Florida businesses that hire workers under 18 — restaurants, retail stores, landscaping companies, and many other industries — must comply with both Florida's Child Labor Law and the federal FLSA's child labor provisions. The requirements are detailed, with different rules for different age groups, and violations carry significant penalties. This guide covers what Florida small business employers need to know about hiring minors in 2026.
Florida requires minors under 18 to have a valid work permit (officially called an 'Employment Certificate' or 'Youth Employment Certificate'). Issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The permit is issued through the student's school (public or private) or through the DBPR directly for minors not enrolled in school. The minor brings the signed permission form from their parent or guardian. Employers must keep the work permit on file for each minor employee. Employing a minor without a valid permit: $500/day civil penalty per minor. Work permits are NOT required for minors working for a parent in a non-hazardous business, or in agricultural work under specific conditions.
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Ages 14–15: School days: max 3 hours/day, 15 hours/week. Non-school weeks (summer, breaks): max 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Hours between 7 AM and 7 PM (June 1–Labor Day: until 9 PM). Ages 16–17: During school year: max 30 hours/week; no more than 8 hours on non-school days. Hours between 6:30 AM and 11 PM on school nights; 6:30 AM to 11 PM on non-school nights. Summer (no school in session): up to 40 hours/week with fewer hour-of-day restrictions. Federal FLSA has similar restrictions — Florida employers must follow the stricter of state or federal standards.
Federal FLSA prohibits minors under 18 from hazardous occupations including: operating power-driven machinery (certain saws, slicers, meat cutters); roofing; excavation; demolition; logging; mining; explosives; and driving motor vehicles on public roads (except some limited exceptions at 17). Florida has additional prohibitions: minors under 16 may not work in or around laundry establishments, in store coolers, at heights above 6 feet, or handling or serving alcoholic beverages. Minors 16–17 may not perform bar service or serve alcohol in some contexts. Verify the full prohibited occupation list with Florida DBPR and DOL before assigning duties.
Florida's Child Labor Law requires a 30-minute break for minors who work 4+ consecutive hours. This break requirement applies regardless of the employee's age (14–17). Federal FLSA does not require breaks for any age group — Florida's requirement for minors is stricter. Document break times for minor employees. Failure to provide breaks can generate wage claims and DBPR violations. Many Florida food service employers use time-clock systems that automatically track and schedule minor employee breaks.
Florida DBPR child labor violations: civil penalties of $500/day for employing a minor without a work permit. Federal FLSA child labor violations: $15,624 per violation per minor (2026 — adjusted annually). Willful or repeated violations: $15,624+ per violation. FLSA child labor violations can result in the suspension of entire shipments of goods (the 'hot goods' provision) for manufacturers. For Florida food service and retail employers, the risk is real — DOL investigates child labor complaints regularly in these industries. Conduct an annual self-audit of minor employee records and duty assignments.
We help Florida small business employers hire and schedule minors correctly — work permits, hour restrictions, and prohibited occupation compliance.
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