Child labor - California

Work age

Youths must be:

• None specified for youth working in non-hazardous agricultural, horticultural, viticultural, or domestic work for parents
• 12 for personal attendants, baby sitters, and some newspaper subscription sales (door-to-door sales more than ten miles from youth’s residence)
• 14 for most non-hazardous non-manufacturing jobs and some newspaper subscription sales (door-to-door sales more than ten miles from youth’s residence)
• 16 for most jobs involving non-hazardous machinery and door-to-door sales
• 18 for all other employment, with the following exception
• 21 for certain hazardous and special occupations

Work hours

Youths under 16 may work:

• 7 am to 7 pm (9 pm on non-school nights and from June 1 through Labor Day)
• 8 hours/day, 3 hours/day on school days
• 40 hours/week, 18 hours/week during school year
• No restrictions for high school graduates and newspaper carriers

Youths 16-18 may work:

• 5 am to 10 pm (12:30 on non-school nights)
• 6 am to 9 pm for messengers and telephone and telegraph operators
• 4 hours/day on school days that are more than 4 hours in length
• 8 hours/day on non-school days
• 48 hours/week
• No restrictions for high school graduates

Permits

Youths under 18 must have an employment certificate issued by the school district and a record of their name and age. Employer must retain this documentation for two years.

Beginning August 1, 2024, when a minor is seeking the signature of a verifying authority on a "Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for a Work Permit - Certificate of Age" to be issued, before or at the time of receiving such signature, a document explaining basic labor rights must be given to the minor.

Postings

Notice of permissible hours of work. For agricultural work, an English/Spanish notice stating that minors may not work unless legally permitted.