What is the age of consent in California?

18+

The age of consent in California is 18.

California is classified “18+” for the age of consent, as are 12 of the other 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Source

Taken from: Wikipedia: Ages of consent in the United States
Last checked: 17 September 2026
How it was classified: Read from the source’s state-by-state coverage; the topic is published only once hand-verified reference states match it.

Across the United States

16–17 37 states and the District of Columbia.
18+ 13 states, including California.

Nearby states

Nevada: 16–17 The age of consent in Nevada is 16.
Arizona: 18+ The age of consent in Arizona is 18.
Utah: 18+ The age of consent in Utah is 18.
Oregon: 18+ The age of consent in Oregon is 18.
Idaho: 18+ The age of consent in Idaho is 18.
Washington: 16–17 The age of consent in Washington is 16.

Other laws in California

Abortion: Legal on request
Euthanasia: Assisted dying only
Same-Sex Marriage: Marriage legal
Sex Work: Illegal
Death Penalty: Not used in practice
Gun Laws: Highly restrictive / banned
Cannabis: Legal

What is the age of consent around the world? →

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.