title: What Is a Kelly Day? The Firefighter Day Off, Explained
url: https://boardspy.site/blog/kelly-day/
type: Article
dateModified: 2026-10-15
publisher: BoardSpy
quick_answer: Quick answer: A Kelly day is an extra scheduled day off granted to bring a firefighter's average hours under the FLSA threshold: 212 hours in a 28-day work period for fire protection, set by 29 CFR 553.230. Instead of working every tour on the rotation, you skip one tour every few shifts, on a fixed interval your department sets.
primary_keyword: kelly day
keywords[7]{term}:
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faqs[6]{q,a}:
  What is a Kelly day?,A Kelly day is an extra scheduled day off that a fire department builds into a 24-hour rotation to bring a firefighter's average hours under the FLSA overtime threshold of 212 hours in 28 days. You skip one tour on a fixed interval set by your department or contract.
  What does a Kelly day mean for firefighters?,For a firefighter, a Kelly day means one tour on the rotation is crossed out in advance. Your platoon and cycle stay the same, but you are off that day. On a 24/48 it turns a normal 48 hours off into 120 hours between tours.
  Is a Kelly day paid?,It depends on your contract. The FLSA only sets the overtime threshold. Polk County, Florida, for example, describes its Kelly Day as a paid 24-hour shift off every three weeks that does not affect annual salary. Check your own department's agreement for how yours is handled.
  How often do firefighters get Kelly days?,There is no national standard. Each department or union contract sets its own interval. Polk County, Florida uses one Kelly Day every seventh shift on a 21-day cycle, which brings a 24/48 from 168 hours to 144 hours per 21 days.
  How is a Kelly day different from a regular day off?,A regular day off is part of every cycle, like the 48 hours after each 24/48 tour. A Kelly day replaces a tour you would otherwise work, so it adds a full 24 hours to that break and lowers your average weekly hours.
  How do I put Kelly days on my calendar?,In BoardSpy, tap the 24/48 or 48/96 preset, set your start date to the first tour after your last Kelly day, and type your interval in the Kelly day every ___ shifts field (2 to 30). The app marks every Kelly day for the next 120 days.
citations[4]{name,url}:
  eCFR, 29 CFR 553.230: Maximum hours standards for employees engaged in fire protection activities,https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-V/subchapter-A/part-553/subpart-C/section-553.230
  U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #8: Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Employees Under the FLSA,https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/8-flsa-police-firefighters
  Cornell Law School LII, 29 U.S. Code § 207: Maximum hours,https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/207
  Polk County, Florida: Polk County approves new three-year agreement with firefighters union (July 8, 2025),https://www.polkfl.gov/news/polk-county-approves-new-three-year-agreement-with-firefighters-union/
internal_links[4]{label,url}:
  24/48 schedule with Kelly days,https://boardspy.site/blog/24-48-schedule-kelly-day/
  48/96 schedule,https://boardspy.site/blog/48-96-schedule/
  fire shift calendar,https://boardspy.site/blog/fire-shift-calendar/
  2027 firefighter shift calendar,https://boardspy.site/blog/firefighter-shift-calendar-2027/