InterObservers.

Paid sick leave laws by state

The short answer

There is no federal requirement for paid sick leave (U.S. Department of Labor). Of the 51 jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), 17 have a verified state paid sick leave rule and 7 have a verified record of no state requirement. The most common verified accrual rate is 1 hour per 30 hours worked (12 states). 27 jurisdictions have no verified rule on this page yet; their rows link to the official source.

See all 51 states
17verified states with a paid sick leave rule
7verified states with no state requirement
27not 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.

Paid sick leave 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
Paid sick leave laws: all 50 states and DC. 24 of 51 verified.
StateAccrualCapsWho is coveredVerified
Alabama

Not verified yet. Check the official source (adol.alabama.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (adol.alabama.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (adol.alabama.gov).

Not verified yet
Alaska
Alaska paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. Alaska paid sick leave: employees accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. (Alaska DOLWD, Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave FAQ)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Arizona
Arizona paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. Arizona earned paid sick time: employees accrue at least one hour for every 30 hours worked. (A.R.S. § 23-372)

  • Effective date: From Jul 1, 2017 (A.R.S. § 23-372)
  • Employer coverage: Arizona's earned paid sick time applies to private employers of any size, including small businesses exempt from the state minimum wage law; the State of Arizona and the United States are not covered employers. (A.R.S. § 23-371)
Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Arkansas

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.arkansas.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.arkansas.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.arkansas.gov).

Not verified yet
California
California paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. California paid sick leave: under an accrual plan employees earn at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (employers may use another regular accrual schedule or front-load instead). (Cal. Labor Code § 246)

  • Effective date: From Jan 1, 2024 (Cal. Labor Code § 246)
  • Employee eligibility: Employees who work in California for the same employer for 30 or more days within a year are entitled to paid sick leave (including part-time, per diem and temporary employees). (Cal. Labor Code § 246)
Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Colorado
Colorado paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA): employees accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. (Colorado General Assembly, SB20-205 (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act) bill summary)

48 hours. Employees accrue up to 48 hours of HFWA paid sick leave per year (employers may provide more). (Colorado General Assembly, SB20-205 (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act) bill summary)

From Jan 1, 2021. HFWA paid sick leave began to accrue on January 1, 2021 for employers with 16 or more employees, and has applied to all employers since January 1, 2022. (Colorado General Assembly, SB20-205 (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act) bill summary)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Connecticut
Connecticut paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. Connecticut paid sick leave: employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours actually worked. (Connecticut DOL, Paid Sick Leave FAQs)

40 hours. Employees accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year (employers may allow more). (Connecticut DOL, Paid Sick Leave FAQs)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Delaware

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legis.delaware.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legis.delaware.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legis.delaware.gov).

Not verified yet
District of Columbia

Not verified yet. Check the official source (does.dc.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (does.dc.gov).

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Florida

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

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

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

Not verified yet
Georgia

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

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

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

Not verified yet
Hawaii

No state requirement. Hawaii law does not require paid sick leave; employers that provide sick leave must make their policy available in writing or by posted notice. (Hawaii DLIR Wage Standards Division, Vacation and Sick Leave)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Idaho

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.idaho.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.idaho.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.idaho.gov).

Not verified yet
Illinois
Illinois paid sick leave law

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.illinois.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.illinois.gov).

From Jan 1, 2024. The Paid Leave for All Workers Act took effect January 1, 2024; accrual begins at the start of employment or January 1, 2024, whichever is later, and employees may start using leave after 90 days. (Illinois DOL, Paid Leave for All Workers Act FAQ)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Indiana

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

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

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

Not verified yet
Iowa

No state requirement. Iowa law does not require employers to provide sick time; employers must follow their own policies, practices or contracts. (Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, Wages)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Kansas

Not verified yet. Check the official source (ksrevisor.org).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (ksrevisor.org).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (ksrevisor.org).

Not verified yet
Kentucky

Not verified yet. Check the official source (elc.ky.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (elc.ky.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (elc.ky.gov).

Not verified yet
Louisiana

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legis.la.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legis.la.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legis.la.gov).

