Sanford — Food Safety Records
Sanford, Florida has 201 food establishments with 4,054 inspections on record. 10 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 92%, above the state average of 85.8%. Inspections average 5.8 violations per visit.
Most recent closure: Mel's Family Diner in Sanford, shut down July 29, 2026 for rodent activity.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Mel's Family Diner in Sanford on July 22, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated August 2026.
Sanford Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Sanford
92%
Pass Rate
92%
Florida Average
85.8%
Pass Rate
85.8%
Sanford
5.8
Avg Violations / Inspection
5.8
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Sanford
4.98
Closures per 100 Facilities
4.98
Florida Average
1.98
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.98
Sanford Restaurants: Recent Closures (6)
| Date | Business | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mel's Family Diner | Rodent activity | |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | No restrooms | |
| Ichigo Ichie Buffet | Rodent activity | |
| Colorados Prime Steak | Roach activity | |
| Mel's Family Diner | Rodent activity | |
| Colorados Prime Steak | Roach & fly activity |
Sanford Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Sol Mexican Restaurant | 3 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Pierogi Bros | 11 (2 high) | Warning Issued | |
| Burger King | 6 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Mel's Family Diner | 2 (1 high) | Emergency Order Callback Complied | |
| Pizza Twist | 9 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Hooked Fish Camp | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Mel's Family Diner | 3 (2 high) | Emergency order recommended | |
| Mellow Mushroom | 5 (2 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Sanford Dairy Queen | 2 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action |
Sanford Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 59,374 |
| 23 | Chemical properly stored | 52,521 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 48,800 |
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 36,902 |
| 29 | Proper sewage disposal | 28,266 |
Sanford Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2026 | Mel's Family Diner | $800 | 4--2026018781 |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Mel's Family Diner | $800 | 4--2026001471 |
| Nov 24, 2025 | 5th Element Indian Restaurant | $800 | 4--2025064334 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | Mel's Family Diner | $800 | 4--2025069811 |
| Jul 20, 2026 | Churchs Chicken 10558 | $400 | 4--2026019626 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | Buster's Bistro | $300 | 4--2025073654 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Casa China | $300 | 4--2025075544 |
| Oct 6, 2025 | Mel's Family Diner | $240 | 4--2025038371 |
| Sep 4, 2025 | Subway #851 | $200 | 4--2025060866 |
| Nov 17, 2025 | 1st Street Lounge LLC | $160 | 4--2025067914 |
Sanford Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Other fire safety violation | 58 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 42 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 23 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 11 |
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 8 |
| Cooking without hood suppression | 7 |
Sanford: Notable Restaurants
Sake House
49 inspections
430 violations
4 closures
Mel's Family Diner
42 inspections
429 violations
3 closures
Casa China
28 inspections
331 violations
3 closures
Ichigo Ichie Buffet
48 inspections
758 violations
2 closures
La Mexicana #7 Restaurant
46 inspections
468 violations
El Sol Mexican Restaurant
36 inspections
445 violations
Sanford: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds | 4 | 234 | 0 |
| Subway | 4 | 274 | 0 |
| Dominos | 3 | 115 | 0 |
| Burger King | 3 | 289 | 0 |
| Chipotle | 3 | 94 | 0 |
| Chick-fil-a | 2 | 147 | 0 |
| Wendys | 2 | 186 | 0 |
| Ihop | 2 | 337 | 1 |
| Popeyes | 2 | 170 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 2 | 235 | 0 |
Sanford Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Sanford?
- Sanford, Florida has 201 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Sanford?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Sanford is 92%. The Florida state average is 85.8%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Sanford this year?
- 10 food establishments in Sanford have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
- What are the most common health violations in Sanford?
- The most frequently cited violations in Sanford are: Proper ventilation, Chemical properly stored, Food contact surfaces.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Sanford?
- McDonalds has the most locations in Sanford with 4 establishments.
- What was the most recent restaurant closure in Sanford?
- Mel's Family Diner in Sanford was shut down on July 29, 2026 for rodent activity.
- How does Sanford compare to the Florida state average?
- Sanford has a pass rate of 92%, which is 6.2 percentage points above the state average of 85.8%. The average violations per inspection is 5.8 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Sanford?
