InterObservers.

Meal and rest break laws by state

The short answer

Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks (U.S. Department of Labor). Of the 51 jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), 28 have a verified meal break record: 12 have a state meal period rule and 16 have no state requirement. For rest breaks, 26 are verified: 6 have a state rest period rule and 20 have no state requirement. 22 jurisdictions have no verified rule on this page yet; their rows link to the official source.

See all 51 states
12verified states with a meal break rule
6verified states with a rest break rule
22not verified yet (row links to the official source)

Rules verified Sep 24, 2026; each row shows its own date. · How we verify every rule

General information, not legal advice. This page is for general information only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice. Laws vary by state and change; check the official source or talk to a qualified professional about your situation. Every rule on this page links to its official source.

Break laws: all 50 states and DC

One row per state. A rule appears only after it was checked against official sources, with the law linked next to it. Where we have not verified a rule, the row says so and links to the official source to check. Where a state has several cases, the row lists them in short form; the state page has the full text.

Jump to a state
Break laws: all 50 states and DC. 29 of 51 verified.
StateMeal breakRest breakVerified
Alabama

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Alaska

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for employees 18 and over in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for employees 18 and over in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law, footnote 1)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Arizona

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Arkansas

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
California
California break laws

10 minutes per 4 hours worked. Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof, in the middle of each work period as practicable; not required when total daily work time is less than 3 and ½ hours. (California Industrial Welfare Commission Orders (U.S. DOL WHD rest period table))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Colorado
Colorado break laws

30 minutes. Employees are entitled to an uninterrupted, duty-free meal period of at least 30 minutes (½ hour) when the shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours; when an uninterrupted meal period is impractical, an on-duty meal must be allowed and fully compensated. (Colorado administratively issued Wage Order / COMPS (U.S. DOL WHD meal period table))

10 minutes per 4 hours worked. Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours of work or major fraction thereof, in the middle of the work period as practicable. (Colorado Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS) Order (U.S. DOL WHD rest period table))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Connecticut

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Delaware

30 minutes. Employees who work 7½ consecutive hours or more must get an unpaid meal break of at least 30 consecutive minutes (½ hour), given after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours of work. (19 Del. C. § 707 (U.S. DOL WHD meal period table))

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
District of Columbia

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Florida

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Georgia

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment in Georgia. (Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment in Georgia. (Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Hawaii

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in Hawaii; the only break requirement applies to minors aged fourteen or fifteen. (Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in Hawaii. (Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Idaho

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Illinois
Illinois break laws

20 minutes. Employees who work 7.5 continuous hours or more must get a meal period of at least 20 minutes, beginning no later than 5 hours after the start of the work period, plus an additional 20-minute meal period for every additional 4.5 continuous hours worked. (Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

One more case (Hotel room attendants cook county) is not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Indiana

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment in Indiana; Indiana's break rules apply to minors only. (Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment in Indiana. (Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Iowa

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment in Iowa. (Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment in Iowa, other than allowing toilet breaks when needed. (Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Kansas

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Kentucky
Kentucky break laws

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

10 minutes per 4 hours worked. Employers must give a paid 10-minute rest period during each 4-hour work period, in addition to the regular meal period. (Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Louisiana

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Maine

30 minutes. Unless a collective bargaining or other written employer-employee agreement provides otherwise, 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; it may be unpaid only if the employee is completely relieved of duty. Some small workplaces are exempt. (Maine statute (DOL WHD meal period table))

No state requirement. No state requirement for separate paid rest periods for adult private-sector employees (Maine's statutory 'rest break' is the unpaid-if-relieved break covered under meal_break). (DOL WHD Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements table, footnote 1)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Maryland
Maryland break laws

No state requirement. No state requirement for paid rest periods for adult private-sector employees. (DOL WHD Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements table, footnote 1)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Massachusetts

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Michigan

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Minnesota

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Mississippi

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Missouri

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Montana

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD, Table of Meal Period Requirements Under State Law (Montana not listed))

No state requirement. No state paid rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment; if a break is provided, the time is work time. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law, footnote 1)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Nebraska

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Nevada

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
New Hampshire

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
New Jersey

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees; the mandatory break law applies only to minors under the age of 18. (U.S. DOL WHD, Table of Meal Period Requirements Under State Law (New Jersey not listed))

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees; company policy dictates breaks for anyone over the age of 18. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law, footnote 1)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
New Mexico

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
New York
New York break laws

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement; if an employer permits a break of up to 20 minutes it should be paid as work time. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law, footnote 1)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
North Carolina
North Carolina break laws

