How Old Do You Have to Be to Work at Rita's Italian Ice? (2026)

Rita's Italian Ice's hiring age policy

Every Rita's is independently owned, so each shop sets its own age. Shop pages on ritasice.com show some hiring at 14 (e.g. Delaware and Pennsylvania shops), while others ask for 16 and will consider a mature 15-year-old.

Job postings accepting 14-year-olds have been seen in Delaware, Pennsylvania.

Minimum age by job

18+

14Treat Team member

Job	Age	Note
Treat Team member	14+	At some shops where state law allows (DE, PA); many prefer 16

How to apply at Rita's Italian Ice

Find your shop on ritasice.com and use its hiring/application section, or ask at the shop; most hire for a spring-to-fall season.

See Rita's Italian Ice jobs →

Rita's Italian Ice hiring age by state

The youngest age Rita's Italian Ice could hire you at in each state: the company's minimum or the state's, whichever is higher. “✓ seen” means we found a real Rita's Italian Ice posting there accepting that age.

From 14From 16✓ Seen in a posting

Show the table for all states

State	Youngest age	Work permit	Hours at 14–15 (school week)
Alabama	14+	Needed	18 h
Alaska	14+	Needed	18 h
Arizona	14+	No	18 h
Arkansas	14+	No	18 h
California	14+	Needed	18 h
Colorado	14+	No	18 h
Connecticut	16+ state law	Needed	—
Delaware	14+ ✓ seen	Needed	18 h
District of Columbia	14+	Needed	18 h
Florida	14+	No	15 h
Georgia	14+	Needed	18 h
Hawaii	14+	Needed	18 h
Idaho	14+	No	18 h
Illinois	14+	Needed	18 h
Indiana	14+	No	18 h
Iowa	14+	No	18 h
Kansas	14+	No	18 h
Kentucky	14+	No	18 h
Louisiana	14+	Needed	18 h
Maine	14+	Needed	18 h
Maryland	14+	Needed	18 h
Massachusetts	14+	Needed	18 h
Michigan	14+	Needed	18 h
Minnesota	14+	No	18 h
Mississippi	14+	No	18 h
Missouri	14+	Needed	18 h
Montana	14+	No	18 h
Nebraska	14+	Needed	18 h
Nevada	14+	No	18 h
New Hampshire	14+	Needed	18 h
New Jersey	14+	Needed	18 h
New Mexico	14+	Needed	18 h
New York	14+	Needed	18 h
North Carolina	14+	Needed	18 h
North Dakota	14+	Needed	18 h
Ohio	14+	Needed	18 h
Oklahoma	14+	Needed	18 h
Oregon	14+	No	18 h
Pennsylvania	14+ ✓ seen	Needed	18 h
Rhode Island	14+	Needed	18 h
South Carolina	14+	No	18 h
South Dakota	14+	No	18 h
Tennessee	14+	No	18 h
Texas	14+	No	18 h
Utah	14+	No	18 h
Vermont	14+	No	18 h
Virginia	14+	Needed	18 h
Washington	14+	Needed	16 h
West Virginia	14+	Needed	18 h
Wisconsin	14+	Needed	18 h
Wyoming	14+	No	18 h

Questions

How old do you have to be to work at Rita's Italian Ice?

You can work at Rita's Italian Ice from age 14 at some locations, but most locations hire at 16. Most Rita's Italian Ice locations are independently owned franchises, and each owner sets their own minimum age. State law can raise the age.

Does Rita's hire 14-year-olds?

Some shops do. Rita's of Silverside (Delaware) and Rita's of Ambler (Pennsylvania) list 14 as the minimum. Each shop is independently owned, so check yours.

What age do most Rita's shops want?

Many prefer 16. Ambler says 14 is the minimum but ideally 16, and Elizabethtown, PA hires 16+ and will consider a mature 15-year-old.

What hours can a 14 or 15-year-old work at Rita's?

Shorter ones. One Delaware shop schedules 14-15-year-olds for after-school and weekend daytime shifts, and 16+ for closing shifts. Federal and state law limit hours for under-16s.

Is Rita's a seasonal job?

Usually. Shops often hire for roughly late February through October, so ask about availability for the whole season.

Other places that hire at 14

Sources

Rita's of Silverside DE - Rita's Ice (2026) — Follows DE law: minimum age 14; separate shifts for ages 14-15 and 16+ (DE)
Rita's of Ambler PA - Rita's Ice (2026) — 'Minimum age is 14 years old but ideally you should be at least 16'; season late Feb-mid Oct (PA)
Rita's of E-Town PA - Rita's Ice (2026) — 'Hiring ages 16+', 'Will consider mature 15 y.o.' (PA); franchisees set wages

Last checked October 10, 2026. See a different age at your Rita's Italian Ice? Tell us.