CO· State teen labor law
Colorado teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Colorado follows the federal FLSA caps for 14-15-year-olds with slightly more permissive time-of-day windows. 16-17-year-olds face only a 12:30 AM to 5:00 AM school-night curfew. No state work permit is required.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Colorado applies similar caps year-round, with small calendar adjustments shown below. Each age band below shows both calendars side-by-side — a distinction federal summaries and most state-comparison tables skip.
Ages 14–15
School year
When school is in session
- Hrs/day (school day)
- 3 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 18 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 19:00
Note: No work during school hours.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 05:00 – 21:30
Note: Colorado allows a 5:00 AM start on non-school days (earlier than the federal 7:00 AM) and a 9:30 PM evening cutoff.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- No state limit
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- 05:00 – 00:30
Note: 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
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- No state limit
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Time-of-day restrictions lift on non-school nights; federal FLSA has no cap for this age group.
Work permit
Colorado does not require a state-issued work permit for minors.
Colorado does not require a state-issued work permit. Employers must keep proof of age on file (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or state ID). The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) enforces the Youth Employment Opportunity Act through complaint and inspection.
Restricted occupations
All federal hazardous orders HO-1 through HO-17
Federal: 29 CFR Part 570
Operating power-driven meat-processing machines
Federal: HO-10
Roofing operations and work on or about a roof
Federal: HO-16
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16
State: C.R.S. §8-12-110
Marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, or sale (any minor)
State: C.R.S. §44-10-1101
See the full federal hazardous orders (HO-1 to HO-17) for plain-English summaries and cross-state additions.
Where these rules come from
State code: Colorado Revised Statutes §§ 8-12-101 to 8-12-117 (Youth Employment Opportunity Act)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://cdle.colorado.gov/laws-regulations-guidance/youth-law
Informational only — verify with the Colorado Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Colorado?
- Yes — under Colorado law a 14-year-old can work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 07:00 and 19:00.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Colorado?
- When school is in session, Colorado allows a 15-year-old to work up to 3 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 07:00 and 19:00. During summer or school breaks the cap rises to up to 8 hours per school day, up to 40 hours per week, between 05:00 and 21:30.
- Does Colorado require a work permit for minors?
- Colorado does not require a state-issued work permit for minors. Employers still must follow federal FLSA rules on hour caps and restricted occupations.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Colorado?
- Colorado prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; operating power-driven meat-processing machines; roofing operations and work on or about a roof. The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the Colorado Revised Statutes §§ 8-12-101 to 8-12-117 (Youth Employment Opportunity Act) citation on this page for the statutory source.