Public Food Service Establishment License — Florida (DBPR)
Every Florida restaurant must hold a state Public Food Service Establishment license from DBPR before serving the public.
What it is. The state license to operate a public food service establishment, under Chapter 509, Florida Statutes. In Florida, restaurants are licensed and inspected by the state, not the county.
Who issues it. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — Division of Hotels and Restaurants (State layer).
When you need it. Before serving food to the public. Do not open until you pass an opening inspection; a temporary paper license is issued on-site on passing.
How to apply. Apply through DBPR (Form HR-7007 / online); pass the opening inspection.
Fees. Per the DBPR fee schedule — see source (⟢ VERIFY current amount).
Renewal. Periodic (see the renewal article).
What SpoonSeal tracks. The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
References
- Florida DBPR, Division of Hotels and Restaurants — Licensing — https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/general/ — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.