Minors must usually be at least 14 years old to work in California, with a work permit issued through their school. Specific rules govern working hours, types of permitted jobs, and exceptions for minors in entertainment and self-employment.
By Brad Nakase, Attorney
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How old do you have to be to work in California? In most cases, the minimum age is 14 years old. Having said that, a Statement of Intent to Employ Minor & Request for a Work Permit is required for anybody under the age of eighteen. Usually, these permits are issued by the minor’s school.
To work, the majority of minors will require parental consent. Many children will still need to go to school. Minors working in entertainment may be subject to separate regulations.
I go over all you need to understand about California’s permitted working age and associated rules in this article.
In most cases, administrators in the community’s educational institution must grant a Permit to Employ & Work to minors who haven’t finished high school. Students may ask their school for a work permit.
The document, which is called “Statement of Intent to Employ Minor & Request for a Work Permit,” comes from the Department of Education- California. Parental or legal guardian signatures are typically required.
Both of these norms have exceptions, so keep that in mind. For instance, without a permit, children under the age of twelve are allowed to operate paper routes, babysit, or trim lawns. Special rules also apply for minors working in entertainment, where ‘how old do you have to be to work in California’ can vary (even as young as 15 days old).
1. Requirements for Work Permits
The work permit usually mentions:
A work permit may be canceled if the minor’s education or health is being negatively impacted by the work, or if the conditions of the permission are not being met.
Without a work permit, minors can:
2. Duties of Employers
Additionally, an original of the Permit to Employ & Work must always be kept in the workplace by the employer. The following individuals must be competent to inspect these permits:
Generally speaking, even if the kid in question is their own child, employers need a permit to give them employment and work. This regulation is only broken if the minor will be working in:
3. Date of Expiry
Five days following the start of the subsequent school year, a permit for employment and work expires. When planning employment, it’s important to know the details of “How old do you have to be to work in California?”, and what legal documentation is required for continued employment.
Indeed, there are a lot of employment in California that are off-limits to children. The federal FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) and state employment laws both forbid these professions. They are determined by the age of the minor.
1. Law in California
Under California law, it is illegal for juveniles under the age of sixteen to work:
2. Federal law
Federal legislation forbids adolescents under the age of 18 from engaging in a variety of hazardous and dangerous jobs, such as:
California law takes precedence over federal law when there is a dispute.
3. Restricted Employment
Also, certain jobs are restricted. These positions are open to minors, but only under specific restrictions. For instance, California allows juveniles to work in packaging stores that retail alcohol for outside drinking, but only if an individual over 21 is watching them closely.
Children under 14 may work in California under certain restrictions.
1. Children under the Age of Twelve
Kids younger than 12 can:
Only individuals employed in the entertainment sector need a work permit for these positions.
2. Children aged twelve and up
Kids 12 years old and up can also:
However, in order to perform either of these kinds of jobs in California, the youngster needs to:
Yes, unless they have completed high school, minors under the age of 15 must continue to attend their school full-time.
Those aged 16 and 17 who are consistently employed but have not completed high school are required to spend at least four hours a week in continuation school. They are required to put in at least 15 hours a week at continuation school if they do not have a regular job.
So after understanding “How old do you have to be to work in California?” let us discuss the permitted number of hours. California’s child labor regulations specify the hours and times that minors are permitted to work. The regulations vary according to the age of the minor and whether or not classes are in session.
When Classes are not in Session
During the summer months, minors below the age of sixteen are permitted to work up to eight hours a day and forty hours a week. Young people sixteen or seventeen years old are allowed to work up to eight hours a day and forty-eight hours a week.
When Classes are in Session
12 & 13-year-olds are only allowed to work on school breaks or vacations, never on days of school, when classes are in session. In the meantime, minors who are 14 years of age or older are only permitted to work during the school day provided they have finished the seventh grade.
Individuals who are fourteen or fifteen years old and eligible to work may:
16 and 17-year-olds who are eligible to work as minors may:
When It’s Possible to Work
California law also regulates when those work hours are permitted. Under-15s are only permitted to work.
16 and 17-year-olds are permitted to work any time from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. or, if the following day isn’t a day of school, between 5 a.m. and 12:30 a.m.
It is possible for minors who are even younger than 15 days to work in entertainment. However, all minors need to possess a Permit to Employ & Work granted by the DLSE’s (Division of Labor Standards Enforcement) Labor Commissioner.
The entertainment sector includes businesses and people who use children for entertaining the general public, such as motion pictures, theater, musical performances, television, recording, photography, publicity, modeling, circuses, and rodeos.
Additionally, employers must abide by regulations governing the hours that minors are permitted to work and the times that they must attend school.
After knowing the answer to the question, “How old do you have to be to work in California?” let us discuss the penalties for not following the regulations. Employers who violate California’s child labor rules risk severe repercussions. The particular infraction will determine the exact penalties. Employers who hire juveniles, however, can at times be charged with a crime.
California state regulations governing child labor can be broken in two ways:
Type A infractions are punishable by civil fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 for each infraction, whereas Type B infractions are punishable by civil fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 per infraction.
1. Type A violation examples
2. Type B violation examples
3. Penalties
Violations of Type A & Type B may also result in criminal proceedings. In California, breaking any of the child labor laws is a misdemeanor. They can reach a fine of $10,000 or six months in prison.
If someone hires or permits child labor, they may be held criminally or civilly responsible.
Furthermore, people/companies employing minors may still be held accountable for breaking labor regulations in California that have nothing to do with the age of the young worker, such as:
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