# Teen work rules in Virginia

In Virginia, you can start most non-farm jobs at 14. You need a work permit until you turn 16 (from Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (online)). 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. There are no state hour limits at 16 and 17.

- Minimum age: 14
- Work permit: required under 16
- 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: no limits

## Recent changes

- 2026-07-01: 2026 amendments to §40.1-100 (Acts 2026, cc. 98, 99, 269, including SB 10) let 16- and 17-year-olds join apprenticeships or work-based learning in culinary arts or IT. Conditions: they stay enrolled in school and are on track to graduate, are registered apprentices, are in a §40.1-89 work-training program, and do no work barred by federal or hazardous-occupation rules. Date assumes Virginia's default July 1 effective date.
- 2025-07-01: HB 1667 / SB 1228 (Acts 2025, c. 185): 16- and 17-year-olds may also work in licensed barbershops and cosmetology salons through a school work-training program or with a barber or cosmetology license. The 2023 exemption covered only registered apprentices.
- 2025-07-01: HB 2401 / SB 998 (Acts 2025, cc. 699, 705) added protections for children under 16 in content creation: record-keeping, a share of earnings held in trust until age 18, adult supervision, and no hazardous work (new §§40.1-109.1 and -109.2).
- 2024-07-01: HB 100 (Acts 2024, c. 369) raised child labor civil penalties to up to $25,000 when a child is seriously injured or killed (was $10,000), and $500–$2,500 for other violations (max was $1,000) (§40.1-113).
- 2023-07-01: Amendments to §40.1-100 (Acts 2023, cc. 275, 624, 625) let registered apprentices aged 16 and older work in barbershops and cosmetology salons, as DOLI describes them. Not every one of these chapters was checked individually.

## Employers hiring at 14 here

- AMC Theatres
- 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

## Sources

- DOLI – Youth Employment (employment certificates, FAQs): https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/youth-employment/
- DOLI – Legislative Changes Impacting Virginia Employment and Child Labor Laws (effective July 1, 2025): https://doli.virginia.gov/?p=23822231
- Code of Virginia, Title 40.1, Chapter 5 – Child Labor (as of 2026-10-10): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/
- Va. Code §40.1-80.1 – Employment of children (hours; lunch period): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-80.1/
- Va. Code §40.1-100 – Certain employment prohibited or limited: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-100/
- 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 (VA: under 16, mandatory, labor department): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/age-certificates

Page: https://hiringage.com/virginia/ — please cite with a link.