Close-in-Age Exemptions by State
Close-in-age exemptions — often called Romeo and Juliet laws — reduce or eliminate criminal penalties when both partners are close in age, even if one is below the statutory age of consent. The age gap allowed varies by state.
Alabama
Age 16Yes — within 2 years
Alaska
Age 16Yes — within 3 years (under 16)
Arizona
Age 18Yes — within 2 years if 15-17
Arkansas
Age 16Yes — within 3 years
California
Age 18No formal exemption
Colorado
Age 17Yes — within 4 years (under 15) / 10 years (15-17)
Connecticut
Age 16Yes — within 2 years
Delaware
Age 18Yes — within 4 years if 16-17
Florida
Age 18Yes — 16-17 with partner under 24
Georgia
Age 16Yes — misdemeanor if within 4 years
Hawaii
Age 16Yes — within 5 years
Idaho
Age 18Limited
Illinois
Age 17Limited
Indiana
Age 16Yes — within 4 years (14-15)
Iowa
Age 16Yes — within 4 years
Kansas
Age 16Yes — within 4 years (under 16)
Kentucky
Age 16Limited
Louisiana
Age 17Yes — within 2 years (13-17)
Maine
Age 16Yes — within 5 years (14-15)
Maryland
Age 16Yes — within 4 years
Massachusetts
Age 16No formal exemption
Michigan
Age 16Limited
Minnesota
Age 16Yes — within 2-3 years (tiered)
Mississippi
Age 16Yes — within 36 months (14-15)
Missouri
Age 17Yes — within 4 years (14-16)
Montana
Age 16Limited
Nebraska
Age 16Limited
Nevada
Age 16Limited (over 18 partner)
New Hampshire
Age 16Limited
New Jersey
Age 16Yes — within 4 years (13-15)
New Mexico
Age 17Yes — within 4 years
New York
Age 17No formal exemption
North Carolina
Age 16Yes — within 4 years
North Dakota
Age 18Limited
Ohio
Age 16Yes — within 4 years (13-15)
Oklahoma
Age 16Limited
Oregon
Age 18Yes — within 3 years (15-17)
Pennsylvania
Age 16Yes — within 4 years (13-15)
Rhode Island
Age 16Limited
South Carolina
Age 16Limited
South Dakota
Age 16Yes — within 3 years
Tennessee
Age 18Yes — within 4 years (13-17)
Texas
Age 17Yes — within 3 years (14-16)
Utah
Age 18Yes — within 10 years (16-17)
Vermont
Age 16Yes — within 3 years (under 16)
Virginia
Age 18Yes — misdemeanor if 15-17 with partner up to 3 years older
Washington
Age 16Yes — within 2-3 years (tiered)
West Virginia
Age 16Yes — within 4 years (under 16)
Wisconsin
Age 18Limited
Wyoming
Age 17Yes — within 4 years (under 17)