Tennessee Child Labor Poster in Nashville, Tennessee (2026)
Without the Tennessee Child Labor Poster displayed in a visible location at your restaurant, you risk labor violations and fines from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This requirement—also called the Child Labor Notice or Youth Employment Poster—mandates that you post state-approved language informing minors of their rights and restrictions.
- 1 field — ApronPrep auto-fills the entire requirement
- $0 government filing fee — the poster itself is free from the state
- No submission deadline — post immediately upon hire of any minor employee
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Why You Need a Tennessee Child Labor Poster
The Tennessee Child Labor Poster is a mandatory workplace posting requirement governed by the Tennessee Child Labor Law, codified at Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) § 50-5-101 et seq. This statute restricts the hours minors may work, prohibits employment in hazardous occupations, and sets minimum age thresholds for restaurant and food-service roles — all of which must be conspicuously posted where employees can read them. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) is the issuing and enforcement authority. Nashville restaurants that employ anyone under 18, even part-time or seasonal workers, are legally required to display this poster in a location visible to all employees.
Operating without the required posting exposes your Nashville restaurant to a range of enforcement actions. The TDLWD conducts routine compliance inspections and responds to employee complaints. Consequences of non-compliance include:
- Civil penalties assessed per violation, per inspection — amounts are set by TDLWD and can compound with each cited deficiency
- Back wages and compensatory damages if the absence of required postings accompanies an underlying wage or hours violation involving a minor
- Cease-and-desist orders restricting employment of minors until compliance is verified
- Criminal penalties under T.C.A. § 50-5-111 for willful or repeat violations involving illegal employment of minors
- Insurance and lease complications — a documented labor law violation can trigger review clauses in commercial general liability policies and some landlord compliance addenda
Not legal advice — verify current requirements with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: As of 2024, the TDLWD updated its official Tennessee Child Labor Law poster to reflect revised restrictions on 14- and 15-year-old employees' permissible work hours — Nashville restaurant owners who have not replaced posters printed before 2024 should download and display the current version from the TDLWD website to avoid a posting deficiency citation.
Who Needs a Tennessee Child Labor Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Full-service restaurants routinely employ minors as hosts, bussers, and dishwashers, triggering the mandatory posting requirement under Tennessee Code Annotated § 50-5-113, which applies to any employer of minors in a non-agricultural setting. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Although minors are generally prohibited from consuming alcohol, Tennessee law permits employers to hire workers aged 16–17 in certain service roles in bars and nightclubs, making the child labor poster required under T.C.A. § 50-5-113 for any establishment that does or may employ minors. |
| Food Truck | Required | Food trucks are considered mobile workplaces under Tennessee's child labor statutes and must display the required poster in a conspicuous location accessible to minor employees, per T.C.A. § 50-5-113; the exemption for agricultural employers does not apply. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Coffee shops and cafés frequently hire minors (ages 14–17) for counter and prep roles, and T.C.A. § 50-5-113 requires any non-agricultural employer of minors to post the state-approved child labor notice at the worksite. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (1 Fields)
1 of 1 auto-filledRegular Payday Schedule
textEnter the specific day(s) on which employees receive their paychecks — for example, 'Every Friday' or 'The 1st and 15th of each month' — exactly as your payroll schedule is set up, because Tennessee law requires this information to be conspicuously posted so minor employees know when to expect payment.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a vague description such as 'Bi-weekly' without specifying the actual day (e.g., 'Every other Friday') — Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development inspectors expect a specific, unambiguous payday date or day of the week, and a non-specific entry can result in a notice of violation requiring the poster to be corrected and re-posted.
Top 5 Tennessee Child Labor Poster Mistakes
1. Displaying an Outdated Version of the Poster
Tennessee periodically updates its required child labor poster to reflect changes in permitted work hours, hazardous occupation restrictions, or minimum wage thresholds — and displaying a superseded version counts as non-compliance during a Department of Labor inspection. For example, a Nashville operator using a 2022-era poster after a 2024 revision was issued faces the same citation risk as displaying nothing at all. Always download the current version directly from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development website (tn.gov/workforce) and check for updates at least annually or whenever you hire a new minor.
