Virginia
Sex Laws 2026

The age of consent in Virginia is 18 as of May 2026, the same as in 10 other states. Virginia requires schools to teach sex education, one of 28 states that do, and the mandated approach is abstinence-plus, with no medical-accuracy requirement and no LGBTQ+ inclusion requirement. Adult entertainment regulation is moderate, and the state scores 40/100 on this page's sex-ed progressiveness scale.

Virginia's age of consent is 18. There is a close-in-age provision: under Virginia Code Section 18.2-371, sexual activity with a 15-, 16-, or 17-year-old is a Class 1 misdemeanor rather than a felony if the defendant is less than three years older.

Sex education is required in Virginia schools. Instruction must emphasize abstinence, though contraception may be discussed in some districts. There is no requirement for medical accuracy in the comprehensive sense, and the state has not mandated LGBTQ+ inclusion in sex education. Virginia's political environment has been shifting toward more progressive policies in recent years, particularly in Northern Virginia, but the sex education curriculum remains more conservative than neighboring Maryland and Delaware.

Virginia's adult entertainment environment is moderate. Northern Virginia and Richmond have adult entertainment businesses regulated through local licensing. The state has not pursued aggressive restriction campaigns. Virginia's regulatory posture reflects its political transition from a reliably conservative Southern state to a more divided one, with Northern Virginia pulling toward permissiveness and rural Virginia maintaining conservative social norms.

Age 18. Sex ed required but quality varies. State moving more progressive but curriculum still emphasizes abstinence.

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