Working Under Eighteen
Fla. Stat. 450.081 — 15 hours a school week under 16, and 11 p.m. before school at 16 and 17
In Florida, the child labor law sets hours by age, and the limits that matter most are tied to whether school is scheduled the next day.
| 15 and younger | The limit |
|---|---|
| 15 and youngerNight before a school day | The limitNot before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. |
| 15 and youngerA school week | The limitNot more than 15 hours |
| 15 and youngerA school day | The limitNot more than 3 hours, unless there is no school the next day |
| 15 and youngerHolidays and summer | The limitBetween 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., not more than 8 hours a day or 40 a week |
| 15 and youngerDays in a week | The limitNot more than 6 consecutive days |
| 16 and 17 | The limit |
|---|---|
| 16 and 17Night before a school day | The limitNot before 6:30 a.m. or after 11 p.m. |
| 16 and 17A day before a school day | The limitNot more than 8 hours, except on a holiday or Sunday |
| 16 and 17A school week | The limitNot more than 30 hours, unless a parent, custodian or the school superintendent waives it on the department's form |
| 16 and 17During school hours | The limitNot employed, outside a career education program |
A meal break. Minors 15 and younger may not work more than 4 hours continuously without at least 30 minutes for a meal, and the same applies to 16 and 17 year olds working 8 hours or more in a day.
Who the limits do not reach. Among others, 16 and 17 year olds who have graduated or earned an equivalency diploma, those in home education or certain virtual programs, and minors employed by their parents.
The minimum age, hazardous occupations and the department's waivers are not all on this page. How these rules apply to a particular job, and the federal rules that may also apply, are questions for the state's labor department or a licensed Florida attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Fla. Stat. 450.081 — Hours of work in certain occupations
- Fla. Stat. 450.021 — Minimum age; general
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.