The 11-hour rule between shifts: which cities use it
Three places in this list require 11 hours between the end of one shift and the start of the next: New York City, Emeryville, Evanston. Oregon, Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles use 10 hours and Philadelphia 9. So 10 hours of rest is enough in most of them, but not under an 11-hour rule.
Open the clopening laws by city
Rest windows by length
| Rest | Jurisdictions | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 11 hours | New York City, Emeryville, Evanston | $100 per shift; Time and a half on hours inside the window |
| 10 hours | Oregon, Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles (city), Los Angeles County (unincorporated) | Time and a half on hours inside the window; 1.25 times the rate on the whole next shift; Time and a half on the whole next shift |
| 9 hours | Philadelphia | $40 per shift |
Ten hours of rest under each rule
Sample data: a 3 PM to 11 PM close, then 9 AM to 5 PM the next day at $20 an hour, exactly 10 hours of rest:
| Jurisdiction | Window | Hours inside | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 11 h | flat | $100.00 |
| Oregon | 10 h | none | $0.00 |
| Seattle | 10 h | none | $0.00 |
| Chicago | 10 h | none | $0.00 |
| Philadelphia | 9 h | none | $0.00 |
| Los Angeles (city) | 10 h | none | $0.00 |
| Los Angeles County (unincorporated) | 10 h | none | $0.00 |
| Emeryville | 11 h | 1 h | $10.00 |
| Evanston | 11 h | 1 h | $10.00 |
Only the 11-hour rules count it. Try your own times in the rest between shifts calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the 11-hour rule between shifts?
- Fewer than 11 hours between the end of one shift and the start of the next triggers a premium under New York City's fast-food rule ($100 per instance), Emeryville's and Evanston's (time and a half on the hours inside the 11 hours).
- Is 10 hours between shifts enough?
- Under a 10-hour or 9-hour rule, yes: exactly 10 hours is not less than 10. Under an 11-hour rule the next shift's first hour falls inside the window.
- Does the 11 hours count from clock-out or from the schedule?
- The premiums here are paid for shifts or hours worked; Philadelphia's regulations measure the rest from the posted work schedule. The audit uses whatever times you load: punches or the posted schedule.
More guides
- Is clopening illegal? Rest-between-shifts laws by city
Where a close-then-open shift pair costs a premium: rest hours, premium formula and coverage for NYC, Oregon, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, LA and more.
- NYC clopening premium: the $100 fast-food rule explained
New York City's fast-food rule: fewer than 11 hours between a close and the next shift costs $100 per instance, consent or not. Examples, clock changes included.
- Oregon rest between shifts: the 10-hour rule and time and a half
ORS 653.442: time and a half for every hour worked in the first 10 hours after the previous day's shift, for retail, hotel and food service employers with 500+ staff.
- How to audit your timecards for clopening premiums
Export punches, join meal breaks, sort per employee, measure each gap in real hours and apply the local formula: the audit step by step on a sample week.
Last updated 2026-09-30. Applies the rest-between-shifts rules of the jurisdiction you choose to the shifts you load. Coverage depends on your industry and size — check with the city or state labor office. Not legal advice. Not affiliated with any city or state agency.