Hiring a 16-year-old as a summer helper is legal in every state. Putting him on a roof is not. Neither is handing him a reciprocating saw, letting him drive the van to the supply house, or sending him into a trench to help with a sewer repair. A 15-year-old can answer phones in the office but cannot set foot on a job site. Federal child labor law covers every trades business with $500,000 in sales or that handles goods moving in interstate commerce, which is almost all of them. Since 2025 the civil penalty is up to $16,035 per violation, $72,876 if a minor is seriously injured or killed, and double that for repeated or willful violations. The 2026 inflation adjustment was canceled, so those amounts still apply.
This guide covers the federal rules for trades work by age, the hazardous orders that matter for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, solar, landscaping and snow removal, and each state’s work-permit rules and tighter hour limits as of October 2026. Several states loosened their own laws in 2025 and 2026, but a state law cannot authorize what federal law prohibits.
Quick answer: Under 14: not employable, except in a parent’s own business in non-hazardous work. 14–15: office or sales work only, away from the job site, with federal hour limits; no construction, ladders, scaffolds or power tools. 16–17: construction work is allowed, but not the federal hazardous orders: no roofing (including rooftop HVAC and solar), no trenching or excavation, no demolition, no power saws, no forklifts or aerial lifts, and no driving under 17. Registered apprentices and student-learners are exempt from some of these orders. Fifteen jurisdictions require a work permit for every minor under 18 (CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, WA), 17 require one only for younger teens or require an employer certificate, and 19 require none.
On this page
What Each Age Can Do
| Age | Hours / work allowed | Equipment | Construction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 14 | Not allowed | Not allowed | Except parent’s own business, non-hazardous work |
| 14–15 | Office and sales only, away from job sites; 3 hrs school day, 18 school week | No ladders, scaffolds or power tools | No construction |
| 16–17 | Any hours federally (states may limit) | Hazardous orders apply | Construction allowed except HO work |
| 18+ | Adult | Adult | Adult |
For 14–15-year-olds, the federal “Regulation 3” list bans construction, repair work, operating any power-driven machinery other than office equipment, work on ladders or scaffolds, driving, loading or unloading trucks, and operating power-driven lawn mowers, string trimmers and snow blowers. That leaves a trades shop with office work, answering phones, filing, cleaning the shop (with hand tools), and sales or customer contact away from the job site. Hand-shoveling snow at a customer’s walkway is not construction and is generally allowed; running the snow blower is not.
The Hazardous Orders That Hit the Trades
The Department of Labor’s 17 hazardous occupations orders (HOs) apply to everyone under 18, in every state. The ones that matter for a field service business:
| Order | Prohibits (under 18) | Trades examples |
|---|---|---|
| HO 2 | Driving motor vehicles | No driving under 17; 17-year-olds limited to daylight, small vehicles, 30 miles, no towing |
| HO 5 | Power-driven woodworking | Includes table saws |
| HO 7 | Power-driven hoisting | Forklifts, aerial lifts, cranes |
| HO 8 | Power-driven metal forming, punching, shearing | Sheet-metal brakes |
| HO 12 | Paper products / balers | Cardboard balers in shops |
| HO 14 | Circular saws, band saws, chain saws, reciprocating saws | Sawzall, chop saw |
| HO 15 | Wrecking, demolition | Gut jobs |
| HO 16 | Roofing and work on or about a roof | Includes rooftop HVAC units and solar |
| HO 17 | Trenching and excavation | Sewer lines, foundation work |
Two are routinely missed. HO 16 covers all work on or about a roof, not just shingling, so a 17-year-old helper cannot go up to service a rooftop unit or carry panels for a solar install. HO 2 means a 16-year-old cannot drive a company vehicle at all, and a 17-year-old can only under strict conditions: daylight, a vehicle under 6,000 lbs GVW, within 30 miles, no towing, no time-sensitive deliveries, no more than a third of the workday driving, with a clean record and a completed driver education course. Most service vans and pickups with a trailer are over the weight limit.
Electrical work has no specific hazardous order, and ladders are allowed for 16–17 under federal law. Several states add electrical work, work at height, and other restrictions; see the state blocks.
Apprentices, Student-Learners and Family Businesses
- Registered apprentices (16–17, in a program registered with the Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency) are exempt from HOs 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 17 when the hazardous work is incidental to training, intermittent, under close supervision of a journeyman, and safety instruction is part of the program. They are not exempt from HO 2 (driving), HO 7 (forklifts and lifts) or HO 15 (demolition).
