Florida Restaurant Inspections: Emergency order recommended
'Emergency order recommended' — an emergency order to temporarily shut down the food service establishment due to conditions presenting an imminent and serious risk to public health — has been recorded 8,648 times across 6,102 unique Florida restaurants in DBPR records since 2016. In 2026, 887 inspections resulted in this outcome, representing 1% of all inspections this year (-22.8% vs. 2025). Broward County leads in 'Emergency order recommended' outcomes; Tampa is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR food service inspection records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is "Emergency order recommended"?
An emergency order is the most severe inspection outcome DBPR inspectors can issue. It requires immediate cessation of food service operations because conditions on-site present an imminent risk to public health. The establishment cannot reopen until a DBPR inspector verifies that all cited conditions have been fully corrected. Common triggers include active pest infestations, sewage overflow, loss of potable water, and severe temperature control failures.
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 — Emergency order recommended
| County | Count |
|---|---|
| Broward County | 915 |
| Pinellas County | 884 |
| Palm Beach County | 809 |
| Miami-Dade County | 725 |
| Hillsborough County | 693 |
| Duval County | 518 |
| Orange County | 478 |
| Volusia County | 248 |
| Pasco County | 216 |
| Brevard County | 211 |
Top Chains — Emergency order recommended
Restaurant chains with the most inspections resulting in emergency order recommended.
| Chain | Count |
|---|---|
| Dunkin | 77 |
| Subway | 76 |
| Popeyes | 69 |
| Burger King | 63 |
| McDonalds | 56 |
| Wendys | 53 |
| Checkers | 40 |
| Dennys | 27 |
| KFC | 25 |
| Church's Chicken | 23 |
Top Cities — Emergency order recommended
| City | Count |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 488 |
| Jacksonville | 466 |
| Orlando | 414 |
| Miami | 354 |
| St. Petersburg | 246 |
| Boca Raton | 161 |
| Clearwater | 157 |
| West Palm Beach | 147 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 143 |
| Pensacola | 113 |
Emergency order recommended — Year Over Year
Inspection Type Breakdown — Emergency order recommended
Which inspection types most commonly result in this outcome.
| Inspection Type | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Routine - Food | 5,855 | 67.7% |
| Complaint Full | 2,515 | 29.1% |
| Complaint Partial | 257 | 3% |
| Food-Licensing Inspection | 21 | 0.2% |
Recent Inspections — Emergency order recommended
| Date | Business | City | County | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Spot | Fort Myers | Lee | 7 | |
| Riverview Fresh Cuisine | Tampa | Hillsborough | 23 | |
| Monkey Bar of Clearwater | Clearwater | Pinellas | 8 | |
| Breakfast Station | Spring Hill | Hernando | 6 | |
| Crafted Dessert Co. | Spring Hill | Hernando | 2 | |
| Parched Oak | Deland | Volusia | 25 | |
| Broad St Diner | Titusville | Brevard | 1 | |
| Cypress Creek Golf Club | Sun City Center | Hillsborough | 9 | |
| Dennys Rest 9597 | Plantation | Broward | 5 | |
| Wings & More | Fort Lauderdale | Broward | 15 | |
| Gomez Mexican Grill | Fort Myers | Lee | 11 | |
| Kazu Sushi Burrito | Jacksonville | Duval | 19 | |
| Fuji 3 | Jacksonville | Duval | 20 | |
| Joeys Pizza | New Port Richey | Pasco | 7 | |
| Caribbean Sandwich Shop and Bakery | Tampa | Hillsborough | 6 | |
| Azul Tequila Mexican Restaurant LLC | Arcadia | DeSoto | 16 | |
| Josie's Egg Station | Lakeland | Polk | 6 | |
| Rotis Indian Restaurant | Riverview | Hillsborough | 17 | |
| Keke's Breakfast Cafe | Parkland | Broward | 15 | |
| Miami Crab & Seafood Restaurant | Miami Gardens | Miami-Dade | 8 |
FAQ: Emergency order recommended
- What is 'Emergency order recommended' in a Florida restaurant inspection?
- 'Emergency order recommended' is a formal DBPR inspection outcome that indicates an emergency order to temporarily shut down the food service establishment due to conditions presenting an imminent and serious risk to public health. An emergency order is the most severe inspection outcome DBPR inspectors can issue. It requires immediate cessation of food service operations because conditions on-site present an imminent risk to public health. The establishment cannot reopen until a DBPR inspector verifies that all cited conditions have been fully corrected. Common triggers include active pest infestations, sewage overflow, loss of potable water, and severe temperature control failures.
- How common is this inspection outcome in Florida?
- DBPR has recorded 'Emergency order recommended' 8,648 times across 6,102 unique food service establishments since 2016. In 2026, 887 inspections resulted in this outcome — 1% of all 2026 inspections.
- Which Florida counties see the most 'Emergency order recommended' outcomes?
- Broward County leads Florida in 'Emergency order recommended' inspection outcomes. Tampa 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 'Emergency order recommended' mean a restaurant is unsafe?
- Yes — 'Emergency order recommended' means DBPR inspectors found conditions serious enough to require immediate shutdown. Establishments receiving this outcome cannot reopen until a follow-up inspection confirms that all cited conditions have been corrected. This is the most serious outcome in the DBPR enforcement framework.
- What happens after a restaurant receives 'Emergency order recommended'?
- After receiving 'Emergency order recommended', the establishment must cease food service operations immediately. The operator must correct all cited conditions and then request a callback inspection from DBPR. The establishment cannot resume service until a DBPR inspector verifies the violations have been fully corrected — a process that typically takes 24 hours to several days depending on severity.