How Grading Works in St. Johns County.

Start with the Local Scale

Florida inspects restaurants statewide. Its public data lists how many high-priority, intermediate, and basic violations were found at each inspection, but not the written description of each one. High-priority violations are the most serious. Results like "Warning Issued" or "Administrative complaint recommended" mean follow-up action was required, and an Emergency Order means the business was ordered closed until the problems were fixed.

A Score is Not Universal

Never compare results between cities. Some departments add points for violations, others use pass/fail, and a lower score can mean a better result.

Read Beyond the Latest Result

Check the inspection date, each recorded violation, and any follow-up inspection. Closures and re-inspections are labeled in each restaurant’s history.

What's Covered Here

This page covers restaurants and other food-service businesses inspected under Florida Division of Hotels and Restaurants's restaurant program. Small markets, bodegas, and corner stores that sell food are usually inspected under a separate retail food program, which most areas don't publish as open records. If a store you're looking for doesn't turn up in search, that's the most common reason — it may be a real, licensed business that simply isn't part of this particular inspection program.