How many hours can a 14 year old work in Connecticut during summer?

During summer or school breaks, a 14-year-old in Connecticut can work up to 8 hr per day and 40 hr per week, time window 07:00 – 21:00.

Does a 14 year old need a work permit in Connecticut?

Yes. Connecticut requires a work permit for 14-year-olds. The minor obtains a Promise of Employment from the prospective employer, then applies at their school issuing officer's office with proof of age and a parent or guardian's signature. Working papers are job-specific and must be reissued for each new employer. Mercantile establishments use Form ED-301; manufacturing and mechanical use Form ED-302.

CT · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 14 year old do in Connecticut?

Q: What jobs can a 14 year old do in Connecticut?

Connecticut restricts general employment at this age except for narrow exceptions.

Quick answer for 14-year-olds in Connecticut — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Connecticut state labor code.

Updated: 2026-05-26

Quick answer

Can a 14-year-old work?: No
Work permit: Required
Minimum work age: 14+

Legal work hours

Connecticut sets different hour caps depending on whether school is in session.

During the school year

Hours per day: Not permitted
Hours per week: Not permitted
Time window: No state limit

Connecticut restricts general employment for 14-15-year-olds to a narrow list of approved jobs (recreation, agriculture, retail with limits) and only when school is not in session. Most employers cannot hire this age group during the school year.

Summer / school breaks

Hours per day: 8 hr
Hours per week: 40 hr
Time window: 07:00 – 21:00

Summer hours apply from the last day of school in June through Labor Day for the approved job categories.

Common allowed jobs for a 14-year-old

General age-appropriate jobs under federal FLSA. Connecticut adds its own restricted-occupations list below — check that before accepting any job.

Recreation, summer-camp, or community-program assistant (with Working Papers, Form ED-301)
Distinctive Connecticut rule: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-23 restricts 14-15-year-old general employment to a narrow approved list (recreation, agriculture, certain mercantile roles) and ONLY when school is not in session. Most employers cannot hire 14-15-year-olds during the school year. The minor obtains a Promise of Employment from the employer, then applies for job-specific Working Papers (Form ED-301 mercantile or ED-302 manufacturing) through their school issuing officer with a parent's signature.
Retail cashier (mercantile, summer-only, with Working Papers ED-301)
When school is not in session, 14-15-year-olds in approved mercantile work cap at 8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/week, 7 AM–9 PM (summer hours apply from the last day of school in June through Labor Day).
Tutoring younger students (school-year permitted)
Park, recreation, or community-center program assistant (school-out only for paid work)
Hand-tool yard work for neighbors
Power-driven mowers, weed-whackers, and chainsaws stay 16+ under federal HO-6 / HO-12. Manufacturing employment (machine operation, factory work) stays off-limits to all minors under 16 under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-23.
Newspaper delivery on a regular route
Federal FLSA carve-out at 29 USC § 213(d); Connecticut's § 31-23(b) also exempts newspaper distribution from the general child-labor act.

Restricted in Connecticut

All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17(29 CFR Part 570)
Operating power-driven meat-processing machines(HO-10)
Roofing operations and work on or about a roof(HO-16)
Manufacturing employment for minors under 16(Conn. Gen. Stat. §31-23)
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16(Conn. Gen. Stat. §31-23a)

Other ages in Connecticut

Same age, other states

Read the full Connecticut rules

This page summarizes the rules for 14-year-olds. For all ages, age-band breakdown, statute citation, and DOL references, see the full state page.

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