Putnam County — Food Safety Records
Putnam County, Florida has 117 food establishments with 2,708 inspections on record. 3 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 80.3%, below the state average of 85.8%. Inspections average 5.4 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Blue Water Bay in Melrose, shut down July 16, 2026 for rodent activity.
Largest fine: $560 assessed to Taqueria Don Chanito in Palatka on May 4, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated August 2026.
Putnam County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Putnam County
80.3%
Pass Rate
80.3%
Florida Average
85.8%
Pass Rate
85.8%
Putnam County
5.4
Avg Violations / Inspection
5.4
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Putnam County
2.56
Closures per 100 Facilities
2.56
Florida Average
2
Closures per 100 Facilities
2
Putnam County Restaurants: Recent Closures (2)
| Date | Business | City | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Water Bay | Melrose | Rodent activity | |
| Renegades on the River | Crescent City | Roach & fly activity |
Putnam County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendys #72 | Crescent City | 2 (1 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Palmeras Restaurant and Grocery | Crescent City | 7 (2 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Golf Course Snk Bar | Palatka | 5 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Pizza Hut 5869 | Palatka | 2 | Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended | |
| J & J Seafood & Chicken | Palatka | 15 (5 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Captain D's | Palatka | 10 (2 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Kfc Store Y300097 | Palatka | 6 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Gator Bait Sports Bar & Grill | Melrose | 7 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Domino's Pizza # 3254 | Interlachen | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Cowboy | Interlachen | 2 | Call Back - Extension given, pending |
Putnam County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 23,864 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 22,829 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 22,115 |
| 08 | Proper hand/arm washing | 17,725 |
| 24 | Toxic substance control | 17,163 |
Putnam County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2026 | Taqueria Don Chanito | $560 | 5--2026004752 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Blue Water Bay | $400 | 5--2026021997 |
Putnam County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 51 |
| Cooking without hood suppression | 20 |
| Other fire safety violation | 14 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 14 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 7 |
Putnam County: Notable Restaurants
J & J Seafood & Chicken
57 inspections
416 violations
3 closures
Mariscos El Pacifico
37 inspections
332 violations
3 closures
Blue Water Bay
47 inspections
395 violations
2 closures
Renegades on the River
56 inspections
347 violations
2 closures
Sonic # 3855
51 inspections
345 violations
1 closures
Palmeras Restaurant and Grocery
35 inspections
257 violations
1 closures
Putnam County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds | 4 | 289 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 3 | 176 | 0 |
| Dunkin | 3 | 303 | 1 |
| Subway | 2 | 146 | 0 |
| Burger King | 2 | 209 | 0 |
| Wendys | 2 | 305 | 0 |
| Checkers | 1 | 42 | 0 |
| Firehouse Subs | 1 | 76 | 0 |
| Larrys Giant Subs | 1 | 181 | 0 |
| Popeyes | 1 | 233 | 1 |
Putnam County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Putnam County?
- Putnam County, Florida has 117 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Putnam County?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Putnam County is 80.3%. The Florida state average is 85.8%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Putnam County this year?
- 3 food establishments in Putnam County have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Putnam County?
- The most frequently cited violations in Putnam County are: Consumer advisory, Chemical properly stored, Food contact surfaces.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Putnam County?
- McDonalds has the most locations in Putnam County with 4 establishments.
- What was the most recent restaurant closure in Putnam County?
- Blue Water Bay in Melrose was shut down on July 16, 2026 for rodent activity.
- How does Putnam County compare to the Florida state average?
- Putnam County has a pass rate of 80.3%, which is 5.5 percentage points below the state average of 85.8%. The average violations per inspection is 5.4 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Putnam County?
- Food establishments in Putnam County have an average of 23.1 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Putnam County been assessed?
- Food establishments in Putnam County have been assessed $25,330 in fines across 48 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $528 and the largest single fine was $3,000.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Putnam County restaurants?
