Break laws by state · 50 states and DC

Meal and rest breaks, state by state

Name: Meal and rest break laws by state (50 states and DC)
Creator: Punch Clock Math

Federal law doesn’t require breaks; some states do. Each row gives the adult meal break and rest break rule as the state writes it, with every page we read and the date.

Sources checked October 22, 2026
39 confirmed · 12 partly confirmed · 0 not confirmed
About this data

Printed from Punch Clock Math · sources checked October 22, 2026 · general information about state law, not legal advice · punchclockmath.com/break-laws-by-state/

The federal rule, everywhere

Short rest breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes are hours worked and must be paid. They cannot be offset against other time.

Bona fide meal periods (ordinarily 30+ minutes, completely relieved from duty) are not work time. Eating at a desk or machine while on duty is work time. The FLSA itself does not require meal or rest breaks.

Federal sources: 29 CFR 785.18 · Fact Sheet #22: Hours Worked Under the FLSA · 29 CFR 785.19 · Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act (Revised November 2023).

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Showing 51 of 51 (50 states and DC)

Meal and rest break rules for adult employees in 51 jurisdictions. On a phone each state is one card.
State	Meal break	Rest break	Sources
AlabamaALConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Alabama has no state wage-hour law at all). Rest break: No state requirement for adults.		3 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Wage and Hour Info · Alabama Department of Labor (Dept. of Workforce) · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026
AlaskaAKConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults 18 and over. A 30-minute break is required only for minors 14-17 working 5 or more consecutive hours. Breaks that are given and last under 20 minutes must be paid. Rest break: No state requirement for adults 18 and over.		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Wage And Hour - Employees’ Frequently Asked Questions (Q13) · Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development · read October 22, 2026
ArizonaAZPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Arizona is not listed in DOL WHD’s state meal-period table). Rest break: No state requirement for adults (Arizona is not listed in DOL WHD’s state rest-period table).		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm from an Arizona agency on October 22, 2026 that adults have no meal or rest-break requirement; only DOL WHD’s state tables say so.
ArkansasARConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (state DOL: neither state nor federal law requires a break or meal period). Rest breaks are required only for children under 16 in the entertainment industry. Rest break: No state requirement for adults. Short breaks that are given (about 20 minutes or less) must be paid.		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 FAQs - Does my employer have to give me a meal break or other break? · Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing · read October 22, 2026
CaliforniaCAConfirmed	Required. 30-minute unpaid, duty-free meal period before the end of the 5th hour when working more than 5 hours (waivable by mutual consent if the day is no more than 6 hours). Second 30-minute meal before the end of the 10th hour when working more than 10 hours (waivable if no more than 12 hours and the first meal was not waived). A paid on-duty meal is allowed only when the nature of the work prevents relief and by written, revocable agreement. Missed meal period: 1 hour of premium pay.	Required. Paid net 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction of 4 hours (DLSE: more than 2 hours is a major fraction). Not required if total daily work time is under 3.5 hours. Missed rest period: 1 hour of premium pay.	5 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Meal Periods - Frequently Asked Questions · California DIR, Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE) · read October 22, 2026 Meal Periods - Frequently Asked Questions · California DIR, Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE) · read October 22, 2026 Meal Periods - Frequently Asked Questions · California DIR, Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE) · read October 22, 2026 Rest Periods/Lactation Accommodation - Frequently Asked Questions · California DIR, Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE) · read October 22, 2026 Rest Periods/Lactation Accommodation - Frequently Asked Questions · California DIR, Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE) · read October 22, 2026
ColoradoCOConfirmed	Required. 30-minute uninterrupted, duty-free meal period for shifts over 5 hours; unpaid only if the employee is completely relieved of duty. Where the work makes that impractical, the employee must be allowed to eat on duty, paid. To the extent practical, it should start at least 1 hour after the shift starts and end 1 hour before the shift ends.	Required. Paid 10-minute rest period per 4 hours worked: none for 2 hours or less; 1 for more than 2 up to 6; 2 for more than 6 up to 10; 3 for more than 10 up to 14; 4 for more than 14 up to 18; 5 for more than 18 up to 22; 6 for more than 22. Rest time counts as time worked; required rest time not taken must be paid as extra time worked.	3 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 INFO #1 (Meal Periods, Rule 5.1) · Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics · read October 22, 2026 INFO #1 (Meal Periods, Rule 5.1) · Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics · read October 22, 2026 INFO #1 (Rest Periods, Rule 5.2) · Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics · read October 22, 2026