2. Posting in a Location Employees Cannot Readily See
Tennessee law requires the child labor poster to be conspicuously posted where minors work — a back-office binder or a break room bulletin board behind a locked door does not satisfy this requirement. A common mistake in Nashville restaurants is mounting the poster in the manager's office rather than in the kitchen or service area where minor employees actually perform their duties. Place the poster at eye level in a high-traffic work area such as the employee entrance, time clock station, or kitchen pass-through.
3. Failing to Post the Poster at All When Hiring a First Minor
Many Nashville restaurant owners do not realize the posting requirement activates the moment they employ any worker under age 18 — it is not triggered only when hiring workers under 16. For example, hiring an 17-year-old host for weekend shifts brings your location into scope for child labor posting requirements immediately. Pull and post the current poster before that employee's first shift, not after their first paycheck.
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Tennessee Child Labor Poster by City in Tennessee
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | ||
| Memphis | ||
| Nashville |
Timeline: Varies
Verify Current Poster Requirements
Check the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development website for the current 2026 Child Labor Poster design and content requirements. Tennessee updates poster language annually to reflect federal and state law changes — using an outdated poster can result in citations during labor inspections. Download the official PDF or order a physical copy directly from the department. This step takes 15–30 minutes and ensures you have the legally compliant version.
Obtain Poster (Physical or Digital Copy)
The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development provides the Child Labor Poster for free as a downloadable PDF or as a physical printed poster available by mail or in-person pickup at their Nashville office (220 French Landing Drive, Nashville, TN 37243). If you order a physical copy by mail, allow 5–10 business days for delivery. If you download the PDF, you can print it immediately at your restaurant or use a local print shop (typical cost: $5–$15 for color printing on 11×14 poster stock).
Post the Poster in Visible Location
Display the Child Labor Poster in a conspicuous location where all employees — especially minors — can easily read it. Tennessee law requires the poster to be posted in areas where employees gather, such as break rooms, employee entrances, or near time clocks. The poster must remain legible and undamaged. Take a photograph of the posted poster for your records — this serves as proof of compliance during labor inspections.
Where to Apply
Applications go to the Tennessee department of labor. Local procedures and fees may vary — select your city below.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Tennessee.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Alcohol Server Training Certification
state
Annual Report Filing
state
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsThe Tennessee Child Labor Poster is not a permit requiring approval — it's a mandatory workplace posting you must display immediately upon hiring. You obtain the poster directly from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development at no cost, typically within 1–2 business days if ordering online or by phone. Display it in a conspicuous location accessible to all employees, as required by Tennessee labor law.
There is no government filing fee for the Tennessee Child Labor Poster — the state provides it free of charge through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. You may incur printing costs if you request a laminated or custom-sized version, but the official poster itself carries no filing or registration cost. Contact the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development to confirm current distribution options.
Yes, the Tennessee Child Labor Poster itself is not location-specific and can be displayed at any Nashville restaurant or food service establishment you operate. However, you must ensure a current, legible copy is posted at each physical location where you employ minors. If you relocate your restaurant, transfer the poster to the new address and confirm it remains visible to all staff.
The Tennessee Child Labor Poster does not require renewal — once posted, it remains valid as long as your business operates. However, you must replace it immediately if it becomes damaged, faded, or illegible, as Tennessee labor law requires a clearly visible posting at all times. Check the poster annually to ensure compliance and request a replacement from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development if needed.
Tennessee Department of Labor inspectors check for the presence and legibility of the child labor poster during routine workplace inspections or investigations into child labor complaints. A missing, outdated, or illegible poster may result in a citation and potential fines under Tennessee labor law. Inspectors also verify that you have filed required E-Verify Enrollment documentation and maintain compliant Annual Report Filing records, as part of overall employment compliance.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Tennessee specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 1 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
- Nashville — Department of Labor / Labor Standards
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