Virginia child labor laws set forth the rules and limitations regarding the days and time children under the age of 18 years old may work in Virginia. They also clarify and limit the types of work children under the age of 14 and youth who are 14, 15, 16, and 17 year olds may work. It is also important to remember that businesses and youth workers must comply with the federal child labor laws set forth in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Below is information about Virginia child labor law rules and limitations.
- How old do you have to be to work in Virginia?
- What days can a minor work in Virginia?
- What times during the day can a minor work in Virginia?
- How many hours can a minor work each day in Virginia?
- How many hours can a minor work each week in Virginia?
- What kinds of jobs can a minor work in Virginia?
- Does a teen need to have a work permit or certificate to work in Virginia?
- Are youth workers entitled to rest breaks or meal breaks?
How old do you have to be to work in Virginia?
Under Virginia child labor laws, youth must be 14-years-old or older to get a job and work in Virginia with a few exceptions.
There are a few exceptions for children under the age 14. The exemptions for all children include:
| domestic work in connection with the child’s own home and directly for his parent or a person standing in place of his parent | 12 and older as a page or clerk for either the House of Delegates or the Senate of Virginia | employed by his parent in an occupation other than manufacturing |
| occasional work performed outside school hours in connection with the employer’s home but not in connection with the employer’s business, trade, or profession | activities of a volunteer emergency medical services agency | 12 years or older working as a referee for sports programs sponsored by that eleemosynary, state, or local organization or sponsored by an organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee |
| 12 or 13 year-olds outside school hours on farms, in orchards or in gardens with the consent of his parent or a person standing in place of his parent |
VA Statute 40.1-78 to 40.1-116, VA Department of Labor and Industry – Youth Employment Law FAQs
What days can a minor work in Virginia?
Virginia child labor laws do not limit the days of the week youth may work in Virginia. However, Virginia rules limit the times during a day a minor may work. VA Statute 40.1-78 to 40.1-116, VA Department of Labor and Industry – Youth Employment Law FAQs
What times during the day can a minor work in Virginia?
The times during a day a minor may work in Virginia varies based on 1) whether they are under 16 year old or not, and 2) whether the work will be during school weeks or non-school weeks.
For youth that are 16-years-old and 17-years-old, Virginia child labor laws do not restrict the times during a workday in which they may work, except an employer may not require a minor to work when the minor is supposed to be in school.
For youth that are 14-years-old and 15-years old, Virginia child labor laws restrict the times during the day in which they work depending whether school is in session, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or school is not in session, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
| Age | School Weeks (Labor Day to June 1) | Non-School Weeks (June 1 to Labor Day) |
|---|---|---|
| What times can a 14-year-old work? | 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. | 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. |
| What times can a 15-year-old work? | 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. | 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. |
| What times can a 16-year-old work? | No restriction | No restriction |
| What times can a 17-year-old work? | No restriction | No restriction |
VA Statute 40.1-78 to 40.1-116, VA Department of Labor and Industry – Youth Employment Law FAQs, see also FLSA
How many hours can a minor work each day in Virginia?
For youth that are 16-years-old and 17-years-old, Virginia child labor laws do not restrict how many hours they may work in a workday, except an employer may not require a minor to work when the minor is supposed to be in school.
Moreover, under Virginia child labor laws, children that are 14-years-old and 15-years-old may work no more than 3 hours on a school day and 8 hours on a non-school day.
| Max Hours Work Each Day | School days | Non-school days |
|---|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each day? | 3 | 8 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each day? | 3 | 8 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each day? | No restriction | No restriction |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each day? | No restriction | No restriction |
VA Statute 40.1-78 to 40.1-116, VA Department of Labor and Industry – Youth Employment Law FAQs, see also FLSA
How many hours can a minor work each week in Virginia?
For youth that are 16-years-old and 17-years-old, Virginia child labor laws do not restrict how many hours they may work in a workweek, except an employer may not require a minor to work when the minor is supposed to be in school.
Moreover, under Virginia child labor laws, children that are 14-years-old and 15-years-old may work no more than 3 hours on a school day and 8 hours on a non-school day.
| Max Hours Worked Each Workweek | School Weeks (Labor Day to June 1) | Non-School Weeks (June 1 to Labor Day) |
|---|---|---|
| How many hours can a 14-year-old work each day? | 18 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 15-year-old work each day? | 18 | 40 |
| How many hours can a 16-year-old work each day? | No restriction | No restriction |
| How many hours can a 17-year-old work each day? | No restriction | No restriction |
VA Statute 40.1-78 to 40.1-116, VA Department of Labor and Industry – Youth Employment Law FAQs, see also FLSA
What kinds of jobs can a minor work in Virginia?
