Age Of Consent By State

Map of State Ages of Consent

Legend:

16 Years Old

17 Years Old

18 Years Old

Legal Age Of Consent By State

The Legal Age of Consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered by the law to be legally able to consent to, and engage in, sexual acts.

The legal age of consent in the United States varies from state to state, with different ages applicable based on a variety of factors including the genders of the actors, type of sexual act, relationship between the actors, and more. The age of consent is between 16 and 18 in all states.

Violation of these laws by engaging in sexual acts with a person under the applicable age of consent can result in charges from a misdemeanor (such as corruption of a minor) to a felony (such as statutory rape) depending on the jurisdiction and the circumstances.

State Name	Age of Consent	Close In Age?
Alabama	16	NO
Alaska	16	NO
Arizona	18	NO
Arkansas	16	YES *
California	18	YES *
Colorado	17	YES *
Connecticut	16	YES *
Delaware	18	YES *
District of Columbia	16	NO
Florida	18	YES *
Georgia	16	YES *
Hawaii	16	YES *
Idaho	18	NO
Illinois	17	NO
Indiana	16	NO
Iowa	16	YES *
Kansas	16	NO
Kentucky	16	NO
Louisiana	17	NO
Maine	16	YES *
Maryland	16	YES *
Massachusetts	16	NO
Michigan	16	NO
Minnesota	16	NO
Mississippi	16	NO
Missouri	17	NO
Montana	16	NO
Nebraska	17	NO
Nevada	16	NO
New Hampshire	16	YES *
New Jersey	16	YES *
New Mexico	17	NO
New York	17	NO
North Carolina	16	YES *
North Dakota	18	NO
Ohio	16	YES *
Oklahoma	16	YES *
Oregon	18	YES *
Pennsylvania	16	NO
Rhode Island	16	NO
South Carolina	16	YES *
South Dakota	16	NO
Tennessee	18	YES *
Texas	17	NO
Utah	18	YES *
Vermont	16	YES *
Virginia	18	YES *
Washington	16	NO
West Virginia	16	YES *
Wisconsin	18	NO
Wyoming	17	YES *

* Starred states have a close-in age-exemption to their age of consent legislation - this protects people close in age who engage in consensual sexual acts from being prosecuted under age of consent laws. The exact age spread and terms of these exemptions vary state by state.