Getting a job as a teenager is a great way to learn responsibility, gain professional experience, and pick up new skills. But because of child labor laws, it’s worth knowing what’s legal — and what isn’t — before your teen starts working. Here is a breakdown of the federal rules and how work permits for teens work in DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Key Takeaways
- The big picture: Federal law sets minimum-age, hours, and job-safety rules for young workers, while work-permit requirements vary by state and DC.
- The details: Work permits for teens can be obtained online in Maryland and Virginia.
- The more you know: Hour restrictions exist to protect children’s safety and education.
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Federal law basics
The US Department of Labor sets 14 as the minimum age for nonagricultural employment, with exceptions including casual babysitting, newspaper delivery, acting and certain work for a business entirely owned by a teen’s parents.
The parental-business exception also has an important nuance: children under 16 can’t work in manufacturing or mining, while anyone under 18 remains barred from federally declared hazardous occupations.
Teens 14-15 face hour restrictions tied to the school calendar:
When school is in session:
- No more than three hours on a school day
- No more than 18 hours per week
- Work hours limited to 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
When school is not in session:
- No more than eight hours per day
- No more than 40 hours per week
- Work hours limited to 7 a.m.-9 p.m. (June 1 through Labor Day)
This age group is also barred from hazardous work, baking operations and outdoor sales, including sign spinning and door-to-door sales.
The U.S. Department of Labor says teens 16 and older can work unlimited hours in any non-hazardous job under federal law — though individual states may impose their own limits.
Work permits for teens in DC
Minors in D.C. can’t work more than six consecutive days a week, more than 48 hours a week, or more than eight hours a day — rules designed to keep work from interfering with school. Additionally, 16- and 17-year-olds can’t work before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m.
Work permits: Under D.C. Code § 32-207, employers generally must obtain and keep a work/vacation permit for any minor under 18, with some exceptions.
Under D.C. Code § 32–209, the minor must appear in person to apply with an employer statement and proof of age. Applicants under 16 also need written parental or guardian consent and a physician-signed certificate of physical fitness. A school record is required only if a child under 16 is withdrawing from school specifically to work.
Note: DC’s Department of Employment Services says that when federal and local rules differ, employers must follow the more restrictive one.
Work permits for teens in Maryland
Maryland requires a work permit for every minor under 18, and applications are handled online. According to the Maryland Department of Labor, it doesn’t issue a permit until the teen has a job offer, and a new one is needed each time they change jobs. The process: the minor applies and prints the permit, then the minor, a parent/guardian and the employer all sign it.
Key rules:
- Minors 14-15 can’t work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. during the school year (extended to 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day).
- Minors 16-17 can’t combine school and work for more than 12 hours in a day — so on a typical six-hour school day, they can work no more than six hours.
- All minors are entitled to at least eight consecutive hours free from work and school.
- Minors 14-17 generally can’t work more than five consecutive hours without a 30-minute break.
Work permits for teens in Virginia
According to the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Virginia requires 14- and 15-year-olds to obtain an Employment Certificate before starting work, and the application shouldn’t begin until there’s a firm job offer. The process is electronic, with separate sections for the youth, employer, and parent/guardian. Once reviewed and approved, the certificate goes to the employer and becomes valid after the youth signs it.
Key rules:
- As in DC, and Maryland, minors ages 14-15 can’t work past 9 p.m. during the summer (from June 1 through Labor Day).
- Teens, guardians and employers each complete their own portion of the form.
- Under Virginia Code § 40.1-80.1(B), all minors get a 30-minute break after five consecutive hours of work.
Stevie Rosenfeld is a journalism and environmental studies student at American University who has reported for American Way of Life Magazine and D.C. Witness. She writes about education, family life and things to do across the DMV.
