Working Under Sixteen
W. Va. Code § 21-6-7 — three hours on a school day, eighteen a school week, and not after seven at night
A child 14 or 15 years of age may work in most jobs once the employer has the written consent of a parent, guardian or custodian on file.
| Under sixteen | The limit |
|---|---|
| Under sixteenSchool days | The limitNo more than three hours, and not during school hours |
| Under sixteenSchool weeks | The limitNo more than eighteen hours |
| Under sixteenDays without school | The limitNo more than eight hours |
| Under sixteenWeeks without school | The limitNo more than forty hours |
| Under sixteenTime of day | The limitNot before seven in the morning or after seven at night, or nine from June 1 through Labor Day |
| Under sixteenBreaks | The limitNo more than five hours without at least thirty minutes for lunch |
A child under fourteen may work only in farm work not declared hazardous, domestic work in the employer's home, a parent's own business, acting or performing, and delivering newspapers.
The hour limits do not apply to those jobs open to children under fourteen. Whether a particular job is allowed is a question for the Division of Labor.
Sources for this section (3)
- W. Va. Code § 21-6-1 — Employment of children under fourteen
- W. Va. Code § 21-6-3 — Parental consent for employment of children under 16
- W. Va. Code § 21-6-7 — Hours and days of labor by minors
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed West Virginia attorney.