State Guide
Age of Consent in Connecticut
A plain-English guide to the age of consent in Connecticut, cited to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-71. A genuine close-in-age allowance is built directly into the sexual assault statute.
Close-in-age allowance under 3 yearsConnecticut at a glance
The core figures from this guide, in one place.
| Age of consent | 16 |
|---|---|
| Governing statute | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-71 (Sexual Assault, Second Degree) |
| Close-in-age mechanism | Not covered if the gap is 3 years or less, victim 13–15 |
| Age-based defense, if any | None needed — statute simply doesn’t apply below the gap |
| Related offense | Sexual assault, first degree — § 53a-70 (victim under 13) |
Overview
Connecticut sets its age of consent at 16. Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53a-71, sexual assault in the second degree, only reaches sexual intercourse with someone 13 through 15 where the actor is more than three years older. Below that gap, this specific provision does not apply.
This guide found that older codifications of this statute stated a two-year gap rather than three years. Current versions of the statute, confirmed across multiple recent sources, consistently state three years, indicating the threshold was amended at some point. This guide uses the three-year figure as current.
Age of consent in Connecticut
Section 53a-71(a)(1) applies where the victim is 13 through 15 and the actor is more than three years older. The offense is a Class B felony where the victim is under 16, carrying a mandatory minimum of nine months that cannot be suspended or reduced. A related, more serious offense, Section 53a-70, covers a victim under 13 with a narrower two-year gap threshold.
Close-in-age rules in Connecticut
Section 53a-71(a)(1) requires the victim to be 13 through 15 and the actor to be more than three years older. If the gap is three years or less, this specific basis for the charge does not apply.
Exceptions and defenses
Section 53a-71 lists several relationship-based conditions that apply regardless of the age-gap allowance: a guardian or person responsible for a minor under 18, custodial or supervisory authority over a detained person, a psychotherapist and patient, a school employee and student, and a coach or instructor and a secondary school student or anyone under 18 receiving their instruction. Any of these relationships can bring the statute into play even where the ordinary age-gap allowance would otherwise apply.
Applicable statutes
The codified Connecticut law this guide is drawn from.
Practical examples
Example 1. A 15-year-old and an 18-year-old, a three-year gap. Because the gap is not more than three years, Section 53a-71(a)(1) does not reach this conduct.
Example 2. A 14-year-old and a 19-year-old, a five-year gap. This exceeds three years, so sexual assault in the second degree applies, a Class B felony given the victim is under 16.
Example 3. A 16-year-old and their 20-year-old coach, a four-year gap. Because the coach holds a coaching relationship over a secondary school student, this brings the statute into play even though the victim is 16.
Frequently asked questions about Connecticut
What is the age of consent in Connecticut?
16. Sexual intercourse with someone 13 through 15 can be sexual assault in the second degree under Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 53a-71, depending on the age gap.
Does Connecticut have a Romeo and Juliet law?
Yes, a genuine one. Section 53a-71 does not apply where the actor is three years or less older than a victim 13 through 15.
Was the threshold ever different?
Yes. Older codifications of this statute stated a two-year gap. Current versions consistently state three years, indicating the law was amended at some point. This guide uses three years as current.
Do relationship-based exceptions override the age-gap allowance?
Yes. A guardian, custodial authority figure, psychotherapist, school employee, or coach can be charged under this statute regardless of the age gap, if that relationship applies.
Is the threshold different for a younger victim?
Yes. For a victim under 13, sexual assault in the first degree applies with a narrower two-year gap threshold instead of three years.
Official sources
Primary and official sources this guide is built from.
Two thresholds by victim age
Connecticut narrows the gap allowed as the victim gets younger.
| Victim age | Maximum allowed gap | Governing statute |
|---|---|---|
| Under 13 | 2 years | § 53a-70, Class A felony |
| 13–15 | 3 years | § 53a-71, Class B felony |
| 16 or older | No restriction | Not applicable |
About this guide
Who wrote it, who reviewed it, and when it was last checked.
RomeoAndJulietLaw.com Editorial Team
Drafted from the Connecticut General Statutes, cross-checked against multiple independent legal references and historical codifications.
Pending attorney review
This guide has not yet been checked by a licensed Connecticut 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 Connecticut General Statutes as of 25 July 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a licensed Connecticut attorney. A historical discrepancy is noted: older codifications state a two-year close-in-age gap, while current sources consistently state three years, indicating a legislative amendment. This guide uses three years as the current figure.