State Guide
Age of Consent in Arizona
A plain-English guide to the age of consent in Arizona, cited to A.R.S. § 13-1405. Arizona has a limited close-in-age defense for teenagers, but not for adults.
Close-in-age defense, teens onlyArizona at a glance
The core figures from this guide, in one place.
| Age of consent | 18 |
|---|---|
| Governing statute | A.R.S. § 13-1405 (Sexual Conduct With a Minor) |
| Close-in-age mechanism | Affirmative defense, victim 15–17 only |
| Age-based defense, if any | Defendant under 19 or in high school, no more than 24 months older |
| Related offense | Sexual abuse — A.R.S. § 13-1404 |
Overview
Arizona sets its age of consent at 18. Under A.R.S. Section 13-1405, sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with anyone under 18 is a crime, called sexual conduct with a minor, regardless of whether the younger person appeared to agree to it.
Arizona provides a narrow close-in-age defense, but it is available only to young defendants, not to adults. It applies solely where the victim is 15, 16, or 17 and the defendant is themselves under 19 or still attending high school, with a gap of no more than 24 months. An adult with a 17-year-old partner gets no benefit from this defense at all, however small the gap.
Age of consent in Arizona
A.R.S. Section 13-1405(A) makes it a crime to intentionally or knowingly engage in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with a person under 18. Sexual conduct with a minor who is 15 through 17 is generally a class 6 felony, while conduct with a victim under 15 is a class 2 felony. A position of trust over the victim raises the charge to a class 2 felony regardless of the victim’s age within that range.
Close-in-age rules in Arizona
The close-in-age defense to Section 13-1405 requires several conditions together: the victim is 15, 16, or 17 years old; the defendant is under 19 years old or still attending high school; the defendant is no more than 24 months, or two years, older than the victim; and the conduct was consensual.
Exceptions and defenses
Arizona courts have generally held that a good-faith belief the other person was 18 or older is not a complete defense to Section 13-1405, though the circumstances behind that belief can still matter to sentencing or to a separate defense strategy. Consent by the minor is never a defense on its own. A conviction under Section 13-1405, including one where the close-in-age defense was not available, generally carries a lifetime sex offender registration requirement.
Applicable statutes
The codified Arizona law this guide is drawn from.
Practical examples
Example 1. A 17-year-old high school student and their 18-year-old classmate, a one-year gap. If the older student is under 19 or still in high school, this could fit the close-in-age defense, since the gap is under 24 months and both conditions on the older person are met.
Example 2. A 17-year-old and a 22-year-old, a five-year gap. The defense is unavailable both because the gap exceeds 24 months and because the older person is well past 19 and not in high school.
Example 3. A 16-year-old and their 20-year-old private tutor, a four-year gap, tutor holding a position of trust. Even setting aside the gap, the position of trust raises this to a class 2 felony rather than the standard class 6.
Frequently asked questions about Arizona
What is the age of consent in Arizona?
18. A.R.S. Section 13-1405 makes sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with anyone under 18 a crime, regardless of apparent consent.
Does Arizona have a Romeo and Juliet law?
A limited one. It applies only where the victim is 15 through 17 and the defendant is under 19 or in high school, no more than 24 months older, and the conduct was consensual.
Can an adult use the close-in-age defense?
No. The defense is written specifically for a defendant under 19 or still attending high school. An adult with a similarly small age gap cannot use it.
Does a mistaken belief about age count as a defense?
Generally no. Arizona courts have held a good-faith belief the other person was 18 or older is not a complete defense, though the surrounding facts can still matter to sentencing.
Does a conviction require sex offender registration?
Generally yes. A conviction under Section 13-1405 typically carries a lifetime registration requirement.
Official sources
Primary and official sources this guide is built from.
Arizona’s defense is narrower than it looks
The close-in-age defense depends on who the defendant is, not only the size of the gap.
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Victim age | 15, 16, or 17 |
| Defendant status | Under 19, or still attending high school |
| Maximum age gap | 24 months |
| Conduct | Consensual |
About this guide
Who wrote it, who reviewed it, and when it was last checked.
RomeoAndJulietLaw.com Editorial Team
Drafted from the Arizona Revised Statutes, cross-checked against multiple independent legal references.
Pending attorney review
This guide has not yet been checked by a licensed Arizona attorney. It is sourced and cited, but should not be treated as attorney-reviewed until this line is updated with a named reviewer.
Primary source for this guide
Editorial notes
This guide reflects the Arizona Revised Statutes as of 25 July 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a licensed Arizona attorney; treat it as sourced and current-as-drafted, not as attorney-verified, until the reviewer field above is updated.