# Teen work rules in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, you can start most non-farm jobs at 14. You need a work permit until you turn 18 (from School (per US DOL table); special limited permit for 14–15, certificate of age for 16–17). At 14 and 15 you can work up to 3 h on a school day, 18 h in a school week, 40 h in a summer week. 16- and 17-year-olds also have hour limits.

- Minimum age: 14
- Work permit: required under 18
- Hours at 14–15: 3 h on a school day, 18 h in a school week, 40 h in a summer week
- Hours at 16–17: limited

## Recent changes

- 2025-02-04: DLT regulation 260-RICR-30-05-9 took effect. It sets up the mandatory free training that R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-3 requires for 14–15-year-olds seeking a special limited work permit (workers' rights, workplace health and safety, workers' compensation). The date of the underlying statute amendment wasn't verified.

## Employers hiring at 14 here

- McDonald's
- Chick-fil-A
- Publix
- Culver's
- Dairy Queen
- Burger King
- Hy-Vee
- Fareway
- Rita's Italian Ice
- Arby's
- Jimmy John's
- Runza
- Braum's
- AMC Theatres

## Sources

- RI Code of Regulations – 260-RICR-30-05-9, Issuance of Limited Permits for Work by Children (effective 2025-02-04): https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/Part/260-30-05-9
- US DOL WHD – Selected State Child Labor Standards (non-farm), as of 2025-07-15: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor
- US DOL WHD – Employment/Age Certification table, as of 2024-01-01 (under 16 mandatory; age certificate 16–17 mandatory; school-issued): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/age-certificates

Page: https://hiringage.com/rhode-island/ — please cite with a link.