Walton County — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS
Walton County, Florida has 904 food establishments with 5,979 inspections on record. The pass rate is 92.7%, above the state average of 85.9%. Inspections average 3.2 violations per visit.
Largest fine: $400 assessed to Cowgirl Kitchen Market in Santa Rosa Beach on March 2, 2026.
Data from Florida DBPR (restaurants) and FDACS (retail food). Updated June 2026.
Most-Inspected Facilities
| Business | City | Inspections | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Nola | Defuniak Springs | 34 | 115 | 4 |
| Poppy's Seafood & Hammerheads | Miramar | 35 | 216 | 2 |
| Thai 9 Cuisine | Miramar Beach | 38 | 150 | 2 |
| Marcos Pizza | Miramar Beach | 30 | 139 | 2 |
| Iron and Grape Italian Kitchen | Defuniak Springs | 27 | 60 | 2 |
Walton County Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Walton County
92.7%
Pass Rate
92.7%
Florida Average
85.9%
Pass Rate
85.9%
Walton County
3.2
Avg Violations / Inspection
3.2
Florida Average
4.7
Avg Violations / Inspection
4.7
Walton County
0
Closures per 100 Facilities
0
Florida Average
1.35
Closures per 100 Facilities
1.35
Walton County Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | City | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lc's Pizza & Subs | Freeport | 0 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Five Guys Burgers & Fries | Miramar Beach | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Shelby's Beach Bar & Grill | Santa Rosa Beach | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Shelby's Beach Bar & Grill | Santa Rosa Beach | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Shunk Gulley | Santa Rosa Beach | 1 (1 high) | Call Back - Complied | |
| Shunk Gulley | Santa Rosa Beach | 9 (5 high) | Administrative complaint recommended | |
| Thai Elephant | Santa Rosa Beach | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Dunkin Donuts/baskin Robbins | Defuniak Springs | 0 | Call Back - Complied | |
| Shelby's Beach Bar & Grill | Santa Rosa Beach | 1 | Warning Issued | |
| Ghost Crab Pizza + Kitchen | Santa Rosa Beach | 0 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action |
Walton County Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 32,710 |
| 31 | Clean multi-use utensils | 31,938 |
| 08 | Proper hand/arm washing | 30,650 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 29,034 |
| 53 | Outer openings protected | 23,238 |
Walton County Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2026 | Cowgirl Kitchen Market | $400 | 6--2026007937 |
| Aug 26, 2025 | Dude and Meatballs | $320 | 6--2025031621 |
| Aug 20, 2025 | Seacrest CafÉ | $240 | 6--2025041133 |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Marcos Pizza | $200 | 6--2025078887 |
| Sep 24, 2025 | Amor Cafe at 30a | $200 | 6--2025067052 |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Surf Hut Restaurant | $200 | 6--2025083430 |
| Oct 29, 2025 | Li's Hot Wok Chinese Buffet | $200 | 6--2025074918 |
| Jan 13, 2026 | Jimmy John's 3290 | $160 | 6--2025087374 |
| Dec 11, 2025 | Holiday Inn Express & Suites Destin-miramar Beach | $160 | 6--2025068150 |
Walton County Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| Other fire safety violation | 26 |
| Propane tank stored inside building | 15 |
| Fire extinguisher in red zone | 12 |
| Cooking without hood suppression | 4 |
| Missing boiler certificate/report | 4 |
| Exit blocked or locked | 1 |
Walton County Retail Food: FDACS Inspection Records
In addition to restaurants, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects grocery stores, markets, gas station food sections, and other retail food establishments. Walton County has 537 FDACS-regulated facilities with 1,045 inspections on record and 725 stop-sale orders issued.
Walton County FDACS: Recent Stop-Sale Orders
A stop-sale order prohibits a retail food establishment from selling specific products found to be unsafe, improperly stored, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code. Products may be embargoed, destroyed, or returned to the distributor.
| Date | Facility | City | Product | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | ss. 893.03(1)(a) and 893.035, F.S., Department of Legal Affairs Emergency Rule 2… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500.04; FS 500.172 Unsanitary Equipment.* Physical Facilities: Hot and cold w… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Labeling Comments: Print Date:… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Labeling Comments: To request a… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Labeling Comments: To request a… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Labeling Comments: To request a… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Labeling Comments: To request a… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Labeling Comments: To request a… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Labeling Comments: To request a… | |
| Sunshine Bay Empire LLC | Panama City | Brand Name: (Lot #:) | FS 500; FAC 5K-4 Violation of Florida Food Law.* Labeling Comments: To request a… |
Browse all FDACS stop-sale order categories →
Walton County FDACS: Most Cited Code Violations
Browse all FDACS violation codes →
Walton County Retail Food Chains (FDACS)
| Chain | Locations | Stop-Sale Orders | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General | 17 | 57 | 2,871 |
| Winn-Dixie | 9 | 170 | 584 |
| Circle K | 6 | 102 | 1,574 |
| Dollar Tree | 5 | 9 | 1,084 |
| Publix | 5 | 30 | 875 |
| Starbucks | 5 | 77 | 1,170 |
| CVS | 4 | 9 | 882 |
| Family Dollar | 4 | 316 | 950 |
Walton County: Notable Restaurants
Cafe Nola
34 inspections
115 violations
4 closures
Poppy's Seafood & Hammerheads
35 inspections
216 violations
2 closures
Thai 9 Cuisine
38 inspections
150 violations
2 closures
Kfc F569056
48 inspections
375 violations
Plateful Chinese Buffet
45 inspections
177 violations
1 closures
Grayton Seafood Company LLC
42 inspections
116 violations
1 closures
Walton County: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds | 6 | 237 | 1 |
| Subway | 5 | 170 | 2 |
| Waffle House | 4 | 232 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 3 | 135 | 0 |
| Dunkin | 3 | 261 | 0 |
| Chick-fil-a | 2 | 74 | 0 |
| Whataburger | 2 | 78 | 0 |
| Hungry Howies | 2 | 106 | 0 |
| Burger King | 2 | 142 | 0 |
| Dominos | 2 | 24 | 0 |
Walton County Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Walton County?
