Minimum working age · British Columbia
Minimum working age in British Columbia.
The youngest age a person can work in British Columbia and what changes at each age. Enter an age to see the rule that applies.
British Columbia: a child under 14 needs the director’s permission to work, and a 14- or 15-year-old needs written parental consent for light work or the director’s permission for other work.
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Rule for this age
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British Columbia: minimum working age rules in detail
| Point | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Under 14 | Director’s permission required (Act s. 9(2)(a)) |
| 14 or 15 | Light work with parent or guardian’s written consent; other work needs permission (s. 9(2)(b)) |
| Under 16 | No hazardous industry or hazardous work (s. 9.1) |
| 16 and older | Regular employment standards apply |
Notes on this rule
The Ministry’s hiring-young-people page describes the same scheme with extra age bands for permits; the Act is the binding text.
How to use this page
Enter an age to see the rule for that age. The bands run from the youngest age to adult, so you can step through each one to see what changes: permits, consent, hours of work and prohibited jobs.
Sources, read directly 19 October 2026: BC Employment Standards Act, ss. 9 and 9.1; Province of BC - Hiring young people.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to work in British Columbia?
British Columbia: a child under 14 needs the director’s permission to work, and a 14- or 15-year-old needs written parental consent for light work or the director’s permission for other work.
What is the general minimum in British Columbia?
The general position is: 16 without conditions; 14 for light work with parental consent. Younger workers are covered by the permit, consent, hour and job limits listed above.
Does a family business have different rules?
The source read for British Columbia does not set out a separate family-business rule on the page used here, so none is stated. Ask the employment standards office before relying on a family exception.
Is this legal advice?
No. Youth-employment rules also depend on school-attendance law, occupational health and safety rules and the specific job. This page summarises the employment standards rules the sources state; check the source or the employment standards office before hiring or starting work under the minimum age.
Where does this British Columbia information come from?
Every figure on this page was read on 19 October 2026 from: BC Employment Standards Act, ss. 9 and 9.1; Province of BC - Hiring young people. The links are listed under the rules table above. If a source changes, this page is regenerated from one data file and the verified date is updated.
Reference only — not legal advice
This page states the statutory minimum working age rules from the published employment-standards legislation or the government’s own guide, read on 19 October 2026. It is not legal advice, does not model a collective agreement or an individual contract, and rules change. For a binding answer, contact the employment standards office named in the source or a lawyer.