- Student-learners in a bona fide vocational program at a school, with a written agreement between the school and the employer, get the same exemptions.
- Parent’s business: a child of any age may work for a business wholly owned by his parent, in any job except mining, manufacturing and the hazardous orders. A family-owned corporation with outside shareholders doesn’t qualify, and the hazardous orders still apply to the owner’s own kids.
When State and Federal Law Disagree
The stricter rule always applies. Iowa’s 2023 law letting 16–17-year-olds in approved training programs do some previously prohibited work, and West Virginia’s 2026 repeal of its state hazardous-work list, don’t change anything for an employer covered by the FLSA: the federal hazardous orders still apply. The reverse is also true: where California, New York, Washington or Massachusetts set tighter hours or extra prohibited jobs, those apply on top of federal law. If your business is small enough to fall outside FLSA coverage (under $500,000 in sales and not engaged in interstate commerce), state law is the only rule, but most trades businesses buy equipment and parts that cross state lines and are covered.
What Changed in 2025–2026
Recent changes: Federal civil penalties were frozen at 2025 levels for 2026 (up to $16,035 per violation, $72,876 for death or serious injury, $145,752 for repeated or willful violations causing death or serious injury). Michigan replaced school-issued work permits with a state registration system on October 2, 2026. Indiana let 16–17-year-olds work adult hours (January 2025) and eliminated its youth employment documentation (2026). Nevada cut the weekly cap for under-16s to 40 hours (October 2025). West Virginia replaced permits with age certificates (2025) and repealed its state hazardous list (2026). Washington expanded hours for work-based learning (2026). Nebraska set a $13.50 subminimum wage for 14–15 (2026). Oregon tied its rules to the federal standard as of January 1, 2026. Federal child-labor enforcement found 773 minors working in violation of hazardous orders in FY 2025, up from 365 the year before.
State-by-State Breakdown
Red chips mark jurisdictions that require a work permit or certificate for every minor under 18; amber marks states that require one only for younger teens or require an employer certificate; grey marks states with no state permit. Every state is subject to the federal hazardous orders and the 14–15 hour limits; the blocks note where the state is stricter.
Jump to your state
Alabama Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Eligibility-to-work form required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: no work after 10 p.m. or before 5 a.m. on school nights.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Trades note: Alabama’s rules mirror federal law for 16–17.
Alaska Certificate Under 17
Work permit: Work permit required for minors under 17, issued by the Department of Labor.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Trades note: The under-17 threshold is unusual; 17-year-olds need no permit.
Arizona No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Arkansas No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: The Youth Hiring Act (2023) eliminated the permit for under-16s.
California Permit Under 18; Strict Hours
Work permit: Required for every minor under 18 (Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor, form B1-4, signed by the employer, then a Permit to Employ and Work issued by the school). The employer also needs its own Permit to Employ on file.
Hours: 14–15: 3 hours on a school day, 18 per school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. (9 p.m. in summer). 16–17: 4 hours on a school day, 8 on a non-school day, 28 per school week, 48 in vacation weeks, 5 a.m.–10 p.m. (12:30 a.m. before a non-school day).
Hazardous work: State prohibitions mirror and extend the federal list, including work on scaffolding, around high-voltage lines and in excavations, and operating most power-driven equipment. Violations are misdemeanors and carry civil penalties per minor.
Trades note: California’s 28-hour school-week cap makes a 16-year-old summer helper the realistic use. See California employment laws for trade employers.
Colorado No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Connecticut Certificate Under 18
Work permit: Working papers (certificate of age) required for minors under 18, issued by the school district.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: in retail and some other industries, 6 hours on a school day and 32 hours in a school week; other industries follow federal limits for 16–17.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus a state list; 16–17-year-olds may not work in construction on the site except under limited conditions, and power-driven equipment is restricted.
Trades note: Connecticut issues papers through schools, so plan for summer-hire paperwork before school lets out.
Delaware Permit Under 18
Work permit: Work permit required for minors under 18, issued through the Department of Labor’s online system with parent and employer signatures.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: no more than 12 hours of combined school and work per day and at least 8 consecutive hours off in each 24.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders; state adds restrictions on certain machinery.
Trades note: The 12-hour combined school-and-work cap matters during the school year.
District of Columbia Permit Under 18
Work permit: Work permit required for minors 14–17, issued by DOES.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: no more than 8 hours a day and 48 a week, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus DC’s list.
Trades note: Construction sites in DC follow the federal 16+ rule.
Florida No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: HB 49 (2024) loosened hour limits for 16–17-year-olds.
Georgia Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Employment certificate required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Trades note: Georgia relies on federal rules for 16–17.
