Mel's Family Diner in Sanford
Last inspected:
3221 S Orlando Dr, Sanford, FL 32773Mel's Family Diner in Sanford has accumulated 374 violations across 38 inspections since 2017, averaging 9.8 per visit. The facility was shut down once for rodent activity. Fire inspections documented locked exit doors in the dining area. In September 2025, the diner faced an emergency order and required multiple consecutive call-back inspections through January 2026, indicating ongoing compliance failures.
Most recent closure: September 16, 2025 for rodent activity.
Summary generated from Florida DBPR public inspection records.
Mel's Family Diner in Sanford: Comparison to Seminole County Averages
This Facility
9.8
violations / inspection
9.8 violations per inspection
Seminole County Avg
5.44
violations / inspection
5.44 county average
This Facility
1
emergency closures
1 closures
Seminole County Avg
0.14
closures / facility
0.14 county average
Mel's Family Diner in Sanford: Emergency Closure History (1)
Mel's Family Diner in Sanford: Fines & Disciplinary Actions (5)
Total fines on record: $2,160.00
| Action Date | Case Number | Fine | Violation Date | Enforcement Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4--2025069811 | $800.00 | Sep 16, 2025 | Miami (Doral) | |
| 4--2025038371 | $240.00 | Apr 10, 2025 | Miami (Doral) | |
| 4--2024072475 | $240.00 | Sep 23, 2024 | Miami (Doral) | |
| 4--2023003969 | $720.00 | Sep 26, 2022 | Fort Lauderdale | |
| 4--2019060425 | $160.00 | Oct 21, 2019 | Miami (Doral) |
Mel's Family Diner in Sanford: Fire Safety & Life Safety Violations (2)
— 2 fire violations
— Routine - Food · 46-04-4 · Call Back - Complied
Inspector Observation: - From inspection on 2017-02-03: Exit door locked. By small booths in dining room. For reporting purposes only. **Corrected On-Site** - From follow-up inspection on 2017-02-07: **Time Extended**
Legal Basis: Reporting: Means of access, including entrances, halls, and stairways, must permit unobstructed travel at all times and shall be clean, ventilated and well-lighted day and night. Hall and stair runners shall be kept in good condition. Railways, as defined in 61C-1.001(23), F.A.C., shall be installed on all stairways and around all porches and steps. For reporting purposes only.
— Routine - Food · 46-04-4 · Warning Issued
Inspector Observation: Exit door locked. By small booths in dining room. For reporting purposes only. **Corrected On-Site**
Legal Basis: Reporting: Means of access, including entrances, halls, and stairways, must permit unobstructed travel at all times and shall be clean, ventilated and well-lighted day and night. Hall and stair runners shall be kept in good condition. Railways, as defined in 61C-1.001(23), F.A.C., shall be installed on all stairways and around all porches and steps. For reporting purposes only.
Mel's Family Diner in Sanford: Full Inspection History — DBPR (38)
— 1 inspection4 violations · 1 high priority
— Routine - Food· 4 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 11 inspections70 violations · 27 high priority
— Routine - Food· 4 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Extension given, pending
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 5 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Extension given, pending
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 7 violations (2 high priority)· Call Back - Extension given, pending
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 10 violations (5 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Complaint Partial· 3 violations · Emergency Order Callback Complied
— Complaint Partial· 3 violations · Emergency Order Callback Not Complied
— Complaint Partial· 4 violations · Emergency order recommended
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 7 violations (3 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 9 violations (5 high priority)· Administrative complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 8 violations (4 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 10 violations (6 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 3 inspections26 violations · 15 high priority
— Routine - Food· 5 violations (3 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 6 violations (4 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 15 violations (8 high priority)· Administrative complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 4 inspections21 violations · 5 high priority
— Food-Licensing Inspection· 1 violations · Call Back - Complied
Intermediate Violations
— Food-Licensing Inspection· 5 violations (1 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 11 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 4 violations (1 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 3 inspections20 violations · 9 high priority
— Routine - Food· 5 violations (2 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 8 violations (4 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 7 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 2 inspections21 violations · 14 high priority
— Routine - Food· 10 violations (6 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 11 violations (8 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 3 inspections19 violations · 13 high priority
— Routine - Food· 8 violations (6 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— Routine - Food· 11 violations (7 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 0 violations · Admin. Complaint Callback Complied
No violations recorded for this inspection.
