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Workplace evidence · California
Work hours, night limits and work permits for teens in California
The U.S. Department of Labor's state child labor table lists these maximum work hours for minors under sixteen in California: 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week on non-school days and weeks; 3 hours a day and 18 hours a week on school days and weeks.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- The U.S. Department of Labor's state child labor table lists these maximum work hours for minors under sixteen in California: 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week on non-school days and weeks; 3 hours a day and 18 hours a week on school days and weeks. U.S. Department of Labor, State Child Labor Laws: Hours and Nightwork. Checked November 2, 2026
- The same table lists nightwork as prohibited for minors under sixteen in California from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. U.S. Department of Labor, State Child Labor Laws: Hours and Nightwork. Checked November 2, 2026
- The same table lists nightwork as prohibited for sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds in California from 10 p.m. (12:30 a.m. before non-school day) to 5 a.m. U.S. Department of Labor, State Child Labor Laws: Hours and Nightwork. Checked November 2, 2026
- The U.S. Department of Labor lists the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency as the state labor office for California; its listed phone number is 833-526-4636. U.S. Department of Labor, State Labor Offices. Checked November 2, 2026
Official links
- U.S. Department of Labor: state child labor laws
- U.S. Department of Labor: state work permit (employment certificate) rules
- California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Handbook and policies
- Pay stubs, schedules and hours
- Messages sent to you
- Dated notes of what happened
- Complaints you made and the replies
- Job reviews and warnings
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
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More for California
- Deadlines to file a workplace discrimination or harassment complaint in California
- Meal and rest break rules at work in California
- Minimum wage, overtime and tipped pay in California
- Overtime pay rules in California
- Unpaid wages, paydays and your final paycheck in California
- How to document problems at work: the full guide
- Work hours, night limits and work permits for teens: all states
Neighbouring states
- Work hours, night limits and work permits for teens in Arizona
- Work hours, night limits and work permits for teens in Nevada
- Work hours, night limits and work permits for teens in Oregon
- Work hours, night limits and work permits for teens in Arkansas
Questions
Where do these California facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Child Labor Laws: Hours and Nightwork; U.S. Department of Labor, State Labor Offices. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in California or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for workplace evidence?
A good start: Handbook and policies; Pay stubs, schedules and hours; Messages sent to you; Dated notes of what happened; Complaints you made and the replies; Job reviews and warnings. Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.