CompClaimTimeline

Meal break laws by state

Whether your state requires employers to give adult workers a meal break, how long, and when.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Rules have exceptions; open your state for details and the law it comes from.

21Yes
30No
51states and DC covered: 51 checked on official source

Meal break required for adults: map

Alaska: No general requirementAKMaine: 30 minutes after 6 consecutive hoursMEVermont: Reasonable opportunity to eat and use the restroom (no set length)VTNew Hampshire: 30 minutes after 5 consecutive hoursNHWashington: 30 minutes when working more than 5 hours, between the 2nd and 5th hourWAIdaho: No general requirementIDMontana: No general requirementMTNorth Dakota: 30 minutes for shifts over 5 hoursNDMinnesota: Enough unpaid time to eat a meal, for 8+ consecutive hoursMNIllinois: 20 minutes no later than 5 hours into a shift of 7.5+ hoursILWisconsin: No general requirementWIMichigan: No general requirementMINew York: 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on industry and shift timingNYRhode Island: 20 minutes in a 6-hour shift; 30 minutes in an 8-hour shiftRIMassachusetts: 30 minutes for work over 6 hoursMAOregon: 30 minutes for 6-8 hour work periodsORNevada: 30 minutes for 8 continuous hoursNVWyoming: No general requirementWYSouth Dakota: No general requirementSDIowa: No general requirementIAIndiana: No general requirementINOhio: No general requirementOHPennsylvania: No general requirementPANew Jersey: No general requirementNJConnecticut: 30 minutes after the first 2 hours and before the last 2, for shifts of 7.5+ hoursCTCalifornia: 30 minutes after more than 5 hours; a second 30 minutes after 10 hoursCAUtah: No general requirementUTColorado: 30 minutes when a shift exceeds 5 consecutive hoursCONebraska: 30 minutes off premises in each 8-hour shiftNEMissouri: No general requirementMOKentucky: A reasonable meal period (normally 30 minutes) between the 3rd and 5th hourKYWest Virginia: 20 minutes for 6+ hoursWVVirginia: No general requirementVAMaryland: 15 minutes for 4-6 hours; 30 minutes for more than 6MDDelaware: 30 minutes after the first 2 hours and before the last 2, for shifts of 7.5+ hoursDEArizona: No general requirementAZNew Mexico: No general requirementNMKansas: No general requirementKSArkansas: No general requirementARTennessee: 30 minutes for 6+ consecutive scheduled hoursTNNorth Carolina: No general requirementNCSouth Carolina: No general requirementSCDistrict of Columbia: No general requirementDCOklahoma: No general requirementOKLouisiana: No general requirementLAMississippi: No general requirementMSAlabama: No general requirementALGeorgia: No general requirementGAHawaii: No general requirementHITexas: No general requirementTXFlorida: No general requirementFL
  • Yes (21)
  • No (30)

Full table

StateMeal break required
Alabama Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Alaska Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Arizona Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Arkansas Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
California Checked on official source30 minutes after more than 5 hours; a second 30 minutes after 10 hours
Colorado Checked on official source30 minutes when a shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours
Connecticut Checked on official source30 minutes after the first 2 hours and before the last 2, for shifts of 7.5+ hours
Delaware Checked on official source30 minutes after the first 2 hours and before the last 2, for shifts of 7.5+ hours
District of Columbia Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Florida Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Georgia Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Hawaii Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Idaho Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Illinois Checked on official source20 minutes no later than 5 hours into a shift of 7.5+ hours
Indiana Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Iowa Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Kansas Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Kentucky Checked on official sourceA reasonable meal period (normally 30 minutes) between the 3rd and 5th hour
Louisiana Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Maine Checked on official source30 minutes after 6 consecutive hours
Maryland Checked on official source15 minutes for 4-6 hours; 30 minutes for more than 6
Massachusetts Checked on official source30 minutes for work over 6 hours
Michigan Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Minnesota Checked on official sourceEnough unpaid time to eat a meal, for 8+ consecutive hours
Mississippi Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Missouri Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Montana Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Nebraska Checked on official source30 minutes off premises in each 8-hour shift
Nevada Checked on official source30 minutes for 8 continuous hours
New Hampshire Checked on official source30 minutes after 5 consecutive hours
New Jersey Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
New Mexico Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
New York Checked on official source30 minutes to 1 hour depending on industry and shift timing
North Carolina Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
North Dakota Checked on official source30 minutes for shifts over 5 hours
Ohio Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Oklahoma Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Oregon Checked on official source30 minutes for 6-8 hour work periods
Pennsylvania Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Rhode Island Checked on official source20 minutes in a 6-hour shift; 30 minutes in an 8-hour shift
South Carolina Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
South Dakota Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Tennessee Checked on official source30 minutes for 6+ consecutive scheduled hours
Texas Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Utah Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Vermont Checked on official sourceReasonable opportunity to eat and use the restroom (no set length)
Virginia Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Washington Checked on official source30 minutes when working more than 5 hours, between the 2nd and 5th hour
West Virginia Checked on official source20 minutes for 6+ hours
Wisconsin Checked on official sourceNo general requirement
Wyoming Checked on official sourceNo general requirement

How we checked this

Rules come from the U.S. Department of Labor's table of state meal period requirements for adult private-sector workers. Last checked: November 12, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the state agency or a licensed professional before acting.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official source confirmed on a government, court or legislature site   Single detailed source one detailed table built from statutes or official data   Under review sources disagree; read the note and the law.