- Walton County, Florida has 904 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Walton County?
- The current pass rate for food establishments in Walton County is 92.7%. The Florida state average is 85.9%.
- What are the most common health violations in Walton County?
- The most frequently cited violations in Walton County are: Consumer advisory, Clean multi-use utensils, Proper hand/arm washing.
- Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Walton County?
- McDonalds has the most locations in Walton County with 6 establishments.
- How does Walton County compare to the Florida state average?
- Walton County has a pass rate of 92.7%, which is 6.8 percentage points above the state average of 85.9%. The average violations per inspection is 3.2 compared to the state average of 4.66.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Walton County?
- Food establishments in Walton County have an average of 6.6 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
- How much in fines have restaurants in Walton County been assessed?
- Food establishments in Walton County have been assessed $48,280 in fines across 114 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $427 and the largest single fine was $3,360.
- How many fire safety violations have been found in Walton County restaurants?
- 62 fire safety violations have been documented across 50 food establishments in Walton County. The most common issue is other fire safety violation.
- Are grocery stores and retail food stores in Walton County inspected?
- Yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects retail food establishments — grocery stores, gas station food sections, markets, and convenience stores. Walton County, Florida has 537 FDACS-regulated retail food facilities with 1,045 inspections on record.
- How many FDACS stop-sale orders have been issued in Walton County?
- FDACS has issued 725 stop-sale orders at retail food establishments in Walton County, including 370 in 2026. A stop-sale order prohibits a facility from selling specific products found to be unsafe, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code.
In the News Walton County
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Walton County Restaurants & Food Establishments (892)
Cafe Nola 4 closures
400 E NELSON AVENUE, Defuniak Springs
34 inspections · 115 violations · Last: Mar 2026Poppy's Seafood & Hammerheads 2 closures
138 FISHERMANS COVE, Miramar
35 inspections · 216 violations · Last: May 2026Thai 9 Cuisine 2 closures
10916 EMERALD COAST PKWY W, Miramar Beach
38 inspections · 150 violations · Last: Feb 2026Marcos Pizza 2 closures
19 POINCIANA BLVD, Miramar Beach
30 inspections · 139 violations · Last: Oct 2025Iron and Grape Italian Kitchen 2 closures
660 BALDWIN AVE, Defuniak Springs
27 inspections · 60 violations · Last: Mar 2026Subway 4953 2 closures
1207 FREEPORT RD UNIT A, Defuniak Spgs
25 inspections · 50 violations · Last: Aug 2025Cabana Cafe 1 closure
112 SEASCAPE BLVD COMMERCIAL 1, Miramar Beach
31 inspections · 240 violations · Last: Mar 2026Panhandlers 1 closure
3008 HWY 98, Santa Rosa Beach
31 inspections · 209 violations · Last: Mar 2026Plateful Chinese Buffet 1 closure
66 US HWY 90 E, Defuniak Springs
45 inspections · 177 violations · Last: Apr 2026Siam Thai Kitchen LLC 1 closure
2078 US 98 W STE 104, Santa Rosa Beach
28 inspections · 170 violations · Last: Jan 2026Beach Camp Brewing Co Grayton 1 closure
170 EAST COUNTY HWY 30A, Santa Rosa Beach
28 inspections · 169 violations · Last: Nov 2025Hurricane Oyster Bar and Grill 1 closure
37 LOGAN LN UNIT 4, Santa Rosa Beach
28 inspections · 167 violations · Last: Apr 2026Goatfeathers 1 closure
3865 W COUNTY HWY 30A, Santa Rosa Beach
27 inspections · 164 violations · Last: Apr 2026Vki Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar 1 closure
4552 US HWY 98 WEST 1 & 2, Santa Rosa Beach
25 inspections · 146 violations · Last: Feb 2026Ruby Slipper Cafe 1 closure
9100 BAYTOWNE WHARF BLVD, Miramar Beach
25 inspections · 145 violations · Last: Feb 2026Bistrology LLC 1 closure
10004 US HWY 98 W, Miramar Beach
32 inspections · 142 violations · Last: Jan 2026Shan Kishi Japanese Restaurant 1 closure
11275 US 98 W #4, Miramar Beach
18 inspections · 134 violations · Last: Mar 2026Grayton Seafood Company LLC 1 closure
50-1 UPTOWN GRAYTON CIR, Grayton Beach
42 inspections · 116 violations · Last: Mar 2026Red Fish Taco 1 closure
2052 W CO HWY 30A, Santa Rosa Beach
23 inspections · 108 violations · Last: Feb 2026Pearl Havana Beach Club Restaurant 1 closure
63 MAIN ST, Rosemary Beach
25 inspections · 98 violations · Last: Apr 2026