Maryland
Sex Laws 2026

The age of consent in Maryland is 16 as of May 2026, the same as in 29 other states. Maryland requires schools to teach sex education, one of 28 states that do, and the mandated approach is comprehensive, with a medical-accuracy requirement and LGBTQ+ inclusive content. Adult entertainment regulation is liberal, and the state scores 100/100 on this page's sex-ed progressiveness scale.

Maryland's age of consent is 16. State law does not include a formal close-in-age exemption, but the specific terms of Maryland's criminal code mean that activity between peers close in age is often charged, if at all, as a lesser offense. Maryland Code, Criminal Law Article, Section 3-306 covers third-degree sexual offense.

Maryland requires comprehensive sex education that is medically accurate and inclusive of LGBTQ+ relationships and identities. Consent education is a required component at multiple grade levels. The state's mandate is one of the stronger ones in the mid-Atlantic region. Schools are expected to present contraception and STI prevention information without a primary abstinence frame.

Maryland's adult entertainment environment is permissive. Baltimore and the suburbs of Washington, D.C. have active adult entertainment industries. The state regulates adult businesses through local licensing without aggressive state-level restriction campaigns. The overall posture reflects the state's liberal political composition and its proximity to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Strong comprehensive sex ed mandate. LGBTQ+ inclusive. Consent education required.

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More on Maryland

Also on Maryland: the full Maryland 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 Maryland nudism guide and the Maryland gambling laws guide.