This is a summary of published state rules, not legal advice. Child labor rules change and differ by state, so confirm with the state labor department where you're shooting before you book a minor.
California's two permits
California separates the child's permit from the employer's. The minor (through a parent) gets an Entertainment Work Permit from the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. New applicants can get a 10-day temporary permit once. After that, the six-month permit needs school records for school-age children and must be renewed until the minor turns 18.
The production company gets an Entertainment Permit to Employ Minors. It has no fee, but it's tied to the company's workers' compensation policy, so a lapse or change in coverage means reapplying. The DIR suggests renewing 30 to 60 days before expiration.
Hours by age in California
Title 8, Section 11760 sets how long a minor can be at the workplace and how much of that can be work:
| Age | Max time at workplace | Max work | School (on school days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 days to 6 months | 2 hours | 20 minutes | n/a |
| 6 months to 2 years | 4 hours | 2 hours | n/a |
| 2 to 6 years | 6 hours | 3 hours | Balance may be education |
| 6 to 9 years | 8 hours | 4 hours | At least 3 hours |
| 9 to 16 years | 9 hours | 5 hours | At least 3 hours |
| 16 to 18 years | 10 hours | 6 hours | At least 3 hours |
These limits drive the schedule. An 8-year-old playing a lead in a school-day scene gives the 1st AD four hours of work inside an eight-hour window that also has to fit three hours of school and an hour of rest. The scheduling guide for child actors shows how to board around it, and a studio teacher enforces it on set.
New York
New York's Department of Labor issues Child Performer Permits and requires employers to hold a Certificate of Eligibility, renewed no later than 30 days before it expires. The employer must keep a copy of a valid permit, or temporary permit, for each child performer, and follow the state's trust account rules, covered under Coogan account.
Mistakes producers make
Booking a child from a self-tape before anyone checks the permit. Collect the permit number with the deal, not at the base camp check-in.
Forgetting that the permit rules follow the shoot location. A California child working in Georgia or New Mexico has to meet that state's requirements. See working with minors on set for a state-by-state starting point.