DE· State teen labor law
Delaware teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Delaware requires an online Work Permit for every minor under 18 and caps 16-17-year-olds at 30 hours per school week with a mandatory 8-hour daily rest guarantee. Combined school + work cannot exceed 12 hours per day.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Delaware tightens daily and weekly limits while school is in session, then eases them during summer and school breaks. 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)
- 4 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 18 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 19:00
Note: Delaware allows up to 4 hours on a school day (vs. federal 3). 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
- 07:00 – 21:00
Note: Summer hours apply June 1 through Labor Day; evening cutoff extends to 9:00 PM.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Hrs/day (school day)
- 4 hr
- Hrs/day (Sat / Sun / holiday)
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 30 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:00
Note: School-week cap of 30 hours. Combined school + work may not exceed 12 hours in a single day. Mandatory 8 consecutive non-work hours each day.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 12 hr
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Up to 12 hours/day with mandatory 8 consecutive non-work hours each day. No state weekly cap during school breaks.
Work permit
Delaware requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
Every minor under 18 must obtain a Work Permit through the Delaware Department of Labor online portal. The minor and parent or guardian apply electronically; the school confirms enrollment. The permit is job-specific and reissued for each new employer.
Form: Delaware Work Permit
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 without adult supervision
State: 19 Del. C. §504
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18
State: 4 Del. C. §706
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: Delaware Code Title 19 Chapter 5 (Employment of Children)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://labor.delaware.gov/divisions/industrial-affairs/employment-of-minors/
Informational only — verify with the Delaware Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Delaware?
- Yes — under Delaware law a 14-year-old can work up to 4 hours per school day, up to 18 hours per week, between 07:00 and 19:00. A Delaware work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Delaware?
- When school is in session, Delaware allows a 15-year-old to work up to 4 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 07:00 and 21:00.
- Does Delaware require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Delaware requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Delaware Work Permit). Every minor under 18 must obtain a Work Permit through the Delaware Department of Labor online portal. The minor and parent or guardian apply electronically; the school confirms enrollment. The permit is job-specific and reissued for each new employer.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Delaware?
- During summer or school breaks, Delaware allows a 16-year-old to work up to 12 hours per school day. Federal FLSA caps for 16- and 17-year-olds do not limit weekly hours, so the stricter state rule (if any) applies.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Delaware?
- Delaware 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 Delaware Code Title 19 Chapter 5 (Employment of Children) citation on this page for the statutory source.