- 106 fire safety violations have been documented across 49 food establishments in Putnam County. The most common issue is fire extinguisher in red zone.
In the News Putnam County
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Crescent City Restaurant Cited for 6 High-Severity Violations in Putnam County's August Inspections
A Crescent City restaurant racked up six high-severity violations in one visit, including unreported employee illness an…
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- Putnam County's Worst Week: 4 of 5 Restaurants Fail on High-Severity Violations
- Putnam County Inspections: 4 of 5 Restaurants Cited for High-Severity Violations in One Week
- Putnam County's Worst Week: 6 of 8 Restaurants Fail on High-Severity Violations
- Rodent Activity Shuts Down Blue Water Bay in Melrose for Third Time
- Melrose Bar Racked Up 10 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open Anyway
- Welaka Restaurant Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Palatka Chinese Restaurant Logged 8 High-Severity Violations in April, Stayed Open
- Palatka Huddle House Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations in April, Stayed Open
- Betty's Pizza & Subs Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Renegades on the River Emergency-Closed in Crescent City for Roach and Fly Activity
- Corky Bell's Seafood Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- JHO JHO'S DINER HAD 7 HIGH-SEVERITY VIOLATIONS IN APRIL. IT STAYED OPEN.
Putnam County Restaurants & Food Establishments (116)
J & J Seafood & Chicken 3 closures
624 N SR 19, Palatka
57 inspections · 416 violations · Last: Aug 2026Mariscos El Pacifico 3 closures
110 S SR 19, Palatka
37 inspections · 332 violations · Last: Apr 2026Blue Water Bay 2 closures
319 SR 26, Melrose
47 inspections · 395 violations · Last: Jul 2026Renegades on the River 2 closures
1171 CR 309, Crescent City
56 inspections · 347 violations · Last: Jul 2026Mariachiles Mexican Restaurant 1 closure
318 SAINT JOHNS AVE, Palatka
48 inspections · 389 violations · Last: Oct 2025Oaks Golf Club 1 closure
1264 CR 309, Crescent City
49 inspections · 364 violations · Last: Jun 2026Sonic # 3855 1 closure
414 N HWY 19, Palatka
51 inspections · 345 violations · Last: Jun 2026New Palatka Buffet 1 closure
1701 REID ST, Palatka
42 inspections · 330 violations · Last: Feb 2026Shrimps R Us & More 1 closure
765 3 AVE, Welaka
42 inspections · 285 violations · Last: Jul 2026Huddle House Restaurant 1 closure
3909 CRILL AVE, Palatka
46 inspections · 282 violations · Last: May 2026Longhorn Steakhouse 1 closure
501 N SR 19, Palatka
38 inspections · 259 violations · Last: May 2026La Hacienda III Mexican Restaurant 1 closure
2508 CRILL AVE, Palatka
33 inspections · 259 violations · Last: Mar 2026Palmeras Restaurant and Grocery 1 closure
105 N SUMMIT ST, Crescent City
35 inspections · 257 violations · Last: Aug 2026China Wok 1 closure
223 AZALEA PLAZA DR, Palatka
32 inspections · 252 violations · Last: Apr 2026Dunkin 1 closure
1401 REID ST, Palatka
34 inspections · 248 violations · Last: Oct 2025Colees Restaurant 1 closure
2318 CRILL AVE, Palatka
35 inspections · 235 violations · Last: Mar 2026Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen #132 1 closure
710 S HWY 19, Palatka
41 inspections · 233 violations · Last: Mar 2026Jho Jhos Diner 1 closure
2401 CRILL AVE, Palatka
34 inspections · 232 violations · Last: Apr 2026Sonny's BBQ 1 closure
425 SR 19 N, Palatka
33 inspections · 231 violations · Last: Mar 2026Baja Taco 1 closure
209 S SUMMIT STREET, Crescent City
40 inspections · 200 violations · Last: Mar 2026