Colorado
Sex Laws 2026

The age of consent in Colorado is 17 as of May 2026, the same as in 8 other states. Colorado does not require schools to teach sex education; 28 states do. Districts that offer it follow comprehensive guidelines. Adult entertainment regulation is liberal, and the state scores 80/100 on this page's sex-ed progressiveness scale.

Colorado's age of consent is 17. The state has a close-in-age exemption: sexual activity between a minor who is at least 15 and a partner no more than 10 years older is treated as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, and activity between peers close in age carries reduced penalties. Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-3-402 governs sexual assault on a child.

Colorado does not have a statewide sex education mandate, but state guidelines for districts that offer it are comprehensive. The guidelines call for medically accurate instruction, inclusion of LGBTQ+ relationships and identities, and affirmative consent education. In practice, coverage varies significantly by district. Urban districts tend to follow the comprehensive framework more closely; rural districts vary.

Colorado's adult entertainment environment is among the more permissive in the West. Denver has a well-established strip club industry. The state does not impose unusual burdens on adult businesses beyond standard licensing and zoning. Marijuana legalization in 2012 has contributed to a broader personal-freedom-forward policy culture, and there has been no significant political movement to restrict the adult entertainment industry.

No statewide mandate but guidelines require comprehensive, inclusive ed when offered. Strong consent education framework.

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More on Colorado

Also on Colorado: the full Colorado profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the Colorado nudism guide and the Colorado gambling laws guide.