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Maryland Retail Establishment Meal Break Requirements

active

Maryland requires retail employers to provide employees with a 15-minute break for shifts of 4 to 6 consecutive hours, and a 30-minute meal break for shifts of more than 6 consecutive hours. This requirement applies specifically to retail establishments.

Jurisdiction
MD (state)
Law Type
Meal Breaks
Status
active
Citation
Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-710
Effective Date
1989-01-01
Last Verified
2026-01-15
Record Updated
2026-01-15

Applicability

Industries
retail
Employee Types
non-exempt
Age Groups
adult, 16-17, 14-15

Requirements

Short Shift Break
Trigger Hours Min
4
Trigger Hours Max
6
Duration Minutes
15
Description
Retail employees who work between 4 and 6 consecutive hours must receive a 15-minute break.
Meal Period
Trigger Hours
6
Duration Minutes
30
Duty Free
Yes
Paid
No
Description
Retail employees who work more than 6 consecutive hours must receive a 30-minute meal break. The break may be unpaid if the employee is completely relieved of duties.
Industry Limitation
Description
This meal break requirement applies only to retail establishments. Other industries in Maryland are not covered by a state meal break law.

Penalties

Employers who violate the retail meal break requirement may be subject to enforcement action by the Maryland Department of Labor.

Notes

Maryland's meal break law is limited to retail establishments, making it narrower in scope than most state meal break laws. Non-retail employers in Maryland are not required by state law to provide meal breaks to adult employees.

Sources