In Virginia, youth 14 years old and older may work in the following jobs.
| dry cleaning or laundry establishments in branch stores where no processing is done on the premises | soda fountains | gatekeepers |
| hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics where they may be engaged in kitchen work, tray service, or room and hall cleaning | restaurants | concessions at swimming pools |
| bowling alleys completely equipped with automatic pin setters, but not in or about such machines | hotel and motel food service departments | concessionaires operating on beaches where their duties and work pertain to the handling and distribution of beach chairs, umbrellas, floats, and other similar or related beach equipment |
| on farms, in gardens, or in orchards may perform work as a helper on a truck or commercial vehicle in their employment, while engaged in such work exclusively on a farm, in a garden, or in an orchard | in office work of a clerical nature in bona fide office rooms in the otherwise prohibited establishments |
In Virginia, youth under 16 years old may not work in the following jobs, except as part of a regular work-training program.
| in any manufacturing or mechanical establishment | in the service of any veterinarian while treating farm animals or horses | in hotel and motel room service |
| in any commercial cannery | in any warehouse | in any brick, coal, or lumber yard or ice plant |
| in the operation of any automatic passenger or freight elevator | in processing work in any laundry or dry cleaning establishment | in ushering in theaters |
| in any dance studio | in any undertaking establishment or funeral home | in any curb service restaurant |
| in any hospital, nursing home, clinic, or other establishment providing care for resident patients as a laboratory helper, therapist, orderly, or nurse’s aide | in any scaffolding work or construction trade | in any outdoor theater, cabaret, carnival, fair, floor show, pool hall, club, or roadhouse |
| as a lifeguard at a beach |
In Virginia, youth under 18 years old may not work in the following jobs except when serving a voluntary apprenticeship.
| in any mine, quarry, tunnel, underground scaffolding work | in or about any plant or establishment manufacturing or storing explosives or articles containing explosive components | in any occupation involving exposure to radioactive substances or to ionizing radiations, including X-ray equipment |
| at operating or assisting to operate any grinding, abrasive, polishing, or buffing machine | any power-driven metal forming, punching, or shearing machine | any power-driven bakery machine |
| any power-driven paper products machine | any circular saw, band saw, or guillotine shear | any power-driven woodworking machine |
| in oiling or assisting in oiling, wiping, and cleaning any such machinery | in any capacity in preparing any composition in which dangerous or poisonous chemicals are used | in any capacity in the manufacturing of paints, colors, white lead, or brick tile or kindred products |
| in any place where goods of alcoholic content are manufactured, bottled, or sold for consumption on the premises, except in places (i) licensed pursuant to subdivision 6 of § 4.1-206.1, provided that a child employed at the premises shall not serve or dispense in any manner alcoholic beverages or (ii) where the sale of alcoholic beverages is merely incidental to the main business actually conducted, or to deliver alcoholic goods | in any capacity in or about excavation, demolition, roofing, wrecking, or shipbreaking operations | as a driver or a helper on an automobile, truck, or commercial vehicle; however, children who are at least 17 years of age may drive automobiles or trucks on public roadways with some restrictions |
| in logging or sawmilling or in any lath mill, shingle mill, or cooperage-stock mill | in any occupation determined and declared hazardous by rules and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry |
VA Statute 40.1-78 to 40.1-116, VA Department of Labor and Industry – Youth Employment Law FAQs, see also FLSA
Does a teen need to have a work permit or certificate to work in Virginia?
Virginia child labor laws require 14-15 year old workers to obtain an employment certificate (work permit). Youth may submit an employment certificate application the Virginia’s New Employment Certificate application site. Before a youth applies for an employment certificate, they must have a firm job offer from an employer.
Are youth workers entitled to rest breaks or meal breaks?
In Iowa, employers are required to provide minors with a unpaid meal period lasting 30 minutes or more if the minor works 5 consecutive hours in a shift. VA Statute 40.1-78 to 40.1-116, VA Department of Labor and Industry – Youth Employment Law FAQs
