State Guide
Age of Consent in Nevada
A plain-English guide to the age of consent in Nevada, cited to NRS 200.364 and 200.368. A genuine close-in-age exception exists for 14 and 15 year olds, and the offender’s own age determines the severity.
Close-in-age exception under 4 years, ages 14–15Nevada at a glance
The core figures from this guide, in one place.
| Age of consent | 16 |
|---|---|
| Governing statute | NRS 200.368 (Statutory Sexual Seduction) |
| Close-in-age mechanism | Not covered if gap is under 4 years, victim 14–15 |
| Severity, if covered | Felony if offender 21+; gross misdemeanor if under 21 |
| Related offense | School employee and pupil — separate offense, any age gap |
Overview
Nevada sets its age of consent at 16. Statutory sexual seduction under NRS 200.368 covers sexual penetration with someone 14 or 15, but only where the offender is at least four years older. Below that gap, this statute does not reach the conduct.
Once the offense applies, severity is keyed to the offender’s own age: 21 or older is a felony, while under 21 is a gross misdemeanor, escalating to a felony with a prior sexual offense conviction.
Age of consent in Nevada
NRS 200.364 defines statutory sexual seduction as sexual penetration with a person 14 or 15 by someone at least four years older. NRS 200.368 sets the penalty: a felony if the offender is 21 or older, and a gross misdemeanor otherwise, unless a prior sexual offense conviction applies.
Nevada’s Romeo and Juliet law
Nevada’s close-in-age allowance is widely referred to as its Romeo and Juliet law, though it does not appear under that name in the statute itself. It applies specifically to a victim 14 or 15, and only removes coverage where the offender is less than four years older.
Close-in-age rules in Nevada
Because NRS 200.364 requires the offender to be at least four years older, a partner within four years of a 14 or 15 year old is not covered by statutory sexual seduction at all. Mistake of age is not a defense once the statute does apply, and neither is the minor’s own initiation of the conduct. A school employee who engages in sexual conduct with a pupil 16 or older commits a separate offense regardless of the age gap.
Applicable statutes
The codified Nevada 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 under four years, NRS 200.364 does not reach this conduct.
Example 2. A 14-year-old and a 20-year-old, a six-year gap. This meets the four-year threshold, and because the offender is under 21, the offense is a gross misdemeanor.
Example 3. A 14-year-old and a 25-year-old, an eleven-year gap. This meets the threshold, and because the offender is 21 or older, the offense is a felony.
Frequently asked questions about Nevada
What is the age of consent in Nevada?
16. NRS 200.364 defines statutory sexual seduction as sexual penetration with someone 14 or 15, with a specific age-gap condition.
Does Nevada have a Romeo and Juliet law?
Yes, genuinely, though it is not called that in the statute itself. It removes coverage where the offender is less than four years older than a 14 or 15 year old victim.
Does the severity change with the offender’s age?
Yes. If the offense applies, it is a felony where the offender is 21 or older, and a gross misdemeanor otherwise, unless the offender has a prior sexual offense conviction.
Does a mistaken belief about age count as a defense?
No. Neither a mistaken belief about age nor the minor’s own initiation of the conduct is a defense once the statute applies.
Does a school employee get any close-in-age allowance?
No. A school employee who engages in sexual conduct with a pupil 16 or older commits a separate offense regardless of the age gap.
Official sources
Primary and official sources this guide is built from.
Severity by the offender’s own age
Once the offense applies, the offender’s age determines how it is charged.
| Offender age | Prior sexual offense? | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 21 or older | N/A | Felony |
| Under 21 | No | Gross misdemeanor |
| Under 21 | Yes | Felony (Category D) |
About this guide
Who wrote it, who reviewed it, and when it was last checked.
RomeoAndJulietLaw.com Editorial Team
Drafted from the Nevada Revised Statutes, cross-checked against multiple independent legal references and historical codifications.
Pending attorney review
This guide has not yet been checked by a licensed Nevada 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 NRS 200.364 and 200.368 as of 26 July 2026. It has not yet been reviewed by a licensed Nevada attorney. A discrepancy is noted above: an older codification describes the 21-and-older penalty as a category C felony, while current sources describe a category B felony. This guide could not confirm the exact date of the apparent amendment.