OH· State teen labor law
Ohio teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Ohio requires an Age and Schooling Certificate for every minor under 18, issued by their school for a specific employer. 16-17-year-olds face no weekly hour cap but cannot work past 11:00 PM on school nights without parental consent.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Ohio 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)
- 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
- 07:00 – 21:00
Note: Hours apply June 1 through September 1 and during school holidays.
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
- 07:00 – 23:00
Note: No state hour cap, but 16-17-year-olds may not work past 11:00 PM on a school night or before 7:00 AM on a school day. Up to 1:00 AM and from 6:00 AM with written parental consent on non-school nights.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- No state limit
- Max hours per week
- No state limit
- Time window
- 06:00 – 01:00
Note: Time-of-day restrictions relax during school breaks; federal FLSA has no hour cap for this age group in non-hazardous work.
Work permit
Ohio requires a work permit for minors aged 14–17.
The minor obtains a Pledge of Employment from the prospective employer, then applies at their school's administrative office with proof of age, a physician's certificate of physical fitness, and parent or guardian consent. The certificate is job-specific and must be reissued for each new employer.
Form: Age and Schooling Certificate (Form 1-IM-2)
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
Door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision
State: OAC 4101:9-2-08
Roofing operations and work on or about a roof
Federal: HO-16
Working in or around freezers and meat coolers
State: ORC §4109.06
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: Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4109 (§§ 4109.01-4109.99)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/industrial-compliance/minor-labor/minor-labor-laws
Informational only — verify with the Ohio Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Ohio?
- Yes — under Ohio 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. A Ohio work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Ohio?
- When school is in session, Ohio 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 07:00 and 21:00.
- Does Ohio require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Ohio requires a work permit for minors aged 14-17 (form: Age and Schooling Certificate (Form 1-IM-2)). The minor obtains a Pledge of Employment from the prospective employer, then applies at their school's administrative office with proof of age, a physician's certificate of physical fitness, and parent or guardian consent. The certificate is job-specific and must be reissued for each new employer.
- What jobs can a minor not do in Ohio?
- Ohio prohibits minors from a number of hazardous occupations, including: all federal hazardous orders ho-1 through ho-17; operating power-driven meat-processing machines; door-to-door sales for minors under 16 without adult supervision. The full list of federal hazardous orders (HO-1 through HO-17) also applies. See the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4109 (§§ 4109.01-4109.99) citation on this page for the statutory source.