IL · child performers
Illinois minor entertainment work permit
Federal FLSA exempts child performers from the federal age and hour minimums (29 USC § 213(c)(3); 29 CFR § 570.122), leaving the regulation to each state. Illinois runs a dedicated minor-entertainment framework with a state-issued permit, age-banded time-on-set caps, and on-set requirements. Below is the full Illinois framework, drawn from the state labor code and the issuing agency's guidance.
Quick facts
- Permit required
- Yes
- Min performer age
- No minimum
- Studio teacher
- Required
- Schooling on set
- 3 hr / school day
- Trust account
- Required (15% of gross)
- Last verified
The Child Performer Permit
Issued by: Illinois Department of Labor
Illinois requires the permit before a minor performer reports to set. Pre-production notice to the state labor agency is the first step; the permit is tied to the individual minor, not the production, so a minor on multiple productions needs the permit current for each engagement.
How Illinois actually enforces this
The Illinois Child Labor Law of 2024 (effective January 1, 2025) carries forward the prior statute's child-performer framework. The Illinois Department of Labor issues a Child Performer Permit (distinct from the general 14-15-year-old Employment Certificate), and 15% of a minor performer's gross compensation from in-state production work must be deposited in a blocked trust account established by the parent or guardian, accessible at age 18. A certified teacher must provide on-set schooling — generally 3 hours per school day — when production overlaps compulsory-attendance hours. Verify current trust-account procedure and permit requirements with the Illinois Department of Labor before production starts.
Citation
Illinois Child Labor Law of 2024, 820 ILCS 206 (child performer provisions); 56 Ill. Adm. Code Part 250 (employment of children in entertainment)