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 |
| Wendys | 2 | 305 | 0 |
| Subway | 2 | 146 | 0 |
| Burger King | 2 | 209 | 0 |
| Best Western | 1 | 21 | 0 |
| Chilis | 1 | 175 | 0 |
| Hampton Inn | 1 | 33 | 0 |
| Longhorn Steakhouse | 1 | 259 | 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
See all 27 stories ↓
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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- Crescent City Restaurant Cited for 6 High-Severity Violations in Putnam County's August Inspections
- Putnam County's Worst Week: 19 High-Severity Violations at 4 Palatka Restaurants
- Interlachen Restaurant Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- 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)
Golf Course Snk Bar
1715 MOSELEY AVE, Palatka
27 inspections · 102 violations · Last: Aug 2026Velchoff's Corner
105 N 2 ST STE D, Palatka
23 inspections · 100 violations · Last: Nov 2025Rumors Flying
248 HWY 17 S, East Palatka
21 inspections · 100 violations · Last: Mar 2026Pomona Park Pizza
1762 HWY 17 S, Pomona Park
23 inspections · 99 violations · Last: Apr 2026Pizza Hut 5869
805 S SR 19, Palatka
17 inspections · 98 violations · Last: Aug 2026Crossroads Saloon
647 N HIGHWAY 17, Palatka
20 inspections · 95 violations · Last: Apr 2026Andersen's Lodge
10 BOSTON ST, Welaka
15 inspections · 86 violations · Last: Jul 2026Subway of Palatka
201 REID ST, Palatka
19 inspections · 86 violations · Last: Jan 2026207 Diner
101 W MCCORMICK RD, East Palatka
13 inspections · 83 violations · Last: Mar 2026Burger King #6792
3305 CRILL AVE, Palatka
17 inspections · 83 violations · Last: Mar 2026Cheyenne Saloon
337 S US HWY 17, East Palatka
26 inspections · 82 violations · Last: Mar 2026Chico's Mexican Restaurant
731 HWY 17 S, San Mateo
23 inspections · 80 violations · Last: Apr 2026Putnam Lanes
3832 REID ST, Palatka
18 inspections · 80 violations · Last: Oct 2025This & That Cafe
700 ST JOHNS AVE, Palatka
25 inspections · 79 violations · Last: May 2026Zaxby's
423 N HWY 19, Palatka
20 inspections · 78 violations · Last: Oct 2025Hog Waller Mud Bog and Atv
400 COUNTY RD 310, Palatka
21 inspections · 78 violations · Last: May 2026Domino's Pizza # 3254
1112 ST RD 20, Interlachen
22 inspections · 76 violations · Last: Jul 2026Firehouse Subs #1797
506 N SR 19 STE 3, Palatka
13 inspections · 76 violations · Last: Feb 2026Hog Wild Burgers and Shakes
175 S CR 315, Interlachen
19 inspections · 74 violations · Last: Apr 2026McDonald's
1154 HWY 20, Interlachen
15 inspections · 71 violations · Last: Apr 2026