Not verified yet
Maine

1 hour per 40 hours worked. Maine Earned Paid Leave (usable for any reason, not only sickness): employees earn one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked. (26 M.R.S. § 637(3))

40 hours. Employees can earn up to 40 hours of Earned Paid Leave in a year of employment (or the employer policy's higher accrual limit); unused hours carry over to the next year. (26 M.R.S. § 637(3))

  • Effective date: From Jan 1, 2021 (Maine DOL, Earned Paid Leave)
  • Employer coverage: Applies to employers with more than 10 employees in the usual and regular course of business for more than 120 days in any calendar year. (26 M.R.S. § 637(2))
Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Maryland
Maryland paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. Maryland Healthy Working Families Act: earned sick and safe leave accrues at a rate of at least 1 hour for every 30 hours worked (employers may instead front-load the year's amount). (Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-1304(b))

One more case (Employee eligibility) is not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.maryland.gov).

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Massachusetts

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

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

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

Not verified yet
Michigan

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legislature.mi.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legislature.mi.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (legislature.mi.gov).

Not verified yet
Minnesota
Minnesota paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. Minnesota earned sick and safe time (ESST): employees accrue at least one hour of paid ESST for every 30 hours worked. (Minn. Stat. § 181.9446)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Mississippi

Not verified yet. Check the official source (ca5.uscourts.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (ca5.uscourts.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (ca5.uscourts.gov).

Not verified yet
Missouri

No state requirement. Missouri no longer has a statewide paid sick leave mandate: the legislature repealed the state law establishing paid sick time for private employees. (Missouri Senate, HB 567 (2025) bill summary (HCS#2/HBs 567, 546, 758 & 958))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Montana

Not verified yet. Check the official source (erd.dli.mt.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (erd.dli.mt.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (erd.dli.mt.gov).

Not verified yet
Nebraska

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

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

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

Not verified yet
Nevada

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dhs.nv.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dhs.nv.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dhs.nv.gov).

Not verified yet
New Hampshire

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

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

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

Not verified yet
New Jersey
New Jersey paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. New Jersey Earned Sick Leave: employees earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (employers may instead front-load the annual amount). (NJDOL, Earned Sick Leave (My Work Rights))

40 hours. Employers must allow accrual and use of up to 40 hours per benefit year; up to 40 unused hours carry over, but use can be limited to 40 hours per benefit year. (NJDOL, Earned Sick Leave (My Work Rights))

Employers of all sizes must provide paid earned sick leave (full-time, part-time and temporary employees; few exemptions). (NJDOL, Earned Sick Leave (My Work Rights))

One more case (Effective date) is not verified yet. Check the official source (nj.gov).

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
New Mexico
New Mexico paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. New Mexico Healthy Workplaces Act: employees accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (employers may provide more). (Office of the Governor, press release on signing HB 20 (Healthy Workplaces Act))

Not verified yet. Check the official source (governor.nm.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (governor.nm.gov).

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
New York
New York paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. New York State paid sick leave: leave accrues at a rate of not less than one hour for every 30 hours worked (employers may instead front-load the annual amount). (New York State, Paid Sick Leave (ny.gov))

From Sep 30, 2020. Employees began accruing New York sick leave on September 30, 2020. (New York State, Paid Sick Leave (ny.gov))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
North Carolina

No state requirement. North Carolina law does not require employers to provide sick leave; whether to offer it is up to each employer, but promised sick leave policies must be followed and made available to employees in writing or by posted notice. (NCDOL, Promised Wages Including Wage Benefits)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
North Dakota

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

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

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

Not verified yet
Ohio

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dam.assets.ohio.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dam.assets.ohio.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dam.assets.ohio.gov).

Not verified yet
Oklahoma

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

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

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

Not verified yet
Oregon
Oregon paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. Oregon sick time: employees accrue at least 1 hour of protected sick time for every 30 hours worked (employers may instead frontload at least 40 hours at the start of the year). (Oregon BOLI, Sick time (For Workers))

40 hours. Accrual is required up to 40 hours of sick time per year. (Oregon BOLI, Sick time (For Workers))

10 or more employees. Sick time must be paid if the employer has 10 or more employees (6 or more if it has a location in Portland); smaller employers must still provide protected but unpaid sick time. (Oregon BOLI, Sick time (For Workers))

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Pennsylvania

No state requirement. Pennsylvania has no state law requiring employers to provide paid sick leave; employers must pay it only under their own policy or a contract. Local rules (e.g. Philadelphia) may apply. (Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Wage FAQs)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Rhode Island

Not verified yet. Check the official source (rules.sos.ri.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (rules.sos.ri.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (rules.sos.ri.gov).

