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 |
| 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 22, 2026 | Marcos Pizza | $200 | 6--2025078887 |
| 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 |
| Starbucks | 5 | 77 | 1,170 |
| Dollar Tree | 5 | 9 | 1,084 |
| Publix | 5 | 30 | 875 |
| Family Dollar | 4 | 316 | 950 |
| CVS | 4 | 9 | 882 |
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 |
| Dunkin | 3 | 261 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 3 | 135 | 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)
Picolo Restaurant and Bar
70 HOTZ AVE, Santa Rosa Beach
13 inspections · 44 violations · Last: Apr 2026Cafe Tango INC
14 VICKI ST, Santa Rosa Beach
24 inspections · 44 violations · Last: Mar 2026Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
600 GRAND BLVD #M105, San Destin
17 inspections · 44 violations · Last: Mar 2026Hilton Garden Inn Miramar Beach
220 SCENIC GULF DR, Miramar Beach
13 inspections · 43 violations · Last: Mar 2026North Beach Tortilla Co
24200 US HWY 331, Santa Rosa Beach
15 inspections · 43 violations · Last: Mar 2026Ben and Jerry's
9375 EMERALD COAST PKWY W STE 8, Miramar Beach
14 inspections · 42 violations · Last: Sep 2025Clean Juice
9375 EMERALD COAST PKWY 15, Miramar Beach
15 inspections · 41 violations · Last: Jan 2026Outcast Sushi
10859 US-98 W STE 404, Miramar Beach
14 inspections · 41 violations · Last: Jan 2026Arby's #6530
1176 FREEPORT RD, Defuniak Springs
16 inspections · 41 violations · Last: Aug 2025Three Sons BBQ
6931 HWY 30A, Santa Rosa Beach
14 inspections · 40 violations · Last: Oct 2025Gathering Spot
34 GOLDENROD CIR, Santa Rosa Beach
23 inspections · 40 violations · Last: Jan 2026Fat Daddys Pizza
4942 W U S HWY 98 STE 18, Santa Rosa Beach
11 inspections · 40 violations · Last: Nov 2025Basmati's Asian Cuisine
3295 W COUNTY HWY 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach
18 inspections · 39 violations · Last: Feb 2026Luau
5538 E HWY 98, Miramar Beach
11 inspections · 39 violations · Last: May 2026Sandcastles Restaurant
4000 S SANDESTIN BLVD, Miramar Beach
17 inspections · 39 violations · Last: Dec 2025Edward's Fine Food & Wine
66 MAIN ST UNITS 1&2, Rosemary Beach
19 inspections · 38 violations · Last: May 2026Meltdown on 30a
2235 E COUNTY HWY 30A TRAILER 2, Santa Rosa Beach
16 inspections · 38 violations · Last: Mar 2026Links Turn
9300 EMERALD COAST PKWY W, Miramar Beach
17 inspections · 38 violations · Last: Apr 2026Raw and Juicy LLC
85 DEFUNIAK ST, Santa Rosa Beach
16 inspections · 37 violations · Last: Feb 2026Big Bad Breakfast
10562 US HWY 98 W, UNIT 169, Miramar Beach
7 inspections · 37 violations · Last: Mar 2026