State Guide
Age of Consent in Louisiana
A plain-English guide to the age of consent in Louisiana, cited to La. R.S. 14:80. A genuine close-in-age allowance is built directly into the felony carnal knowledge statute.
Close-in-age allowance under 4 yearsLouisiana at a glance
The core figures from this guide, in one place.
| Age of consent | 17 |
|---|---|
| Governing statute | La. R.S. 14:80 (Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile) |
| Close-in-age mechanism | Not covered if gap is under 4 years, victim 13–16 |
| Age-based defense, if any | None needed — statute simply doesn’t apply below the gap |
| Related offense | Misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile — La. R.S. 14:80.1 |
Overview
Louisiana sets its age of consent at 17. La. R.S. 14:80 makes it felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile for someone 17 or older to have sexual intercourse with someone 13 through 16, but only where the age gap is four years or greater. Below that gap, this specific felony provision does not apply.
A related, less serious offense, misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile under La. R.S. 14:80.1, is referenced in the felony statute as applying to repeat offenders. This guide could not confirm the full independent criteria of that misdemeanor statute from the sources it reviewed.
Age of consent in Louisiana
R.S. 14:80(A)(1) requires the victim to be 13 or older but under 17, not married to the offender, and the offender to be 17 or older and at least four years older than the victim. Felony carnal knowledge is punishable by up to ten years, with hard labor, and a conviction is not eligible to be set aside under standard first-offender procedures.
Close-in-age rules in Louisiana
Section 14:80(A)(1) requires the age gap to be four years or greater. If the offender is less than four years older than a victim 13 through 16, this specific felony provision does not reach the conduct.
Exceptions and defenses
The statute explicitly states that lack of knowledge of the juvenile’s age is not a defense. Marriage between the two people is a stated exclusion from Section 14:80. For a victim under 13, more serious offenses apply, including aggravated rape-related statutes carrying penalties up to 20 years, with no close-in-age allowance described in the sources this guide reviewed.
Applicable statutes
The codified Louisiana law this guide is drawn from.
Practical examples
Example 1. A 16-year-old and an 18-year-old, a two-year gap. Because the gap is under four years, felony carnal knowledge under Section 14:80 does not reach this conduct.
Example 2. A 15-year-old and a 20-year-old, a five-year gap. This meets the four-year threshold, so felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile applies.
Example 3. A 12-year-old and a 16-year-old, a four-year gap. Because the victim is under 13, Section 14:80 does not apply at all; a more serious offense applies instead.
Frequently asked questions about Louisiana
What is the age of consent in Louisiana?
17. La. R.S. 14:80 makes it felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile for someone 17 or older to have sexual intercourse with a 13–16 year old, but only where the gap is four years or greater.
Does Louisiana have a Romeo and Juliet law?
Yes, a genuine one. The felony statute does not reach the conduct at all where the gap is under four years, functioning as a real exemption rather than a defense raised in court.
Is there a lesser charge for a smaller gap?
A misdemeanor version of the statute exists and is referenced for repeat offenders, but this guide could not independently confirm its complete standalone criteria.
Does a mistaken belief about age count as a defense?
No. The statute explicitly states that lack of knowledge of the juvenile’s age is not a defense.
Are married couples treated differently?
Yes. Marriage between the two people is a stated exclusion from Section 14:80.
Official sources
Primary and official sources this guide is built from.
Louisiana vs. a severity-scaling state
Louisiana’s built-in non-coverage differs from scaling severity by gap size.
| Feature | Louisiana | A severity-scaling state |
|---|---|---|
| Under the gap threshold | Not an offense under this statute | Still a lesser offense |
| Gap threshold | 4 years | Varies |
| Mistake of age defense | Not available | Varies |
About this guide
Who wrote it, who reviewed it, and when it was last checked.
RomeoAndJulietLaw.com Editorial Team
Drafted from the Louisiana Revised Statutes, cross-checked against multiple years of official codification.
Pending attorney review
This guide has not yet been checked by a licensed Louisiana 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 La. R.S. 14:80 as of 26 July 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a licensed Louisiana attorney. One gap is noted: the misdemeanor version of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, La. R.S. 14:80.1, is referenced but was not independently confirmed in full detail; its exact standalone criteria should be confirmed by review.