VT· State teen labor law
Vermont teen labor law — work hours, permits, and restricted jobs
Vermont repealed its age-certificate requirement in 2019 and now relies on employer-kept age verification. The only state-specific cap on 16-17-year-olds is a 50-hour weekly limit.
Quick facts
School year vs summer hour caps
Vermont 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
- 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
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 50 hr
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Vermont's only state-specific cap on 16-17 is a 50-hour weekly limit during the school year and a daily 8-hour cap on school days.
Summer / school breaks
When school is out
- Max hours per day
- 8 hr
- Max hours per week
- 50 hr
- Time window
- No state limit
Note: Same 50-hour weekly cap year-round.
Work permit
Vermont does not require a state-issued work permit for minors.
Vermont repealed its work-permit (age certificate) requirement in 2019. Employers must keep proof of age on file (driver's license, certified birth certificate, or state ID). The Vermont Department of Labor 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: 21 V.S.A. §433
Sale or service of alcohol for minors under 18
State: 7 V.S.A. §658
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: Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 21 Chapter 9 (§§ 430-449)
US DOL Wage & Hour Division: https://labor.vermont.gov/wage-and-hour/child-labor-laws
Informational only — verify with the Vermont Department of Labor before hiring or starting work.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a 14-year-old work in Vermont?
- Yes — under Vermont 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 Vermont?
- When school is in session, Vermont 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 Vermont require a work permit for minors?
- Vermont does not require a state-issued work permit for minors. Employers still must follow federal FLSA rules on hour caps and restricted occupations.
- How many hours can a 16-year-old work during summer in Vermont?
- During summer or school breaks, Vermont allows a 16-year-old to work up to 8 hours per school day, up to 50 hours per week. 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 Vermont?
- Vermont 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 Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 21 Chapter 9 (§§ 430-449) citation on this page for the statutory source.