— 4 inspections25 violations · 9 high priority
— Routine - Food· 5 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 5 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Extension given, pending
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 8 violations (4 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 7 violations (3 high priority)· Inspection Completed - No Further Action
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— 5 inspections25 violations · 10 high priority
— Routine - Food· 4 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Complied
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 6 violations (2 high priority)· Call Back - Extension given, pending
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 7 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 2 violations (1 high priority)· Call Back - Complied
— Routine - Food· 6 violations (3 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
— 2 inspections20 violations · 11 high priority
— Routine - Food· 8 violations (4 high priority)· Call Back - Complied
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
— Routine - Food· 12 violations (7 high priority)· Warning Issued
High Priority Violations
Intermediate Violations
Basic Violations
Mel's Family Diner in Sanford: Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Mel's Family Diner in Sanford under active enforcement?
- Records show 3 emergency order inspections between September 16, 2025 and September 17, 2025. This data reflects state records at time of publication. The facility may have since resolved these issues.
- When was Mel's Family Diner in Sanford last inspected?
- Mel's Family Diner in Sanford was last inspected by Florida DBPR on January 20, 2026. The result was: Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended.
- When was Mel's Family Diner in Sanford last shut down?
- Mel's Family Diner in Sanford was last shut down on September 16, 2025 for rodent activity. This data reflects state records at time of publication. The facility may have since resolved these issues.
- What are the most common violations at Mel's Family Diner in Sanford?
- The most frequently cited violations at Mel's Family Diner in Sanford are: Proper ventilation, Proper sewage disposal, Clean multi-use utensils.
- How many health inspections has Mel's Family Diner in Sanford had?
- Mel's Family Diner in Sanford has had 38 inspections on record with Florida DBPR, averaging 9.8 violations per inspection, above the statewide average of 5.2.
- What did the most recent inspection of Mel's Family Diner in Sanford find?
- Mel's Family Diner in Sanford was most recently inspected on January 20, 2026 with 7 violation(s), including 1 high-priority violation(s). Disposition: Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended.
- Has Mel's Family Diner in Sanford ever been shut down?
- Yes, Mel's Family Diner in Sanford has been emergency-closed 1 time by Florida DBPR inspectors.
- What does Florida violation V14 (Food contact surfaces) mean?
- Violation 14 (Food contact surfaces) is classified as a high priority violation under Florida DBPR food safety regulations. See the full explanation at floridafoodsafety.org/violation/14.
- What does Florida violation V29 (Proper sewage disposal) mean?
- Violation 29 (Proper sewage disposal) is classified as a intermediate priority violation under Florida DBPR food safety regulations. See the full explanation at floridafoodsafety.org/violation/29.
- What does Florida violation V36 (Proper ventilation) mean?
- Violation 36 (Proper ventilation) is classified as a intermediate priority violation under Florida DBPR food safety regulations. See the full explanation at floridafoodsafety.org/violation/36.
- Has Mel's Family Diner in Sanford had any fire safety violations?
- Yes, Mel's Family Diner in Sanford has 2 fire safety violation(s) on record from Florida state fire inspections.
- Has Mel's Family Diner in Sanford faced any disciplinary actions?
- Yes, Mel's Family Diner in Sanford has 5 disciplinary action(s) on record with Florida DBPR totaling $2,160.00 in fines.
- How much has Mel's Family Diner in Sanford been fined?
- Mel's Family Diner in Sanford has been fined a total of $2,160.00 across 5 disciplinary action(s) on record with Florida DBPR.
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Editorial Standards & Data Oversight
Data Source: This report is based on official public inspection records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.
Disclaimer: All data reflects official state records at time of publication. Facilities may have since corrected cited violations, resolved enforcement actions, or changed ownership.
Editor: All content reviewed and verified by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org and is not affiliated with Mel's Family Diner. How we collect and verify this data.