SD· State teen labor law
South Dakota teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
South Dakota gives 14-15-year-olds looser daily/evening windows than federal FLSA (4 hours on a school day, 10:00 PM cutoff) but caps the school week at 20 hours. 16-17-year-olds face no state restrictions.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
South Dakota 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
- 20 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 22:00
Note: South Dakota allows up to 4 hours on a school day and a 10:00 PM cutoff (looser than the federal 3-hour / 7:00 PM caps). School-week cap of 20 hours.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 40 hr
- Time window
- 07:00 – 22:00
Note: Summer hours apply when school is not in session. 10:00 PM evening cutoff applies year-round.
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
- No state limit
Note: South Dakota imposes no state hour or time-of-day restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds.
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
Work permit
South Dakota does not require a state-issued work permit for minors.
South Dakota 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 South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation enforces remaining child-labor rules 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 without adult supervision
State: SDCL §60-12-1
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 21
State: SDCL §35-9-1
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: South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 60-12 (Employment of Minors)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://dlr.sd.gov/labor_law/youth.aspx
Informational only — verify with the South Dakota Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in South Dakota?
- Yes — under South Dakota law a 14-year-old can work up to 4 hours per school day, up to 20 hours per week, between 07:00 and 22:00.
- How many hours can a 15-year-old work during school in South Dakota?
- When school is in session, South Dakota allows a 15-year-old to work up to 4 hours per school day, up to 20 hours per week, between 07:00 and 22:00. 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 22:00.
- Does South Dakota require a work permit for minors?
- South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
- South Dakota 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 South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 60-12 (Employment of Minors) citation on this page for the statutory source.