North Carolina Legal Ages

Legal ages in North Carolina

1. Age 7

   • Must be enrolled in school

     North Carolina requires children to attend school, or approved private or home instruction, from age 7.

     A child under 7 enrolled in grades K-2 must attend unless withdrawn.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-378(a)

2. Age 8

   • Car seat or booster age requirement ends

     The child car seat or booster requirement ends at age 8; after that a seat belt can be used.

     Or earlier once the child weighs 80 pounds.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-137.1(a1)

3. Age 14

   • Can work limited hours in non-hazardous jobs (federal rule)

     Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds work in permitted non-hazardous jobs, outside school hours and within weekly hour limits.

     Limits: no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is out; only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day) (29 C.F.R. 570.35).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can work (state minimum age)

     North Carolina bars employment of youths 13 or younger, except newspaper delivery at 12 and 13.

     Work for a parent or guardian is largely exempt.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-25.5(d)

4. Age 15

   • Can get a learner's permit

     North Carolina issues a Level 1 limited learner's permit at 15 after a driver education course.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-11(b)

5. Age 16

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     North Carolina's compulsory attendance requirement ends at the 16th birthday.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. 115C-378(a)

   • Can work any non-hazardous job (federal rule)

     At 16, the general federal minimum working age applies: any job except those the Labor Department declares hazardous.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a first license to drive alone

     A Level 2 limited provisional license for driving alone is available at 16 after nine months with a learner permit.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-11(d)

   • Court emancipation (adult status) can be sought

     A minor can petition a court to be declared emancipated starting at age 16.

     The juvenile must have lived in the same county for six months.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-3500

   • Lowest marriage age with parent or court consent

     With a parent's written consent or a court order, the lowest age to marry is 16.

     The other party can be no more than 4 years older.

     North Carolina law · G.S. 51-2(a1); G.S. 51-2.1

   • Can pre-register to vote

     North Carolina lets eligible residents pre-register to vote at 16; they can vote once they turn 18.

     No statute currently states this age: the 2013 law that repealed preregistration (S.L. 2013-381) was enjoined in N.C. State Conference of NAACP v. McCrory, 831 F.3d 204 (4th Cir. 2016), and the State Board preregisters 16- and 17-year-olds.

     North Carolina law · N.C. State Board of Elections

6. Age 17

   • Can vote in a primary if 18 by the general election

     North Carolina lets 17-year-olds vote in a primary if they will be 18 by the general election.

     North Carolina law · N.C.G.S. § 163-59 (State Board of Elections)

7. Age 18

   • No work permit needed

     Workers under 18 in North Carolina need a youth employment certificate issued by the Commissioner of Labor.

     Newspaper delivery and some other listed work are exempt.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-25.5(a)

   • Can work in jobs federal law calls hazardous

     At 18, the federal bar on jobs the Labor Department declares hazardous for minors ends for non-farm work.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Teen license limits end (varies, see rule)

     Graduated licensing levels apply to drivers under 18.

     A Level 3 full provisional license, which drops the time, supervision and passenger limits, is available after six months at Level 2 with no moving or seat belt violations in the prior six months, as early as 16 and 6 months.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-11(d), (f)-(g)

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

     Tattooing is allowed from 18; the ban on tattooing minors ends at that age.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-400(a)

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

     State law makes a person a legal adult, with full rights to contract and sue, at 18.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 48A-2

   • Can make a will

     A person of sound mind can make a valid will at 18.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. 31-1

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

     A person can marry without a parent's or court's consent at 18.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. 51-2(a)

   • Can vote

     The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote at 18 in every federal, state and local election.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. amend. XXVI, § 1

   • Must register with Selective Service (men)

     Men 18 through 25 who are U.S. citizens or live in the United States must register with the Selective Service System.

     Men admitted on a nonimmigrant visa are exempt while they keep that status (50 U.S.C. 3802(a)).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 50 U.S.C. § 3802(a)

   • Can be called for state jury service

     A person can be called for state jury service from age 18.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. 9-3(a)(1)-(3), (6)-(8), (10)

   • Can be called for federal jury service

     Federal courts may call U.S. citizens 18 or older who have lived in the judicial district for a year.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)

   • Charged as an adult by default (juvenile court age ends)

     North Carolina tries people charged with a crime in adult court by default from age 18; younger defendants start in juvenile court.

     For 16- and 17-year-olds, motor vehicle offenses and Class A through E felonies are excluded and handled in adult court.

     North Carolina law · N.C.G.S. § 7B-1501(7)

   • Can buy a lottery ticket

     State law bars anyone under 18 from buying a lottery ticket.

     North Carolina law · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 18C-131

8. Age 21

   • Can drive a commercial truck across state lines

     Federal rules require drivers of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce to be at least 21.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(1)

   • Can buy tobacco or vapes

     Federal law bars any retailer from selling cigarettes, vapes or other tobacco products to anyone under 21, in every state.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 21 U.S.C. § 387f(d)(5)

   • Can buy alcohol

     Federal highway funding law withholds funds from any state that lets anyone under 21 buy alcohol or possess it in public, so every state sets 21.

     Federal rules let states exempt possession (not purchase) for a religious purpose, with a parent, spouse or legal guardian 21 or older, for medical use, in private clubs, or in lawful employment (23 C.F.R. 1208.3).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 23 U.S.C. § 158(a)

   • Under-21 credit card limits end (no cosigner or independent income needed)

     Under 21, a card issuer may open a credit card only with a cosigner or proof that you can repay on your own.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 15 U.S.C. § 1637(c)(8)

9. Age 25

   • Can serve in the U.S. House

     The Constitution sets 25 as the minimum age for the U.S. House of Representatives.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 2, cl. 2

10. Age 30

    • Can serve as governor

      North Carolina's constitution requires the governor to be at least 30 years old.

      North Carolina law · N.C. Const. art. III, § 2(2)

    • Can serve in the U.S. Senate

      The Constitution sets 30 as the minimum age for the U.S. Senate.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 3

11. Age 35

    • Can serve as President

      The Constitution sets 35 as the minimum age for President.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 5

12. Age 62

    • Can start Social Security retirement benefits (reduced)

      Social Security retirement benefits can start at 62, permanently reduced.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Retirement Benefits: Benefit reduction for early retirement

13. Age 65

    • Eligible for Medicare by age

      Medicare hospital insurance by age begins at 65 for people entitled, or who would be entitled, to Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 42 U.S.C. § 426(a)

14. Age 67

    • Full Social Security retirement age (born 1960 or later)

      Full Social Security retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth

15. Age 73

    • Retirement-account minimum withdrawals begin

      Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts begin at 73 for people who turn 72 after 2022.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(9)(C)(v)

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