Not verified yet
South Carolina

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

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

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

Not verified yet
South Dakota

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dlr.sd.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dlr.sd.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dlr.sd.gov).

Not verified yet
Tennessee

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

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

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

Not verified yet
Texas

No state requirement. No Texas law requires private-sector employers to provide paid sick leave; if sick leave is promised in a written policy or agreement it is enforceable as wages under the Texas Payday Law. (Texas Workforce Commission, Especially for Texas Employers: Vacation and Sick Leave)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Utah

Not verified yet. Check the official source (laborcommission.utah.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (laborcommission.utah.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (laborcommission.utah.gov).

Not verified yet
Vermont

1 hour per 52 hours worked. Vermont earned sick time: employees accrue at least one hour of paid earned sick time for every 52 hours worked (including overtime). (21 V.S.A. § 482)

40 hours. Employers may limit accrual of earned sick time to 40 hours in a 12-month period. (21 V.S.A. § 482)

  • Effective date: From Jan 1, 2017 (21 V.S.A. § 482)
  • Employee eligibility: Covered employees are those employed for an average of at least 18 hours per week during a year (the statute lists exclusions, including federal employees, certain short seasonal jobs and individuals under 18 years of age). (21 V.S.A. § 481)
Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Virginia
Virginia paid sick leave law

1 hour per 30 hours worked. Limited scope: Virginia's current paid sick leave law covers only home health workers (consumer-directed personal care, respite or companion services). They accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. (Va. Code § 40.1-33.4)

40 hours. Limited scope (home health workers only): an employee may not accrue or use more than 40 hours of paid sick leave a year unless the employer sets a higher limit. (Va. Code § 40.1-33.4)

Covered employees under the current law are home health workers who work on average at least 20 hours per week or 90 hours per month. (Va. Code § 40.1-33.3)

One more case (Effective date) is not verified yet. Check the official source (law.lis.virginia.gov).

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
Washington
Washington paid sick leave law

1 hour per 40 hours worked. Washington paid sick leave: employees accrue at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked (full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal alike). The law sets no annual accrual cap. (RCW 49.46.210)

Carryover cap: 40 hours. Unused paid sick leave carries over to the next year; employers may cap the carryover at 40 hours. (RCW 49.46.210)

  • Effective date: From Jan 1, 2018 (RCW 49.46.210)
  • Employer coverage: Every employer in Washington must provide paid sick leave to its employees, with only a few exceptions (L&I cites e.g. doctors, lawyers, dentists and most salaried executive managers). (RCW 49.46.210)
Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official sources
West Virginia

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.wv.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.wv.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (labor.wv.gov).

Not verified yet
Wisconsin

No state requirement. Wisconsin law does not require employers to grant sick leave, paid or unpaid (special exceptions under the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Law). If an employer creates a sick pay policy, it may set the conditions. (Wisconsin DWD, Wisconsin Civil Rights and Labor Standards Laws)

Verified Sep 24, 2026
2 official pages from the same agency
Wyoming

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dws.wyo.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dws.wyo.gov).

Not verified yet. Check the official source (dws.wyo.gov).

Not verified yet

The federal baseline

“Currently, there are no federal legal requirements for paid sick leave. For companies subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Act does require unpaid sick leave.”

U.S. Department of Labor: Sick Leave · 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

Download the data

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

Questions people ask

Is paid sick leave required by federal law?

No. The U.S. Department of Labor says: "Currently, there are no federal legal requirements for paid sick leave. For companies subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Act does require unpaid sick leave."

Which states have a paid sick leave law?

Among the jurisdictions verified so far: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Coverage differs (employer size, employee hours, and in some states only certain workers); the table row has the details and the law.

How fast does paid sick leave accrue?

The most common verified rate is 1 hour per 30 hours worked, in 12 states. The Accrual column shows each state's rate with the law.

Other state law tables

Sources (2)

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