New York
Sex Laws 2026

New York's age of consent is 17. There is a close-in-age exemption under New York Penal Law Section 130.20: consensual sexual activity between a person aged 14 or 15 and a partner less than five years older is treated as a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

New York has no statewide sex education mandate, but New York City has its own comprehensive mandate applicable to its 1.1 million students. State guidelines call for comprehensive, medically accurate, LGBTQ+ inclusive instruction with consent education when sex ed is offered. New York legalized women's toplessness statewide in 1992 following People v. Santorelli, a Court of Appeals ruling that toplessness is not indecent exposure under state law.

New York's adult entertainment environment is among the most permissive in the country. New York City has one of the largest adult entertainment industries in the world. The state regulates adult businesses primarily through municipal zoning. Strip clubs, adult theaters, and adult bookstores operate across the state under local licensing regimes.

No statewide mandate (NYC has its own), but NYS guidance is comprehensive. Women's toplessness legal statewide since 1992.

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