Break Laws by State (2026)

Which states require meal breaks and paid rest breaks, and whether that time has to be paid. The label shows what each state requires.

Every state

Meal & rest breaks, state by state

The chip shows what the state requires. Tap any state for the full meal and rest break rule.

Federal No law Alabama No law Alaska No law Arizona No law Arkansas No law California Meal + rest Colorado Meal + rest Connecticut Meal only Delaware Meal only District of Columbia No law Florida No law Georgia No law Guam Meal only Hawaii No law Idaho No law Illinois Meal only Indiana No law Iowa No law Kansas No law Kentucky Meal + rest Louisiana No law Maine Meal only Maryland Meal only Massachusetts Meal only Michigan No law Minnesota Meal + rest Mississippi No law Missouri No law Montana No law Nebraska Meal only Nevada Meal + rest New Hampshire Meal only New Jersey No law New Mexico No law New York Meal only North Carolina No law North Dakota Meal only Northern Mariana Islands No law Ohio No law Oklahoma No law Oregon Meal + rest Pennsylvania No law Puerto Rico Meal only Rhode Island Meal only South Carolina No law South Dakota No law Tennessee Meal only Texas No law Utah No law Vermont Meal + rest Virgin Islands No law Virginia No law Washington Meal + rest West Virginia Meal only Wisconsin No law Wyoming No law

The basics

How break laws work

There is no federal law that entitles adult workers to a meal or rest break. Federal law only decides whether break time is paid: a short break of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid, while a real meal break of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid if you are free of all duties.

States fill the gap. Around 23 require a meal break once a shift passes a set length, and 8 of those also require a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked. Everywhere else, breaks are up to your employer. Rules for workers under 18 are usually stricter. This is general information, not legal advice.

Common questions

Break law FAQ

Which states require meal or rest breaks?

About 23 jurisdictions require a meal break, and 8 also require a paid rest break: California, Colorado, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Most other states leave breaks up to the employer.

Does federal law require breaks?

No. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act does not require meal or rest breaks. It only sets whether break time is paid: short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid, and bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid.

Do breaks have to be paid?

Short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes count as work time and must be paid. A meal period of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid, but only if you are completely relieved of duty during it.

David Scott

David Scott compiles and verifies minimum wage rates, tipped wages, and overtime rules from official state and federal labor department sources, and re-checks every page when rates change. See how the data is sourced.