Work Hour Limitations for Youths

Rules for 14- and 15-year-olds

These youth may be employed:

No more than three hours a day when school is in session for the youth and no more than eight hours a day if school is not in session.
Only between 7 a.m and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day when school is not in session).
A maximum of 18 hours per week when school is in session or 40 hours per week when school is not in session.
Only outside school hours.
A 30-minute break is required after any period of five consecutive hours of work.

During the school term, youth who are enrolled in grades 12 or lower cannot be employed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. when there is school for the youth the next day.
Exception: When the employer gets written permission from the youth’s parents and principal.

Youths less than 14 years of age: Work is generally not permitted for youths under 14 years of age except when working for the youth’s parents, in home delivery of newspapers, or in modeling or acting in a movie or theater production.
Youths 14-15 years of age: Work may be performed in retail businesses, food service establishments, service stations and offices of other businesses. Work is not permitted in manufacturing, mining, on construction sites, with power-driven machinery, on the premise of a business holding an ABC permit for the on-premises sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages, or in hazardous or detrimental occupations.
Youths 16-17 years of age: Work in hazardous/detrimental occupations is not permitted.

For more information about workplace rights, please contact our toll free number at 1-800-NC-LABOR (800-625-2267).