Florida Restaurant Inspections: Warning Issued
'Warning Issued' — a formal warning from DBPR inspectors indicating violations were found that must be corrected within a specified timeframe, with a possible callback inspection to verify compliance — has been recorded 146,828 times across 40,089 unique Florida restaurants in DBPR records since 2016. In 2026, 6,559 inspections resulted in this outcome, representing 12.1% of all inspections this year (-54.1% vs. 2025). Miami-Dade County leads in 'Warning Issued' outcomes; Miami is the most-affected city.
Source: Florida DBPR food service inspection records. Updated weekly every Monday morning.
What Is "Warning Issued"?
A warning is issued when an inspector documents violations serious enough to require formal follow-up but not severe enough to warrant emergency closure. The establishment is given a correction deadline and may receive a callback inspection. Repeated warnings for similar violations can escalate to an administrative complaint. Warnings are a significant indicator of food safety compliance gaps.
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 — Warning Issued
| County | Count |
|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | 20,111 |
| Broward County | 13,113 |
| Orange County | 12,224 |
| Hillsborough County | 9,537 |
| Pinellas County | 9,440 |
| Palm Beach County | 8,615 |
| Duval County | 6,414 |
| Volusia County | 5,454 |
| Lee County | 5,237 |
| Brevard County | 5,172 |
Top Chains — Warning Issued
Restaurant chains with the most inspections resulting in warning issued.
| Chain | Count |
|---|---|
| Subway | 2,557 |
| Dunkin | 1,912 |
| McDonalds | 1,289 |
| Wendys | 1,116 |
| Burger King | 851 |
| Waffle House | 695 |
| Taco Bell | 644 |
| Jersey Mikes | 579 |
| KFC | 489 |
| Firehouse Subs | 481 |
Top Cities — Warning Issued
| City | Count |
|---|---|
| Miami | 10,185 |
| Orlando | 9,935 |
| Tampa | 6,909 |
| Jacksonville | 5,631 |
| Naples | 2,957 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 2,581 |
| Miami Beach | 2,415 |
| Kissimmee | 2,305 |
| Fort Myers | 2,299 |
| Clearwater | 2,040 |
Warning Issued — Year Over Year
Inspection Type Breakdown — Warning Issued
Which inspection types most commonly result in this outcome.
| Inspection Type | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Routine - Food | 125,236 | 85.3% |
| Complaint Full | 16,999 | 11.6% |
| Food-Licensing Inspection | 3,607 | 2.5% |
| Complaint Partial | 980 | 0.7% |
| Routine - Lodging | 3 | 0% |
| Disaster Response | 3 | 0% |
Recent Inspections — Warning Issued
| Date | Business | City | County | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ringside | Sarasota | Sarasota | 5 | |
| Delicious Pr LLC | Bradenton | Manatee | 8 | |
| Latte Da Coffee & Ice Cream Shop | Captiva | Lee | 9 | |
| Hungry Howies Pizza 3013 | North Fort Myers | Lee | 5 | |
| Cantina Captiva LLC | Capitiva | Lee | 4 | |
| La Sierra Mexican Restaurant and Bar | Naples | Collier | 9 | |
| Oyster Creek Golf Club | Englewood | Charlotte | 5 | |
| Tasty Wok | Port Charlotte | Charlotte | 8 | |
| Waffle House #1471 | Milton | Santa Rosa | 2 | |
| Ford's Garage | Panama City Beach | Bay | 7 | |
| Lynda's at the Ocean Club | Ponte Vedra Beach | St. Johns | 7 | |
| Burger King #9162 | Chiefland | Levy | 12 | |
| Redneck Rick Backyard Cooking LLC | Bunnell | Flagler | 4 | |
| Los Dos Potrillos II | Bunnell | Flagler | 5 | |
| Leci's Italian | Jacksonville | Duval | 10 | |
| Miller's Jacksonville Ale House | Jacksonville | Duval | 9 | |
| Steak N Shake | Jacksonville | Duval | 14 | |
| Mildred's Big City Food & New Deal Cafe | Gainesville | Alachua | 9 | |
| Subway of New Smyrna Beach | New Smyrna Beach | Volusia | 5 | |
| Philly Diner | Deland | Volusia | 18 |
FAQ: Warning Issued
- What is 'Warning Issued' in a Florida restaurant inspection?
- 'Warning Issued' is a formal DBPR inspection outcome that indicates a formal warning from DBPR inspectors indicating violations were found that must be corrected within a specified timeframe, with a possible callback inspection to verify compliance. A warning is issued when an inspector documents violations serious enough to require formal follow-up but not severe enough to warrant emergency closure. The establishment is given a correction deadline and may receive a callback inspection. Repeated warnings for similar violations can escalate to an administrative complaint. Warnings are a significant indicator of food safety compliance gaps.
- How common is this inspection outcome in Florida?
- DBPR has recorded 'Warning Issued' 146,828 times across 40,089 unique food service establishments since 2016. In 2026, 6,559 inspections resulted in this outcome — 12.1% of all 2026 inspections.
- Which Florida counties see the most 'Warning Issued' outcomes?
- Miami-Dade County leads Florida in 'Warning Issued' inspection outcomes. Miami 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 'Warning Issued' mean a restaurant is unsafe?
- 'Warning Issued' 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 'Warning Issued' inspection is 10.9.
- What happens after a restaurant receives 'Warning Issued'?
- After receiving 'Warning Issued', 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.