Hawaii Certificate Under 18
Work permit: Certificate of age required for minors 14–17, issued by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations online.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: no state hour limits beyond federal.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus state prohibitions for 16–17 including construction work above certain heights.
Trades note: The online certificate is quick; employers must keep it on file.
Idaho No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Illinois Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Employment certificate required for minors 14–15, issued by the school.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus the Illinois list; the 2024 Child Labor Law rewrite tightened penalties.
Trades note: SB 2703 (2026) would allow unlimited hours at parent-owned businesses; in committee.
Indiana No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Ages 16–17 may work adult hours since January 1, 2025; HB 1302 (2026) eliminated the youth employment documentation system.
Iowa Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Work permit required for minors 14–15.
Hours: 14–15: 6 hours a day in some jobs (SF 542, 2023) under certain conditions.
Hazardous work: SF 542 (2023) allowed 16–17-year-olds in some otherwise prohibited jobs within approved work-based learning; federal hazardous orders still apply and override.
Trades note: State permission doesn’t cure a federal violation; the federal rules decide roofing, excavation and demolition.
Kansas No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Kentucky No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Louisiana Employment Certificate Under 18
Work permit: Employment certificate required for minors under 18, issued by the school or the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: no work between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on school nights; no more than 8 hours on a school day.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Trades note: Louisiana has used the certificate system for decades; a teen without one is a violation even on a two-week summer job.
Maine Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Work permit required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: during school, 6 hours on a school day, 24 in a school week, no work after 10:15 p.m.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Trades note: Maine’s 24-hour school-week cap for 16–17 is stricter than federal.
Maryland Permit Under 18
Work permit: Work permit required for minors 14–17, issued through the Maryland Department of Labor online system.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: no more than 12 hours of combined school and work per day; at least 8 consecutive hours off each day.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus state list.
Trades note: A 2026 bill to add state civil penalties passed the House but not the Senate.
Massachusetts Permit Under 18; Night Limits
Work permit: Work permit required for minors 14–17, issued by the school district (signed by the employer, the parent for under 16, and a physician for some ages).
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: up to 9 hours a day, 48 a week, 6 a.m.–10 p.m. on school nights (midnight on non-school nights), 6 days a week.
Hazardous work: State hazardous list extends federal rules; 16–17-year-olds may not work on ladders or scaffolds over 30 feet, and power-driven equipment is restricted.
Trades note: Massachusetts enforces aggressively through the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division.
Michigan LEO Registration (Oct. 2026)
Work permit: Required for minors under 18. As of October 2, 2026 (2024 PA 196), school-issued permits are replaced by a registration system run by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Hours: 14–15: 3 hours on a school day, 18 per school week. 16–17: 24 hours in a school week, 10 hours a day, 48 a week averaged, 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. on non-school nights).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus Michigan’s list.
Trades note: Use the new LEO system for any hire after October 2, 2026; school permits issued earlier remain valid until they expire. HB 5727 (2026), which would eliminate permits, is in committee.
Minnesota No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Age certificates are optional.
Mississippi No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Missouri Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Work certificate required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Trades note: SB 1325 (2026), a youth subminimum wage, is in committee.
Montana No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Nebraska Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Employment certificate required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Trades note: LB 258 (2026) set a $13.50 subminimum wage for 14–15-year-olds.
Nevada No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: AB 215 (October 1, 2025) cut the weekly hour cap for under-16s from 48 to 40 and barred minors from working 11 p.m.–6 a.m. before school days.
New Hampshire Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Youth employment certificate required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: 30 hours in a school week, 6 days, 48 hours in vacation weeks.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
New Jersey Permit Under 18
Work permit: Working papers required for minors under 18, issued through the online system with a school official’s approval.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits (S 108 would extend to 11 p.m. in summer; pending). 16–17: 8 hours a day, 40 a week, 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Hazardous work: State hazardous list extends federal rules.
Trades note: New Jersey’s 40-hour weekly cap for 16–17 applies year-round.
New Mexico No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
New York Permit Under 18; Strict Hours
Work permit: Working papers required for minors under 18, issued by the school district.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: 4 hours on a school day, 8 on a non-school day, 28 per school week, 48 in vacation weeks, 6 a.m.–10 p.m. (midnight with parental consent on non-school nights).
Hazardous work: State hazardous list extends federal rules; minors may not work on scaffolds, in construction requiring hard hats in some cases, or with power-driven saws and lifts.
Trades note: New York’s 28-hour school-week limit mirrors California’s.
