September 1, 2026
Samantha Poole, NHLRA
As summer is coming to an end and school starts, it’s important to stay compliant with youth labor laws. Below is a summary of key requirements for employing minors in New Hampshire.
Please note: This is not a complete list of all regulations. Employers must always consult both state and federal labor laws and follow whichever is more strict.
Review the highlights below to ensure your hiring, scheduling, and documentation practices are up to date.
Required Forms
12 - to 15-Year Old Employees
A Youth Employment Certificate must be on file at the employer's place of business within three days of first employment.
To acquire a Youth Employment Certificate, the youth must obtain a form called an Employer's Request for Child Labor, which is completed by the employer and then returned to the youth.
The youth takes that form to their local school, school superintendent's office, or parent to obtain a signed certificate (RSA 276-A:5). The certificate may be signed after it is determined that the student has achieved a satisfactory level of academic performance. The youth must then return the certificate to the employer.
16- and 17-Year Old Employees
You do not need a Youth Employment Certificate for youths over 16 years old. For 16- and 17-year old employees, the employer must require the youth to provide a Parent Permission Form to be on file before the first day of employment.
Allowable Hours & Considerations
Under 16 Years Old
Between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
No more than three hours a day on school days including Friday.
No more than 18 hours a week during school weeks.
On non-school days, may work up to eight hours a day.
On vacation weeks, including summer, June 1–Labor Day, may work up to 48 hours a week.
16- and 17 Year-Olds
During school weeks (five days in session), may work up to 35 hours per week.
During school vacations, including summer, June 1–Labor Day, may work up to 48 hours in a week and cannot work more than six days in a row.
Other Hours Regulations & Considerations
RSA 276-A:13 states any youth scheduled to work more than 2 nights in a week past 8 o'clock p.m. shall not be permitted to work more than an 8-hour shift during that particular week.
Notice of hours is required by RSA 276-A:20, which means very employer is required to post and make available to all employed youths a notice stating the hours of work, the time allowed for dinner or other meals, and the maximum number of hours any youth is permitted to work in any one day.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Is a student who is home-schooled considered duly enrolled in school and do the school hours restrictions apply? Yes, per New Hampshire Administrative Rules Chapter LAB 1001.03 Duly Enrolled in School.
What is considered a "vacation" during the school year in regards to these restrictions? Vacation is defined as any week that a youth has no school. If a student as school even for one day during the week, it does not constitute as a vacation for the purpose of these laws.
What are some prohibited practices that youths cannot be employed to do? There are a variety of activities and tasks that youths cannot participate in from operating trash compactors to handling fireworks.
Focusing on the common ones for the hospitality industry, some important tasks to note are:
Drive motor vehicles or work outside the vehicle as a driver helper to assist with tasks like unloading.
Operate, clean, or repair power-driven bakery machines, including vertical dough and batter mixers, dough rollers, rounders, dividers and sheeters, and cookie or cracker machines.
Operate balers or compactors, including trash compactors.
Operate power-driven meat processing machines, such as slicers, saws, and meat choppers.
Are there activities that 16- and 17-year old employees can participate in but employed youths under 16 cannot? Yes, there are some select activities that 16- and 17-year olds can do during the course of employment that youths under 16 cannot.
Some of these activities include:
Mowing or weed whacking
Open water (as in not a pool) lifeguarding
Using golf carts or go carts
Warehouse work, as under 16 you cannot even enter a warehouse
Resources & Links
RSA 276-A Youth Employment (NH DOL)
New Hampshire Administrative Rule Chapter Lab 1000 Youth Employment (NH DOL)
Youth Employment FAQs (NH DOL)
YouthRules.gov (US DOL)