Ohio Break Laws (2026)
Last updated: 2026-10-07 · Checked against the statute text and state agency guidance · Minors only
| Adult meal break | Not required |
|---|---|
| Adult rest break | Not required (short breaks you give must be paid) |
| Minors | Under 18: 30 min if over 5 h; max 5 h straight |
| Lactation | Federal PUMP Act only |
| Enforcing agency | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration |
Ohio break scheduler
Pick a state and enter the shift. You'll get every break the law requires, the latest time each can start, a suggested schedule, and — if you enter the breaks actually taken — a compliance check with California premium pay.
Ohio · Adult (18+) · 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
On site 10 h · hours worked 10 h
No meal or rest break is required by Ohio law for this shift.
Federal law still applies: breaks of about 5–20 minutes you choose to give must be paid, and an unpaid meal must be a real duty-free break (ordinarily 30+ minutes). Different rules apply to minors — switch the employee type.
Scheduling aid, not legal advice. Industry wage orders, union contracts and employer-specific exemptions can change the rules — see the Ohio break law page for citations.
Ohio meal break law
No state law requires meal periods for adult private-sector employees; federal FLSA applies (no meal break required; bona fide meal periods of 30+ minutes with the employee completely relieved of duty may be unpaid, 29 CFR 785.19).
Source: official guidance
Ohio rest break law
No state rest-break requirement for adult private-sector employees. Federal rule: short breaks (about 5-20 minutes), if given, must be paid (29 CFR 785.18).
Breaks for minors in Ohio
'No employer shall employ a minor more than five consecutive hours without allowing the minor a rest period of at least thirty minutes. The rest period need not be included in the computation of the number of hours worked by the minor.'
Source: Ohio Rev. Code §4109.07(C) (version effective Oct. 3, 2023)
Lactation breaks in Ohio
No state workplace lactation-break law for private employers; federal PUMP Act applies.
Federal floor (PUMP Act): reasonable break time and a private space that isn't a bathroom for one year after birth, for nearly all employees; unpaid unless the employee isn't fully relieved of duty. Employers with fewer than 50 employees may be exempt only if compliance would cause undue hardship.
Source: None (29 U.S.C. 218d applies)
Frequently asked questions
Are breaks required by law in Ohio?
No adult break law. Minors under 18: a 30-minute rest period after 5 consecutive hours. Federal law requires no breaks, but short breaks that are given must be paid and unpaid meal periods must be duty-free.
How many breaks do you get for an 8-hour shift in Ohio?
None for adults — Ohio has no general meal or rest break law. Under federal law, any short break you give (5–20 minutes) must be paid.
Do minors get breaks in Ohio?
'No employer shall employ a minor more than five consecutive hours without allowing the minor a rest period of at least thirty minutes. The rest period need not be included in the computation of the number of hours worked by the minor.'
Are lactation breaks required in Ohio?
Ohio has no state lactation-break law, so the federal PUMP Act applies: reasonable break time (unpaid unless the employee isn't fully relieved of duty) and a private space that isn't a bathroom, for one year after birth.
Official Ohio sources
Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-07Compare
Also “Minors only”: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin
← North Dakota · All states table · Oklahoma → · Ohio overtime
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Helpful guides
General information, not legal advice. Industry rules, union contracts and agency exemptions can change these requirements. Confirm with Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration.