Does it Matter Whether the Boy or Girl is Older? Therefore, if a person is under 18 years old, they cannot give consent to have sexual intercourse. The age of consent for sexual relations in California is 18 years of age. However, California does not have a Romeo and Juliet law. Some states allow minors to consent to sexual intercourse if both individuals are close in age and are minors (i.e., Romeo and Juliet laws). The age of consent is the age at which a person can give meaningful consent, such as the consent to engage in sexual relations. The age of consent is different from when a person is considered an adult for other purposes, such as voting or serving in the military. What is the Age of Consent in California? Therefore, you may date someone who is 17 if you are 18 years old, but if you have sexual relations with that person, you could face a sex crimes charge. However, if an adult has sexual relations with a minor, the adult can be charged with statutory rape.
California does not set a minimum age for someone to date within the state legally.