Turtle Shack Cafe | Palm Coast | Flagler | 11 | |
| Col.mustard’s Phabulous Smash Burgers | Atlantic Beach | Duval | 14 | |
| Krystal Restaurant | Jacksonville | Duval | 15 | |
| Hangar Bay Cafe and Gallery | Jacksonville | Duval | 8 | |
| Sake House | Jacksonville | Duval | 12 | |
| Akels Deli and Grille | Jacksonville | Duval | 12 | |
| Simply Tasty Thai | Jacksonville | Duval | 6 | |
| Dunkin Donuts | Jacksonville | Duval | 7 | |
| Juicy Crab | Jacksonville | Duval | 16 | |
| Big Island Bowls | Newberry | Alachua | 6 | |
| Volcanic Sushi+sake | Newberry | Alachua | 7 | |
| Falafel King | Gainesville | Alachua | 1 |
FAQ: Administrative complaint recommended
- What is 'Administrative complaint recommended' in a Florida restaurant inspection?
- 'Administrative complaint recommended' is a formal DBPR inspection outcome that indicates a formal administrative complaint recommending enforcement action through the Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants, which can result in fines, probation, suspension, or license revocation. An administrative complaint is a formal legal action that begins the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's enforcement process. The establishment must appear before a hearing officer or negotiate a settlement. Penalties can include fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, mandatory retraining, probation, suspension of the food service license, or permanent revocation. This outcome signals a serious and unresolved violation history.
- How common is this inspection outcome in Florida?
- DBPR has recorded 'Administrative complaint recommended' 40,341 times across 18,309 unique food service establishments since 2016. In 2026, 4,696 inspections resulted in this outcome — 6.6% of all 2026 inspections.
- Which Florida counties see the most 'Administrative complaint recommended' outcomes?
- Duval County leads Florida in 'Administrative complaint recommended' inspection outcomes. Jacksonville is the top city for this outcome. High-volume counties typically reflect population density and the concentration of licensed food service establishments rather than a disproportionate rate of violations per restaurant.
- Does 'Administrative complaint recommended' mean a restaurant is unsafe?
- 'Administrative complaint recommended' indicates that DBPR found violations requiring formal follow-up. The establishment is not necessarily unsafe to visit after correction actions are complete, but the outcome reflects documented food safety compliance gaps that required regulatory intervention. The average number of violations per 'Administrative complaint recommended' inspection is 10.6.
- What happens after a restaurant receives 'Administrative complaint recommended'?
- After receiving 'Administrative complaint recommended', the establishment must address the violations cited during the inspection within the timeframe specified. DBPR may conduct a callback inspection to verify compliance. Failure to correct violations can result in escalating enforcement actions including administrative complaints and, ultimately, license suspension or revocation.