ConnecticutCTConfirmed	Required. 30 consecutive minutes for anyone working 7.5 or more consecutive hours, given after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours. Not required if the employer provides 30 or more total minutes of paid rest or meal periods within each 7.5-hour work period. A written employer-employee agreement may set a different schedule. The Labor Commissioner may grant exemptions (public safety, single-employee positions, fewer than 5 employees on a shift, continuous operations). The statute does not say whether the break is paid or unpaid.	No state requirement. No state rest-break requirement for adults (Connecticut is not in DOL WHD’s rest-period table; 31-51ii covers meal periods only).Confirmed from the U.S. Department of Labor’s state table, not a state page.	4 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51ii. Meal periods · Connecticut General Assembly · read October 22, 2026 Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51ii(a) · Connecticut General Assembly · read October 22, 2026 Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-51ii(f) · Connecticut General Assembly · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm from a Connecticut agency on October 22, 2026 that adults have no rest-break requirement; only DOL WHD’s table says so.
DelawareDEConfirmed	Required. Unpaid meal break of at least 30 consecutive minutes for employees working 7.5 or more consecutive hours, given after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours. It does not apply where a collective bargaining agreement or other written employer-employee agreement provides otherwise, or to certified school professionals working with children. The Secretary of Labor may grant exemptions (public safety, single-employee position, fewer than 5 employees on a shift, continuous operations with paid meal breaks).	No state requirement. No state requirement for adults. Short breaks (typically under 20 minutes) that are given must generally be paid.	3 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 19 Del. C. 707. Meal breaks · Delaware General Assembly (Delaware Code Online) · read October 22, 2026 19 Del. C. 707(a) · Delaware General Assembly (Delaware Code Online) · read October 22, 2026 Do employers need to provide rest breaks? · Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs · read October 22, 2026
District of ColumbiaDCConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No D.C. requirement for adults (DOES: breaks and lunches are not required by law). Rest break: No D.C. requirement for adults.		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Office of Wage-Hour (OWH) Frequently Asked Questions · D.C. Department of Employment Services · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not find a D.C. break statute on October 22, 2026. The DOES FAQ answer on breaks cites the FLSA rather than a D.C. law, and D.C. is not listed in DOL WHD’s meal or rest tables.
FloridaFLPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Florida is not listed in DOL WHD’s state meal-period table). Rest break: No state requirement for adults (Florida is not listed in DOL WHD’s rest-period table).		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm from a Florida source on October 22, 2026 that adults have no meal or rest-break requirement; this rests on federal summaries only.
GeorgiaGAPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement: neither the FLSA nor Georgia law requires breaks or meal periods. Unpaid meal periods of 30 minutes or more are allowed if the worker is relieved of duty. Rest break: No state requirement. Short breaks (5-20 minutes) that are given must be paid under the FLSA.		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Breaks and Meals · Georgia Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026
HawaiiHIConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults; the only break requirement is for minors 14-15 (30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours). Meal periods of 30 minutes or more with complete relief from duty are unpaid. Rest break: No state requirement for adults. Rest breaks of 5-20 minutes that are given count as hours worked.		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Breaks: Meal & Rest · Hawaii DLIR, Wage Standards Division · read October 22, 2026
IdahoIDPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement: Idaho law does not require employers to give breaks or meal periods. Rest break: No state requirement.		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Frequently Asked Questions on labor laws - breaks or meal periods · Idaho Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Guide to Idaho labor laws (2025) · Idaho Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026