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for employees 16 years of age or older. (U.S. DOL WHD, Table of Meal Period Requirements Under State Law (North Carolina not...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for employees 16 years of age or older. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law, footnote 1)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
North Dakota

30 minutes. A ½ hour (30-minute) meal period on each shift exceeding 5 hours when 2 or more employees are on duty; unpaid if completely relieved of duties; employees may waive it by agreement. (ND Minimum Wage and Work Conditions Order (U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period Requirements table))

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement; 15-minute mid-shift breaks are not required, but must be paid if provided. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law, footnote 1)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Ohio

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Oklahoma

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Oregon
Oregon break laws

30 minutes. Oregon employers must give a ½ hour (30-minute) meal period, relieved of all duty, to non-exempt employees who work 6 or more hours in a work period. (Administrative (Oregon), per U.S. DOL WHD meal period table)

10 minutes per 4 hours worked. Oregon employers must give a paid rest period of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked (or major part thereof), separate from the meal period. (Administrative (Oregon), per U.S. DOL WHD rest period table)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Pennsylvania

No state requirement. No general state meal break requirement for adult employees (18 and over) in private employment; separate rules apply to minors and to seasonal farm workers. (U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees (18 and over) in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Rhode Island

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
South Carolina

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
South Dakota

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD, Meal Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private...)

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD, Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Tennessee

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Not verified yet
Texas
Texas break laws

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state meal period requirements (Texas not listed))

No state requirement. No state paid rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state paid rest period requirements (footnote 1; Texas not listed))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Utah

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state meal period requirements (Utah not listed))

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state paid rest period requirements (footnote 1; Utah not listed))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Vermont

Employers must give employees reasonable opportunities during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities; no fixed length is set. (21 V.S.A. § 304 (U.S. DOL WHD meal period table))

Employers must give employees reasonable opportunities during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities; no fixed paid rest period is set. (21 V.S.A. § 304 (U.S. DOL WHD rest period table))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Virginia

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state meal period requirements (Virginia not listed))

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state paid rest period requirements (footnote 1; Virginia not...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Washington
Washington break laws

10 minutes per 4 hours worked. Paid rest period of at least 10 minutes for each 4 hours of working time, scheduled near the midpoint; no employee may be required to work more than 3 hours without a rest period. (WAC 296-126-092 (U.S. DOL WHD rest period table))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
West Virginia

20 minutes. During a workday of 6 or more hours, employers must make available at least 20 minutes for meal breaks, where employees are not afforded necessary breaks and/or permitted to eat lunch while working. (W. Va. Code § 21-3-10a (U.S. DOL WHD meal period table))

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dol.gov).

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Wisconsin

No state requirement. No general meal break requirement for employees 18 or older; by regulation the state recommends (does not require) a ½ hour meal period after 6 consecutive hours in factories, mechanical and mercantile establishments and certain service industries. Separate rules apply to minors and to migrant workers. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state meal period requirements (footnote 2, Wisconsin))

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for employees 18 or older. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state paid rest period requirements (footnote 1; Wisconsin not...)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Wyoming

No state requirement. No state meal break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state meal period requirements (Wyoming not listed))

No state requirement. No state rest break requirement for adult employees in private employment. (U.S. DOL WHD table of state paid rest period requirements (footnote 1; Wyoming not listed))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources

The federal baseline

“Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks. However, when employers do offer short breaks (usually lasting about 5 to 20 minutes), federal law considers the breaks as compensable work hours that would be included in the sum of hours worked during the workweek and considered in determining if overtime was worked.”

U.S. Department of Labor: Breaks and Meal Periods · dol.gov

“Meal periods (typically lasting at least 30 minutes), serve a different purpose than coffee or snack breaks and, thus, are not work time and are not compensable.”

U.S. Department of Labor: Breaks and Meal Periods · dol.gov

The table above shows the state rules on top of this baseline. For the full text of a state's rules, open the state page from the first column.

Where this rule matters

A tool that can help

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Download the data

The same records, with sources and verification dates, as JSON: meal_break.json, rest_break.json. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to the Employer Desk. API documentation.

Questions people ask

Does federal law require meal or rest breaks?

No. The U.S. Department of Labor says: "Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks." Short breaks that an employer does offer count as paid work time under federal law (same source).

Which states have a meal break rule?

Among the jurisdictions verified so far: California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. Some rules apply only to certain industries or shift lengths; the table row has the exact wording and the law.

Which states have a rest break rule?

Among the jurisdictions verified so far: California, Colorado, Kentucky, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. The table row has the exact wording and the law.

Other state law tables

Sources (4)

Checked Sep 24, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error