Meal and rest break laws by state
Federal law requires no meal or rest breaks, but short breaks, when given, must be paid. These states require them.
| State | Meal period | Rest period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Alaska | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Arizona | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Arkansas | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| California | 30-minute unpaid meal period for work over 5 hours. A second 30-minute period for work over 10 hours. | Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction. None required under 3.5 hours. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Colorado | 30-minute unpaid meal period for shifts over 5 hours (Most workers). | Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours or major fraction. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Connecticut | 30-minute meal period for shifts of 7.5 or more consecutive hours, after the first 2 hours and before the last 2. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Delaware | 30-minute meal period for 7.5 or more consecutive hours, after the first 2 hours and before the last 2. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | No meal period requirement for adults. | No rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Florida | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Georgia | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Hawaii | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Idaho | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Illinois | 20-minute meal period, starting no later than 5 hours into the shift, for 7.5 or more continuous hours. | No general paid rest period (hotel room attendants in large counties excepted). | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Indiana | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Iowa | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Kansas | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Kentucky | Reasonable off-duty meal period, usually 30 minutes, between the 3rd and 5th hour of work. | Paid 10-minute rest period in each 4-hour work period, in addition to the meal period. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Louisiana | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Maine | 30-minute break after 6 consecutive hours, except in emergencies or where fewer than 3 employees are on duty. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Maryland | Retail employers with 50 or more employees: 15-minute break for 4 to 6 consecutive hours, 30 minutes for more than 6. No general rule for other adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | 30-minute meal break for each 6 hours worked in a calendar day. Employee must be free of duties. | No paid rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Michigan | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Minnesota | Sufficient unpaid time to eat a meal for employees working 8 or more consecutive hours. No set length. | A paid rest period within each 4 consecutive hours to use the restroom. Breaks under 20 minutes are paid. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Mississippi | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Missouri | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Montana | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Nebraska | 30-minute off-premises lunch for each 8-hour shift in assembly plants, workshops and mechanical establishments. No general rule. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Nevada | 30-minute meal break for 8 continuous hours of work (employers with 2 or more employees). | Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours or major fraction. None under 3.5 hours. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | 30-minute break after 5 consecutive hours unless the employee can eat while working and the employer allows it. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| New Jersey | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| New Mexico | No meal period required. When one is given in certain industries it must be at least 30 minutes and is unpaid. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| New York | 30-minute meal period for shifts over 6 hours that span the noon meal period (11 a.m. To 2 p.m.). 1 hour in factories. | No paid rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| North Carolina | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| North Dakota | 30-minute meal period on shifts over 5 hours when 2 or more employees are on duty. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Ohio | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Oregon | 30-minute fully off-duty meal period for work periods of 6 to 8 hours. More for longer shifts. | Paid 10-minute rest period for every 4 hours or major portion worked. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | 20-minute meal period in a 6-hour shift. 30 minutes in an 8-hour shift. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| South Carolina | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| South Dakota | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Tennessee | 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees scheduled 6 consecutive hours or more, not during or before the first hour. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Texas | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Utah | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Vermont | Reasonable opportunities to eat and use the restroom during work periods. No set length. | Reasonable opportunities for breaks. No set paid rest period. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Virginia | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Washington | 30-minute meal period for work over 5 consecutive hours, taken 2 to 5 hours into the shift. | Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours. No more than 3 hours without a rest period. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| West Virginia | 20-minute meal period for employees working 6 or more hours a day. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | No mandatory adult meal period. A 30-minute break after 6 hours is recommended for factory, mercantile and service employers. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
| Wyoming | No state meal period requirement for adults. | No state rest period requirement. | read the rulechecked October 29, 2026 |
Federal baseline: Every rule row carries the page it was read from and the date it was read. Federal baseline: Federal law overtime after 40 hours in a work week at 1.5x your true hourly rate (29 U.S.C. 207). No federal daily overtime, meal, rest, final-pay deadline or PTO payout rule. Verified October 29, 2026.