North Carolina Youth Employment Certificate Under 18
Work permit: Youth employment certificate required for minors under 18, issued online by the Department of Labor.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: no state limits on hours; 11 p.m. limit on school nights without parental and principal permission.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus state list.
Trades note: The certificate is online and instant; keep it on file.
North Dakota Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Employment certificate required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Ohio Age and Schooling Certificate
Work permit: Age and schooling certificate required for minors 14–17, issued by the school district.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: no work before 7 a.m. or after 11 p.m. on school nights.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus Ohio’s list.
Trades note: Ohio requires posting the minor-labor notice and keeping a time record of breaks.
Oklahoma Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Employment certificate required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Oregon Employer Annual Certificate
Work permit: The employer (not the minor) must obtain an annual employment certificate from BOLI before hiring any minor; no individual permit.
Hours: Oregon codified in 2026 that its rules must be at least as protective as federal standards in effect January 1, 2026.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus Oregon’s list.
Trades note: BOLI checks the employer certificate in audits.
Pennsylvania Permit Under 18
Work permit: Work permit required for minors 14–17, issued by the school district.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: 28 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a school day, 6 a.m.–midnight.
Hazardous work: State hazardous list extends federal rules.
Trades note: HB 2481 (2026), which would exempt some graduated minors, is pending.
Rhode Island Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Special limited permit required for minors 14–15.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: 28 hours in a school week, 9 hours a day.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
South Carolina No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
South Dakota No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Tennessee No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Employers must keep proof of age on file.
Texas No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Utah No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Vermont Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Work certificate required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders.
Virginia Certificate Under 16
Work permit: Employment certificate required for minors 14–15.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders; SB 10 (2026) created a conditional apprenticeship program for 16-year-olds in culinary arts and IT (not trades).
Washington Minor Work Endorsement + Parent Authorization
Work permit: Employers must hold a minor work endorsement on their business license, and each minor must have a signed parent/school authorization form.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits. 16–17: 4 hours on a school day, 20 per school week (28 with a variance), 8 a day / 48 a week in summer. HB 1121 (2026) raised hours for minors in work-based learning programs to 8 a day and 48 a week.
Hazardous work: Washington’s list extends federal rules; minors may not do roofing, work at heights over 10 feet, operate power-driven equipment or work in construction except in limited roles.
Trades note: L&I enforces; violations bring civil penalties per minor.
West Virginia Age Certificate (2025); State List Repealed (2026)
Work permit: Age certificates replaced youth work permits in 2025.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: HB 4005 (2026) removed the state-code list of prohibited hazardous jobs; the federal hazardous orders still apply to any employer covered by the FLSA, which includes nearly every trades business.
Trades note: Repeal of the state list doesn’t open roofing or demolition to minors.
Wisconsin Permit Under 16
Work permit: Work permit required for minors under 16.
Hours: 14–15: federal limits.
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders plus Wisconsin’s list.
Wyoming No State Permit
Work permit: None required; keep proof of age on file.
Hours: Federal rules for 14–15 apply (3 hours on a school day, 18 in a school week, 8 on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day).
Hazardous work: Federal hazardous orders govern: no roofing, trenching, demolition, power saws, forklifts or aerial lifts under 18, and no driving under 17.
Trades note: Federal rules control.
Federal rules and state permit and hour requirements current as of October 2026, compiled from Department of Labor guidance, state labor department materials and practitioner surveys. State hour limits for 16–17-year-olds vary by industry and school status and are summarized; check the state labor department’s youth employment page before scheduling a minor. This is a survey for operating a business, not legal advice.
Running the Business
- The rest of the hiring packet: background checks and fair chance laws, E-Verify requirements by state and minimum wage by state.
- The van: drug testing laws by state and GPS tracking laws for technicians.
- Pay and hours: overtime laws by state, meal and rest break laws by state (several states require breaks specifically for minors) and final paycheck laws by state for when summer ends.
- Insurance: workers’ comp by state; some states double comp benefits for illegally employed minors.
Schedule the Helper Around His Hours, Not Over Them
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FAQ
Can a 16-year-old work for a construction or trades company?
Yes. Federal law allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work in construction with no federal hour limits, as long as they don’t do work covered by the hazardous occupations orders: roofing or work on or about a roof, trenching and excavation, wrecking and demolition, operating power-driven circular saws, band saws, chain saws, reciprocating saws, woodworking machines, metal-forming machines, forklifts, cranes or aerial lifts, and driving (prohibited at 16, tightly limited at 17). Many states add their own restrictions and hour limits during the school year.
Can a 14- or 15-year-old work for my trades business?