IllinoisILConfirmed	Required. At least 20 minutes for employees who work 7.5 continuous hours, beginning no later than 5 hours after the start of the work period, plus another 20-minute meal period for every additional 4.5 continuous hours worked (a second meal at 12 hours). Restroom time does not count toward the meal period. Not applicable where meal periods are set by collective bargaining (and to certain on-call monitoring and EMS employees). The statute does not say whether the meal period is paid; IDOL: if an employee works through it, it must be paid.	No state requirement. No general adult rest-break requirement. Only hotel room attendants in Cook County get two paid 15-minute breaks per 7-hour workday (DOL WHD table; 820 ILCS 140/3.1).Confirmed from the U.S. Department of Labor’s state table, not a state page.	4 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 820 ILCS 140/3 One Day Rest In Seven Act - meal periods · Illinois General Assembly · read October 22, 2026 820 ILCS 140/3 (additional meal period; P.A. 102-828, eff. 1-1-23) · Illinois General Assembly · read October 22, 2026 One Day Rest in Seven Act FAQ · Illinois Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm from IDOL on October 22, 2026 that adults generally have no rest-break requirement; DOL WHD’s table lists Illinois only for hotel room attendants.
IndianaINConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults; since April 1, 2020 there is no break requirement for minors either. Rest break: No state requirement. Breaks of 20 minutes or less that are given must be paid (FLSA).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 IDOL Knowledge Base - Are employers required to provide breaks to employees? · Indiana Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026
IowaIAPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (only minors under 16: 30 minutes when working 5 or more hours). Rest break: No adult rest-break requirement. All employees must be allowed toilet breaks when needed.		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Wage Claims FAQ - What kind of breaks are required under Iowa law? · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) · read October 22, 2026 Wage Claims FAQ - What kind of breaks are required under Iowa law? · Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) · read October 22, 2026
KansasKSConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement: breaks are not required under state or federal law. Rest break: No state requirement.		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Workplace Laws and Requirements (FAQ: What breaks are required?) · Kansas Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026
KentuckyKYConfirmed	Required. The employer must grant a “reasonable period for lunch” as close to mid-shift as possible; the employee cannot be required to take it sooner than 3 hours or later than 5 hours after the shift starts. The statute does not fix the length (DOL summary: ordinarily 1/2 hour, not counted as time worked). A CBA or mutual employer-employee agreement may provide otherwise. Railway Labor Act employers are excluded.	Required. Paid rest period of at least 10 minutes during each 4 hours worked, in addition to the lunch period, with no reduction in pay. A CBA may substitute an equal or greater total. Railway Labor Act employees are excluded.	2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 KRS 337.355 Lunch period requirements · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · read October 22, 2026 KRS 337.365 Rest periods for employees · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm the “ordinarily 1/2 hour” meal length from a Kentucky source on October 22, 2026; KRS 337.355 does not fix it, and the figure comes only from DOL’s summary.
LouisianaLAPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Louisiana is not listed in DOL’s adult meal-period table). Rules for minors exist; they are not covered here. Rest break: No state requirement for adults (Louisiana is not listed in DOL’s paid rest-period table).		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (last revised Jan 1, 2023) · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm from an LWC source on October 22, 2026 that adults have no meal or rest-break requirement; only DOL WHD tables say so.
MaineMEConfirmed	Required. An employee may not work more than 6 consecutive hours without the opportunity to take at least 30 consecutive minutes of rest time, except in emergencies. The rest time may be unpaid mealtime only if the employee is completely relieved of duty. It does not apply where a CBA or other written employer-employee agreement provides otherwise, or where fewer than 3 employees are on duty at one time and the work allows frequent paid shorter breaks.	No state requirement. No separate paid rest-break requirement for adults. The 26 M.R.S. §601 “rest break” is the 30-minute break after 6 hours, shown here as the meal break. Maine is not in DOL’s paid rest-period table.	3 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 26 M.R.S. §601 Rest breaks · Maine Revisor of Statutes · read October 22, 2026 26 M.R.S. §601 · Maine Revisor of Statutes · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026
MarylandMDConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No general state requirement for adults. Exception: the Healthy Retail Employee Act (Lab. & Empl. §3-710) covers retail employers with 50 or more retail employees in Maryland (each working day in 20 or more calendar weeks): a 15-minute nonworking break for 4-6 consecutive hours (waivable in writing if 6 hours or less); a 30-minute break for more than 6 consecutive hours; plus 15 minutes for every additional 4 consecutive hours after 8. It excludes restaurants, wholesalers, FLSA-exempt employees, corporate and office staff, CBA-covered employees with equal breaks, and single locations with 5 or fewer employees. Rest break: No general paid rest-break requirement for adults (Maryland is not in DOL’s paid rest-period table). See the retail shift-break rule under meal breaks.		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. §3-710 (Healthy Retail Employee Act) · Maryland General Assembly · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026
MassachusettsMAConfirmed	Required. No person may be required to work more than 6 hours during a calendar day without an interval of at least 30 minutes for a meal. The statute does not say paid or unpaid; DOL’s summary says the employee must be free of all duties and free to leave for it to count as a break.	No state requirement. No state paid rest-break requirement for adults (Massachusetts is not in DOL’s paid rest-period table).	2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 M.G.L. c.149 §100 · Massachusetts Legislature · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026
MichiganMIConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for employees 18 or older (LEO). Minors under 18 get a 30-minute documented break after more than 5 hours (not covered here). Rest break: No state requirement for employees 18 or older (LEO).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Breaks Meal and Rest Periods FAQ · Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity · read October 22, 2026
MinnesotaMNConfirmed	Required. Effective January 1, 2026, the employer must allow a meal break of at least 30 minutes to each employee working 6 or more consecutive hours. Payment is not required if the employee is completely relieved of duty; breaks under 20 minutes must be paid. A CBA may set different terms. Liability: break time at the regular rate plus an equal amount in liquidated damages.	Required. Effective January 1, 2026: a rest break of at least 15 minutes, or enough time to use the nearest convenient restroom, whichever is longer, within each 4 consecutive hours of work. Breaks under 20 minutes count as hours worked and must be paid.	4 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Minn. Stat. §177.254 Mandatory meal break · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes · read October 22, 2026 Work breaks, rest periods · Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry · read October 22, 2026 Work breaks, rest periods — effective date · Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry · read October 22, 2026 Minn. Stat. §177.253 Mandatory work breaks · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes · read October 22, 2026
MississippiMSPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Mississippi is not listed in DOL’s adult meal-period table). Rest break: No state requirement for adults (Mississippi is not listed in DOL’s paid rest-period table).		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (last revised Jan 1, 2023) · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm from a Mississippi agency or statute on October 22, 2026 that there is no state break law; Mississippi has no state wage-and-hour agency page on point. This row rests on federal summaries.
MissouriMOConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Missouri DOLIR: no state laws regarding breaks or lunch periods). Rest break: No state requirement for adults (Missouri DOLIR).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Are breaks or lunch periods required? · Missouri Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations · read October 22, 2026
MontanaMTConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Montana DLI). If offered, meal periods of 30 minutes or more with full relief from duty may be unpaid. Rest break: No state requirement for adults (Montana DLI). If offered, rest breaks are paid time.		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Wage and Hour FAQs — Rest and Meal Periods · Montana Dept. of Labor and Industry · read October 22, 2026
NebraskaNEConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No general requirement for adults. Exception (Neb. Rev. Stat. §48-212): assembling plants, workshops and mechanical establishments must allow at least 30 consecutive minutes for lunch in each 8-hour shift and may not require employees to stay in the building or on the premises during it. This does not apply where a CBA or other written employer-employee agreement covers it. Rest break: No state requirement (NDOL: no state or federal law requires coffee breaks, smoke breaks or rest periods).		3 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 WAGES fact sheet — Lunch Break · Nebraska Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Neb. Rev. Stat. §48-212 Lunch hour · Nebraska Legislature · read October 22, 2026 WAGES fact sheet — Breaks · Nebraska Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026
