Florida to Require Greater Transparency on Restaurant Service Charges
Starting July 1, 2026, a new Florida law will take effect requiring restaurants and other food establishments to provide clearer information to customers about automatic fees, known as operations charges.
The legislation, enacted under Chapter 2025-113 and amending Section 509.214 of the Florida Statutes, defines these charges as any mandatory fee added to a customer’s bill that is not a state or local tax. This includes service charges, automatic gratuities, credit card surcharges, delivery fees, and similar add-ons.
Disclosure requirements
Under the new rules, restaurants applying such charges must:
– Disclose in menus, contracts, websites, or apps the existence of any automatic fee, specifying its amount or percentage and its purpose.
– Include a clear notice on the bill that an operations charge has been added, stating the amount or percentage.
– Itemize the final receipt with three separate lines: one for voluntary tips, one for the automatic charge, and one for sales tax.
If the automatic fee includes a gratuity, that portion must also be listed separately so customers can distinguish it from voluntary tipping.
Purpose of the law
The regulation does not ban or eliminate service charges. Instead, its goal is to ensure transparency so customers understand exactly what they are paying for. By requiring clear disclosure at each stage of the transaction, Florida aims to prevent confusion and help diners differentiate between taxes, mandatory fees, and optional tips.
Expected impact
For consumers, the law offers greater clarity and confidence when reviewing their checks at restaurants, bars, or other food service businesses. For restaurants, it means updating menus, billing systems, and receipts to comply with the new standards before the effective date.
In short, this law represents a step toward greater transparency in Florida’s dining industry, protecting consumer trust while allowing establishments to maintain their business practices.