Only in office, clerical or sales work away from the job site, within federal hour limits: 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day, 40 in a non-school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). Construction, repair work, ladders, scaffolds, power-driven machinery (including mowers and snow blowers), driving and loading trucks are all prohibited. The exception is a business wholly owned by the child’s parent, which may employ its own children in non-hazardous work.
Can a 17-year-old drive the company van?
Only under narrow conditions. A 17-year-old may drive on public roads for work only in daylight, in a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 6,000 pounds or less, within 30 miles of the workplace, with no towing, no urgent or time-sensitive deliveries, no more than two trips away from the primary workplace per day, no more than one-third of the workday or 20% of the workweek driving, seat belts for all, a valid state license with no moving violations at hire, and a completed driver education course. Most service vans, pickups with trailers and box trucks exceed the weight limit. Under 17, no driving at all.
Can a minor work on a roof to service an HVAC unit or install solar?
No. Hazardous occupations order 16 prohibits anyone under 18 from roofing operations and all work on or about a roof, which includes servicing rooftop HVAC units, installing or servicing solar panels, gutter work from the roof and carrying materials onto a roof. Registered apprentices and student-learners in a qualifying program are exempt if the work is incidental to training, intermittent and closely supervised.
What are the penalties for child labor violations?
Up to $16,035 per violation per minor; up to $72,876 for a violation that causes the death or serious injury of a minor; and up to $145,752 if that violation is repeated or willful. These are the 2025 amounts, which remain in effect for 2026 because the 2026 inflation adjustment was canceled. States add their own penalties, and some states increase workers’ comp benefits for an illegally employed minor who is injured. The Department of Labor can also seek an injunction and a hot-goods order blocking shipment of goods produced with oppressive child labor.
Do I need a work permit to hire a teenager?
In many states. California, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania require one for every minor under 18; Washington requires a minor work endorsement on the employer’s business license plus a signed parent authorization. Alaska requires one under 17, and Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin under 16. Oregon requires an annual employer certificate; West Virginia now issues age certificates. Nineteen states require no permit, but you should keep proof of age on file everywhere.
Can registered apprentices under 18 do hazardous trade work?
Partly. Registered apprentices aged 16 and 17 are exempt from hazardous orders 5 (woodworking), 8 (metal forming), 10 and 12, 14 (power saws), 16 (roofing) and 17 (excavation) if the hazardous work is incidental to the apprenticeship, intermittent and short in duration, under the direct and close supervision of a journeyman, and safety instruction is part of the program. They are not exempt from driving, forklifts and lifts, or demolition. Student-learners in a school vocational program with a written agreement get the same exemptions.
Can my own kids work in my business?
Yes, with limits. A child of any age may work for a business wholly owned by his or her parent (a sole proprietorship or partnership of the parents, or in some cases a corporation wholly owned by them), in any occupation except mining, manufacturing and the hazardous occupations. So your 14-year-old can ride along and help with non-hazardous tasks, but cannot go on roofs, use power saws or drive, and the hour limits for 14–15 don’t apply to the parent’s business under federal law. Several states don’t recognize the parental exemption as broadly; check your state.
If my state allows it, can a 16-year-old do roofing or demolition?
No, not if your business is covered by the FLSA, which nearly every trades business is. Federal law sets a floor that state law can’t lower. Iowa’s 2023 law and West Virginia’s 2026 repeal of its state hazardous-work list don’t authorize anything the federal hazardous orders prohibit. The reverse holds too: where a state is stricter (California, New York, Washington and Massachusetts all add prohibitions and hour limits), you follow the state.
Do teen workers need breaks and overtime?
Overtime: yes, under the same federal rules as adults, time and a half over 40 hours for non-exempt workers. Breaks: many states require meal or rest breaks specifically for minors even when adults have no break rule, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and others. Minimum wage applies, though federal law allows a $4.25 youth wage for the first 90 days for workers under 20, and some states (Nebraska since 2026) set their own subminimum.
Bottom Line
A 16- or 17-year-old can be a useful helper on the ground: carrying materials, cleaning up, assisting with service calls, learning the trade. Keep him off roofs and out of trenches and demolition, away from power saws, forklifts and lifts, and out of the driver’s seat. A 14- or 15-year-old belongs in the office. Get the permit where your state requires one, check the state’s hour limits during the school year, and if you want a minor doing real trade work, register an apprenticeship, which is the only route that opens most of the hazardous orders.
The penalties are per violation and per minor, and the worst case is a seriously injured teenager. One kid on a roof can cost more than the whole summer’s payroll.
