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

During summer or school breaks, a 14-year-old in Virginia 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 Virginia?

Yes. Virginia requires a work permit for 14-year-olds. Minors 14-15 apply through the Virginia DOLI online portal. The employer provides a Statement of Intent to Employ; a parent or guardian and the school sign off on the application. The certificate is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a permit but the employer must keep age verification on file.

VA · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 14 year old do in Virginia?

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

Yes — a 14-year-old can work in Virginia with the following limits during the school year: 3 hr per school day, 18 hr per week, time window 07:00 – 19:00. Work permit required.

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

Updated: 2026-05-26

Quick answer

Can a 14-year-old work?: Yes
Work permit: Required
Minimum work age: 14+

Legal work hours

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

During the school year

Hours per school day: 3 hr
Hours per non-school day: 8 hr
Hours per week: 18 hr
Time window: 07:00 – 19:00

No work during school hours.

Summer / school breaks

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

Summer hours apply June 1 through Labor Day; evening cutoff extends to 9:00 PM.

Common allowed jobs for a 14-year-old

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

Retail cashier or sales clerk (with VA Employment Certificate for Minors Under 16)
Virginia issues the Employment Certificate online via the DOLI portal. The certificate is job-specific and required for every 14-15-year-old before starting work.
Counter food-service or drive-thru (no flame cooking)
Federal FLSA hour caps apply: 3 hrs per school day, 18 per school week, 7 AM–7 PM.
Office or clerical work — filing, reception, data entry
Tutoring younger students
Park, recreation, or community-center program assistant
Hand-tool yard work for neighbors
VA bans door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision, and tobacco-products sales for under-16 (state HO beyond the federal floor).
Newspaper delivery on a regular route
Federal FLSA carve-out at 29 USC § 213(d).

Restricted in Virginia

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)
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision(VA Code §40.1-100.1)
Tobacco-products sales for minors under 16(VA Code §40.1-100)

Other ages in Virginia

Same age, other states

Read the full Virginia 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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