- Food establishments in Sanford have an average of 20.2 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Sanford been assessed?
- Food establishments in Sanford have been assessed $34,455 in fines across 104 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $355 and the largest single fine was $1,680.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Sanford restaurants?
- 149 fire safety violations have been documented across 62 food establishments in Sanford. The most common issue is other fire safety violation.
In the News Sanford
See all 26 stories ↓
Sanford Mexican Restaurant Logged 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
El Sol Mexican Restaurant in Sanford drew 6 high-severity violations July 27, including unsafe cooking temps and no alle…
Stories You May Have Missed
- Sanford Mexican Restaurant Logged 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sanford Buffet Shut Down for Rodents, 758 Violations in Its History
- Tropical Smoothie Café in Sanford Shut Down Over No Restrooms, Food Safety Violations
- Sanford Tropical Smoothie Cafe Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- Ford's Garage in Sanford Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sanford Seafood Spot Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Keke's Breakfast Café in Sanford Cited for 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sanford Buffet Stays Open After 7 High-Severity Violations, Including Unknown Food Source
- Sanford Diner Shut Down for Rodent Activity, Third Emergency Closure in Ten Months
- Sanford Steakhouse Shut Down for Roaches, Third Time in 14 Months
- Sanford Diner Stayed Open After 6 High-Severity Violations, Including Undercooking and Toxic Chemical Risks
- Sanford Indian Restaurant Racked Up 6 High Violations, Stayed Open
- Sanford Diner Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sanford Bistro Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Sanford Taqueria Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
Sanford Restaurants & Food Establishments (199)
Sake House 4 closures
1625 RINEHART RD, Sanford
49 inspections · 430 violations · Last: Mar 2026Mel's Family Diner 3 closures
3221 S ORLANDO DR, Sanford
42 inspections · 429 violations · Last: Jul 2026Casa China 3 closures
3677 S ORLANDO DR, Sanford
28 inspections · 331 violations · Last: Jul 2026Ichigo Ichie Buffet 2 closures
3611 S ORLANDO DR, Sanford
48 inspections · 758 violations · Last: Jul 2026Colorados Prime Steak 2 closures
3863 S ORLANDO DR., Sanford
34 inspections · 307 violations · Last: Jul 2026Le's Pho 2 closures
5040 W SR 46 STE 1114, Sanford
28 inspections · 243 violations · Last: Jan 2026Marco's Pizza 2 closures
1165 RINEHART RD., Sanford
25 inspections · 79 violations · Last: Sep 2025Churchs Chicken 10558 1 closure
2561 FRENCH AVE, Sanford
37 inspections · 516 violations · Last: Jun 20265th Element Indian Restaurant 1 closure
1133 RINEHART RD, Sanford
39 inspections · 497 violations · Last: Jul 2026Buster's Bistro 1 closure
300 S SANFORD AVE, Sanford
42 inspections · 433 violations · Last: Jul 2026Racks Billiards Sports Bar & Grill 1 closure
312 ENTRANCE RD N, Sanford
29 inspections · 274 violations · Last: Mar 2026Colonial Room Restaurant 1 closure
105 E 1 ST STE 100, Sanford
38 inspections · 267 violations · Last: Feb 2026Ihop 36-177 1 closure
3150 S ORLANDO DR, Sanford
29 inspections · 197 violations · Last: Mar 2026Micheladas Y Mariscos El Doctor 1 closure
1220 SANFORD AVENUE, Sanford
26 inspections · 191 violations · Last: Mar 2026Dali's Lao Thai Cafe 1 closure
1181 RINEHART RD, Sanford
26 inspections · 171 violations · Last: Jul 2026Tropical Smoothie Cafe 1 closure
1771 WP BALL BLVD STE 1617, Sanford
5 inspections · 27 violations · Last: Jul 2026Cabana Live
4380 CARRAWAY PL, Sanford
44 inspections · 476 violations · Last: Nov 2025La Mexicana #7 Restaurant
2715 S ORLANDO DR, Sanford
46 inspections · 468 violations · Last: Mar 2026El Sol Mexican Restaurant
4520 W SR 46, Sanford
36 inspections · 445 violations · Last: Aug 2026Christos
107 W 1 ST, Sanford
38 inspections · 420 violations · Last: Mar 2026