Who does the inspecting
Most Florida restaurants are licensed and inspected by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants. (Schools, hospitals and some institutional kitchens fall under the Department of Health instead.) Inspectors work out of district offices; Flagler County is part of District 5.
How often
Florida sets inspection frequency by risk. Most full-service restaurants get at least one or two unannounced routine inspections a year, and higher-risk kitchens can get more. On top of that, inspectors make complaint visits when the public reports a problem, licensing visits before a new place opens, and callback (follow-up) visits to confirm that problems were fixed.
What they check
Inspectors follow the FDA Food Code as adopted by Florida. They take food temperatures, watch how staff wash hands and handle raw meat, look for pests, check that chemicals are labeled and stored away from food, inspect coolers and ice machines, and confirm that a certified food manager and trained staff are on site.
What the results mean
Each finding is classed as high priority, intermediate or basic. The visit then ends with a disposition, such as "Inspection Completed - No Further Action", "Warning Issued" (fix by a deadline), "Administrative complaint recommended" (possible fines), or in serious cases "Emergency order recommended", which temporarily closes the business until it passes a callback.
In Flagler County
Since mid-2025 we've tracked 880 inspection visits across 287 locations. 101 were complaint-driven. The average routine inspection found 4.6 items, and about 18% were clean.
Quick answers
How often are Florida restaurants inspected?
Most licensed restaurants get at least one or two unannounced routine DBPR inspections a year, plus complaint, licensing and follow-up visits.
Who inspects restaurants in Flagler County?
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, District 5.