RI· State teen labor law
Rhode Island teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Rhode Island caps 16-17-year-olds at 9 hours per day and 48 hours per week with an 11:30 PM school-night curfew. A Special Limited Permit is required for 14-15-year-olds; older teens need only employer-kept age verification.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Rhode Island 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
- 06:00 – 21:00
Note: Summer hours apply from the last day of school in June through Labor Day. RI allows a 6:00 AM start.
Ages 16–17
School year
When school is in session
- Max hours per day
- 9 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 23:30
Note: Daily cap of 9 hours, weekly cap of 48 hours. Up to 11:30 PM on nights not preceding a school day. Maximum 6 days per week.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 9 hr
- Max hours per week
- 48 hr
- Time window
- 06:00 – 00:30
Note: Up to 12:30 AM during the summer.
Work permit
Rhode Island requires a work permit for minors aged 14–15.
Minors 14-15 obtain a Special Limited Permit from their school district issuing officer. The minor presents the employer's offer plus a parent or guardian's signature. The permit is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a permit but the employer keeps age verification on file.
Form: Special Limited 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: RI Gen Laws §28-3-1
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18
State: RI Gen Laws §3-8-11.1
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: Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 28-3 (Employment of Children)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://dlt.ri.gov/regulation-safety/labor-standards/child-labor-laws
Informational only — verify with the Rhode Island Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Rhode Island?
- Yes — under Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island work permit is required.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in Rhode Island?
- When school is in session, Rhode Island 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 06:00 and 21:00.
- Does Rhode Island require a work permit for minors?
- Yes — Rhode Island requires a work permit for minors aged 14-15 (form: Special Limited Permit). Minors 14-15 obtain a Special Limited Permit from their school district issuing officer. The minor presents the employer's offer plus a parent or guardian's signature. The permit is job-specific. 16- and 17-year-olds do not need a permit but the employer keeps age verification on file.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Rhode Island?
- During summer or school breaks, Rhode Island allows a 16-year-old to work up to 9 hours per school day, up to 48 hours per week, between 06:00 and 00:30. 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 Rhode Island?
- Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 28-3 (Employment of Children) citation on this page for the statutory source.