Working Under Eighteen
26 M.R.S. § 774 — hour limits on a school week, and a work permit under 16
| Limit | Under 16 | 16 or 17, in school |
|---|---|---|
| LimitHours a day on a school day | Under 163 | 16 or 17, in school6, or 8 on the last school day of the week |
| LimitHours a week while school is in session | Under 1618 | 16 or 17, in school24 |
| LimitHours a day with no school | Under 168 | 16 or 17, in school10 |
| LimitHours a week with no school | Under 1640 | 16 or 17, in school50 |
| LimitLatest and earliest | Under 16Not between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., or 9 p.m. in summer vacation | 16 or 17, in schoolNot after 10:15 p.m. before a school day or before 7 a.m. on one |
Who handles this in Maine: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Maine directory.
- No minor works more than 6 consecutive days.
- A minor under 16 years of age needs a work permit signed by the school superintendent and issued by the state, good only for the employer named.
- A minor under 14 years of age may not be employed, apart from some farm work, school lunch programs and a parent's own business.
Sources for this section (3)
- 26 M.R.S. § 774 — Hours of employment
- 26 M.R.S. § 775 — Work permits
- 26 M.R.S. § 771 — Minors under 14 years of age
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maine attorney.