How many hours can a 17 year old work in Colorado during summer?

During summer or school breaks, a 17-year-old in Colorado can work up to No state limit per day and No state limit per week, time window No state limit.

Does a 17 year old need a work permit in Colorado?

No. Colorado does not require a state-issued work permit for 17-year-olds. Employers must keep proof of age on file.

CO · age-by-state job guide

What jobs can a 17 year old do in Colorado?

Q: What jobs can a 17 year old do in Colorado?

Yes — a 17-year-old can work in Colorado with the following limits during the school year: No state limit per school day, No state limit per week, time window 05:00 – 00:30. Work permit not required.

Quick answer for 17-year-olds in Colorado — what hours are legal, whether a work permit is required, and the most common allowed jobs. Built directly from Colorado state labor code.

Updated: 2026-06-03

Quick answer

Can a 17-year-old work?: Yes
Work permit: Not required
Minimum work age: 14+

Legal work hours

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

During the school year

Hours per day: No state limit
Hours per week: No state limit
Time window: 05:00 – 00:30

No state weekly hour cap. 16-17-year-olds may not work between 12:30 AM and 5:00 AM when a school day follows.

Summer / school breaks

Hours per day: No state limit
Hours per week: No state limit
Time window: No state limit

Time-of-day restrictions lift on non-school nights; federal FLSA has no cap for this age group.

Common allowed jobs for a 17-year-old

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

Full retail, food-service, and clerical work — no state permit required
Colorado does not issue a state work permit at any age. Employers keep age verification on file; the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment enforces the Youth Employment Opportunity Act through complaint and inspection. At 17 the only state hour restriction is a 12:30 AM–5 AM curfew on nights preceding a school day.
Cooking, baking, and short-order line work with grills, fryers, and HO-11 bakery equipment
Lifeguard at any pool, water park, beach, or natural-water venue (with valid certification)
Warehouse and stockroom work without HO-7 power-driven hoists or HO-2 driving
Colorado's marijuana sale, cultivation, and manufacturing ban for minors under C.R.S. § 44-10-1101 stays in place at 17 — these jobs remain off-limits even though they are legal employment for adults in the state.
Hotel and hospitality front-of-house — host, busser, food runner (no alcohol service)
C.R.S. § 44-3-901 sets the minimum age to sell or serve alcoholic beverages at 18. 17-year-olds may host, bus, and run food but cannot serve or pour alcohol until 18; mixing drinks behind a bar stays 21+.
Construction-trade pre-apprenticeship under registered apprenticeship programs
Colorado allows 17-year-olds in registered apprenticeship programs through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. HO-16 roofing and HO-2 on-road driving remain barred for minors under 18.
Office, data-entry, internship, and customer-support roles

Restricted in Colorado

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(C.R.S. §8-12-110)
Marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, or sale (any minor)(C.R.S. §44-10-1101)
Retail liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries, casinos, and adult-entertainment venues (any minor under 18)(7 CCR 1103-20 (Youth Employment Standards Rules, eff. Feb. 1, 2026))

Other ages in Colorado

Same age, other states

Read the full Colorado rules

This page summarizes the rules for 17-year-olds. For all ages, age-band breakdown, statute citation, and DOL references, see the full state page.

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