NevadaNVConfirmed	Required. An employer may not employ an employee for a continuous period of 8 hours without permitting a meal period of at least 30 minutes (Labor Commissioner FAQ: unpaid). This does not apply where only one person is employed at the place of employment, to CBA-covered employees, or where the Labor Commissioner grants a business-necessity exemption.	Required. Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction of 4 hours, in the middle of each work period where practicable. Not required if total daily work time is under 3.5 hours. Counted as hours worked. The same exceptions as for meal periods apply.	2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 NRS 608.019 Periods for meals and rest · Nevada Legislature · read October 22, 2026 NRS 608.019(2) · Nevada Legislature · read October 22, 2026
New HampshireNHConfirmed	Required. An employer may not require more than 5 consecutive hours of work without a 30-minute lunch or eating period, unless it is feasible for the employee to eat while working and the employer permits it. NHDOL: if 30 minutes cannot be allowed, an employee eating while working must be paid.	No state requirement. No state paid rest-break requirement for adults (New Hampshire is not in DOL’s paid rest-period table).	3 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 RSA 275:30-a Lunch or Eating Period · New Hampshire General Court · read October 22, 2026 Wages and Work Hours FAQs · New Hampshire Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026
New JerseyNJConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults. NJDOL says the mandatory break law applies only to minors under 18 (30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours); company policy governs adults. Rest break: No state requirement for adults (NJDOL).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Wage & Hour Compliance — Employer FAQs (Break Periods) · New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development · read October 22, 2026
New MexicoNMConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement (NMDWS: no law requires lunch breaks, coffee breaks or rest periods). Breaks under 30 minutes cannot be deducted from wages. Rest break: No state requirement (NMDWS).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Wage & Hour FAQs (06/22/2023) · New Mexico Dept. of Workforce Solutions · read October 22, 2026
New YorkNYConfirmed	Required. Labor Law §162: (1) factory workers get 60 minutes for the noonday meal; (2) all other covered workers get at least 30 minutes between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for a shift of more than 6 hours that extends over that period; (3) a shift starting before 11 a.m. and continuing past 7 p.m. gets an additional 20 minutes between 5 and 7 p.m.; (4) a shift of more than 6 hours starting between 1 p.m. and 6 a.m. gets 60 minutes (factory) or 45 minutes (other) midway in the shift. NYDOL permits a shorter period of not less than 30 minutes as a matter of course, and 20 minutes only by special permit. Covers all workers, including managers.	No state requirement. No general paid rest-break requirement for adults (New York is not in DOL’s paid rest-period table). Paid 30-minute lactation breaks exist (not covered here).	5 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Guidelines for Meal Periods (LS 443, 12/25) · New York State Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Guidelines for Meal Periods (LS 443, 12/25) · New York State Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Guidelines for Meal Periods (LS 443, 12/25) · New York State Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Guidelines for Meal Periods (LS 443, 12/25) · New York State Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not check the Labor Law §162 statute page itself on October 22, 2026. The meal rules come from NYDOL’s LS 443, which reproduces §162 verbatim.
North CarolinaNCConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for employees 16 or older (NCDOL). Youths under 16 get 30 minutes after 5 hours (not covered here). If given, breaks of 30 minutes or more with full relief may be unpaid. Rest break: No state requirement for employees 16 or older (NCDOL).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 What to Know About Breaks · N.C. Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026
North DakotaNDConfirmed	Required. 30-minute meal period in each shift of more than 5 hours when two or more employees are on duty. The employee may waive it by agreement with the employer. Unpaid if the employee is completely relieved of duty. Collective bargaining agreements prevail.	No state requirement. No state requirement for adults (the Work Conditions Order has no rest-period provision; North Dakota is not listed in DOL’s rest-period table).Confirmed from the U.S. Department of Labor’s state table, not a state page.	3 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 N.D. Admin. Code 46-02-07-02(5) · North Dakota Legislative Branch (official administrative code) · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division (federal summary, last revised January 1, 2023) · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not find an affirmative North Dakota statement on October 22, 2026 that adults have no rest-break requirement. This rests on the absence of any rest provision in ch. 46-02-07 and on DOL’s federal summary.
OhioOHPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Ohio’s minor-labor law covers under-18s only; Ohio is not listed in DOL’s adult meal-period table). Rest break: No state requirement for adults (Ohio is not listed in DOL’s rest-period table).		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (last revised Jan 1, 2023) · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm from an Ohio agency on October 22, 2026 that adults have no meal or rest-break requirement; this relies on DOL’s federal summary (Ohio is absent from both tables).
OklahomaOKConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults; the mandatory break law applies only to minors under 16. Rest break: No state requirement for adults; the mandatory break law applies only to minors under 16.		2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Oklahoma Department of Labor, Wage Law FAQ · Oklahoma Department of Labor · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026
OregonORConfirmed	Required. 30-minute unpaid meal period, relieved of all duties, for a work period of 6 or more hours. Timing: for 6-7 hours, between the end of hour 2 and the start of hour 5; for more than 7 hours, between the end of hour 3 and the start of hour 6. A second meal at 14 hours, a third at 22. If duties are performed, the whole period is paid. Exceptions: industry custom of a paid 20-29 minute meal, undue hardship, rare unforeseeable events. Tipped food and beverage servers 18 and older may waive it in writing.	Required. Paid 10-minute rest period for every 4-hour segment or major part of one (2 hours 1 minute or more) in a work period, taken near the middle of the segment and separate from the meal. It cannot be added to the meal or used to shorten the shift. Chart: 2h01m-5h59m = 1; 6h-10h = 2; 10h01m-13h59m = 3. A limited exception applies to adults working alone in retail or service for under 5 hours in 16.	2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 BOLI: Meals and breaks · Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries · read October 22, 2026 BOLI: Meals and breaks (rest periods FAQ) · Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not check the OAR 839-020-0050 rule text directly on October 22, 2026. The break rules are confirmed through BOLI’s official pages, which cite it.
PennsylvaniaPAConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (18 and older). If an employer allows breaks shorter than 20 minutes, they must be paid. Meal periods over 20 minutes with no work may be unpaid (L&I). Rest break: No state requirement for adults. Breaks under 20 minutes, if given, must be paid (L&I).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Wage FAQs · Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry · read October 22, 2026
Rhode IslandRIConfirmed	Required. 20-minute mealtime within a 6-hour shift; 30-minute mealtime within an 8-hour shift. The employer need not pay for it. Does not apply to licensed health-care facilities or to employers with fewer than 3 people on a shift at the worksite.	No state requirement. No state requirement for adults. Rhode Island is not in DOL’s rest-period table, whose footnote says states not listed do not require paid rest periods.Confirmed from the U.S. Department of Labor’s state table, not a state page.	2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 R.I. Gen. Laws 28-3-14 Maximum continuous employment without mealtime · Rhode Island General Assembly · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026
South CarolinaSCPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (SC LLR). Rest break: No state requirement for adults (SC LLR).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Office of Wages and Child Labor - Frequently Asked Questions · South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation · read October 22, 2026
South DakotaSDConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement (SD DLR). Rest break: No state requirement (SD DLR).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Employment Laws - Work Breaks · South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation · read October 22, 2026
TennesseeTNPartly confirmed	Required. 30-minute unpaid rest break or meal period for employees scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours or more, not scheduled during or before the first hour of work. Exception: workplaces whose nature of business gives ample opportunity to rest or take a break (state examples: food and beverage, security guards). DOL summary: tipped food and beverage employees may waive it by voluntary written request.	No state requirement. No state requirement beyond the single 30-minute break (TN DOL: no state requirements for additional breaks).	4 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 Wages & Breaks - Labor Laws · Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development · read October 22, 2026 Wage Regulations Act poster · Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division (federal summary, last revised January 1, 2023) · read October 22, 2026 Wages & Breaks - Labor Laws · Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not check the text of T.C.A. 50-2-103(h) on October 22, 2026; the tipped-employee waiver is confirmed only from DOL’s federal summary.
TexasTXPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement (TWC). Under the federal rules TWC describes, unpaid lunch breaks must be 30 minutes or longer and fully relieved of duty; rest breaks of 20 minutes or less are paid. Rest break: No state requirement (TWC). If given, breaks of 20 minutes or less are paid (federal rule).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Fair Labor Standards Act - What It Does and Does Not Do · Texas Workforce Commission · read October 22, 2026
UtahUTConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults (Utah Labor Commission). Minors: a 30-minute meal within 5 hours. Rest break: No state requirement for adults (Utah Labor Commission).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Wage Claim (FAQ) · Utah Labor Commission · read October 22, 2026
VermontVTConfirmed	Required. The employer must provide “reasonable opportunities” during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities. The statute sets no fixed length, timing or pay rule.	Required. The same 21 V.S.A. 304 “reasonable opportunities” standard (to eat and use toilet facilities) applies. There is no fixed paid rest period; DOL lists Vermont in its rest-period table on this basis.	1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 21 V.S.A. 304 Employment conditions · Vermont General Assembly · read October 22, 2026
VirginiaVAConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for employees 16 and older (DOLI). Rest break: No state requirement for employees 16 and older (DOLI).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Virginia Labor Laws (FAQ) · Virginia Department of Labor and Industry · read October 22, 2026
WashingtonWAConfirmed	Required. 30-minute meal period starting no less than 2 and no more than 5 hours into the shift. No employee may work more than 5 consecutive hours without a meal. Paid if the employee must remain on duty on the premises or at a prescribed site. An additional 30-minute meal is due before or during overtime for employees working 3 or more hours beyond a normal workday.	Required. Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours of working time, scheduled near the midpoint. No more than 3 hours without a rest period. Intermittent equivalent rest is allowed where the nature of the work permits.	2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 WAC 296-126-092 Meal periods—Rest periods · Washington State Legislature (WAC) · read October 22, 2026 WAC 296-126-092(4) · Washington State Legislature (WAC) · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm L&I’s administrative policy on employee waiver of meal periods (policy ES.C.6) on October 22, 2026. The WAC text has no waiver language.
West VirginiaWVConfirmed	Required. At least 20 minutes for meal breaks during a workday of 6 or more hours, at times the employer reasonably designates. Required where employees are not afforded necessary breaks and/or permitted to eat lunch while working. The statute is silent on pay.	No state requirement. No state requirement for adults. West Virginia is not in DOL’s rest-period table, whose footnote says states not listed do not require paid rest periods.Confirmed from the U.S. Department of Labor’s state table, not a state page.	2 sources · read Oct 22, 2026 W. Va. Code 21-3-10a Meal breaks · West Virginia Legislature · read October 22, 2026 Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector · U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division · read October 22, 2026 What we could not confirm We could not confirm from an official source on October 22, 2026 whether the 20-minute meal break must be paid; 21-3-10a does not say. Under federal rules a break under 20 minutes is generally paid.
WisconsinWIConfirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement for adults 18 and older (DWD recommends 30 minutes near the usual meal time). Minors: 30 minutes per 6 consecutive hours. Any break under 30 minutes is paid. Rest break: No state requirement for adults. Any break under 30 consecutive minutes must be paid.		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Labor Standards - Breaks and Meals · Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development · read October 22, 2026
WyomingWYPartly confirmed	No state meal or rest break requirement for adults. What the state says Meal break: No state requirement (DWS). Rest break: No state requirement (DWS).		1 source · read Oct 22, 2026 Labor Standards - Employers - Frequently Asked Questions · Wyoming Department of Workforce Services · read October 22, 2026

How to read a row

A meal break is usually 30 minutes or more, with you fully relieved of duty; when it is, it is not work time and can be unpaid. A short rest break is work time and must be paid. A state rule can require either one, say when in the shift it must come, and allow exceptions.

Rules here are for adults. Many states have extra rules for minors and for certain jobs (health care, agriculture, transport); the sources in each row are where to read them. “Partly confirmed” means part of the rule could only be confirmed from a federal summary or could not be confirmed word for word; the row says what.

General information about state law as written, not legal advice. For a ruling on your case, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Every change is logged in the updates log.