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Teens at Work

21 V.S.A. § 437 — under 16, no more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week

  • A child under 16 needs a certificate of eligibility from the Commissioner to work, except for jobs during vacations or before and after school.
  • A child under 14 may work only in an occupation the Commissioner has approved by rule, during vacation and before and after school.
  • That limit does not cover a parent employing their own child outside manufacturing, mining or hazardous work, a newspaper carrier, or an actor or performer.
  • 21 V.S.A. § 431
  • 21 V.S.A. § 436
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  • No child may work in an occupation the U.S. Secretary of Labor or the Commissioner has found hazardous.
  • A child under 16 may not work more than eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.
  • 21 V.S.A. § 437

A violation brings a fine of up to $5,000 for each offense, and a later conviction can bring up to six months.

Sources for this section (4)
  1. 21 V.S.A. § 431 — Age limit; certificate as to eligibility of child under 16
  2. 21 V.S.A. § 436 — Employment of children under 14 years of age
  3. 21 V.S.A. § 437 — Employment of children; special restrictions; hours for children under 16 years of age
  4. 21 V.S.A. § 449 — General penalty

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Vermont attorney.

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