Working Under Eighteen
ORS 653.315 and ORS 653.320 — under 16, not before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. outside summer, and 10 hours a day at most
| A child under 16 | The rule |
|---|---|
| A child under 16Hours in a day | The ruleNot longer than 10 hours in any one day |
| A child under 16Days in a week | The ruleNot more than six days in any one week |
| A child under 16Time of day | The ruleNot before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., or until 9 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day |
| A child under 16Meals | The ruleNot less than 30 minutes for mealtime, not counted as work hours |
The time of day limits do not apply to children under 16 working in agriculture, at youth camps, as newspaper carriers, or at domestic work, chores and child care in private homes. An employer of children under 16 posts a notice of the maximum hours where they work.
Under 14. A child under 14 may not be employed for wages while the local public schools are in session, nor in or in connection with any place of business, except as the Bureau of Labor and Industries allows. The bureau may permit children between 12 and 14 to work in suitable jobs during a school vacation of two weeks or more.
The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of the child labor sections. Employment certificates, hazardous occupations and agricultural rules for younger children are in sections not on this page. Questions about a particular job are for the bureau or a licensed Oregon attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- ORS 653.315 — Working hours for children under 16 years of age
- ORS 653.320 — Employment of children under 14 years
- ORS 653.370 — Civil penalty for unlawful employment of minors
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Oregon attorney.