North Carolina Age of Consent Laws: Statutes and Reporting

(a) A defendant is guilty of a Class B1 felony if the defendant engages in vaginal intercourse with another person who is 15 years of age or younger and the defendant is at least 12 years old and at least six years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person. (b) Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a defendant is guilty of a Class C felony if the defendant engages in vaginal intercourse with another person who is 15 years of age or younger and the defendant is at least 12 years old and more than four but less than six years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person. (1995, c. 281, s. 1; 2015-62, s. 1(a); 2015-181, s. 7(a), (b).)

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

(a) A person is guilty of first-degree statutory rape if the person engages in vaginal intercourse with a victim who is a child under the age of 13 years and the defendant is at least 12 years old and is at least four years older than the victim. (b) Any person who commits an offense defined in this section is guilty of a Class B1 felony. (c) Upon conviction, a person convicted under this section has no rights to custody of or rights of inheritance from any child born as a result of the commission of the rape, nor shall the person have any rights related to the child under Chapter 48 or Subchapter 1 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

(a) A defendant is guilty of a Class B1 felony if the defendant engages in a sexual act with another person who is 15 years of age or younger and the defendant is at least 12 years old and at least six years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person. (b) Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a defendant is guilty of a Class C felony if the defendant engages in a sexual act with another person who is 15 years of age or younger and the defendant is at least 12 years old and more than four but less than six years older than the person, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the person.

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(a) If a defendant who has assumed the position of a parent in the home of a minor victim engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with a victim who is a minor residing in the home, the defendant is guilty of a Class E felony. (b) If a person having custody of a victim of any age or a person who is an agent or employee of any person, or institution, including a religious organization or institution, whether such institution is private, charitable, or governmental, having custody of a victim of any age engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with such victim, the defendant is guilty of a Class E felony. (c) Consent is not a defense to a charge under this section. (d) As used in this section, "custody" means the care, control, or supervision of a minor by any adult who, by virtue of their position, role, employment, volunteer status, or relationship to a minor, exercises supervisory authority or control over a minor, or is responsible for the minor's welfare, safety, or supervision, regardless of whether such responsibility arises from express appointment, organizational duty, professional obligation, or circumstantial necessity. (1979, c. 682, s.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

(a) If a defendant, who is a teacher, school administrator, student teacher, school safety officer, or coach, at any age, or who is other school personnel, and who is at least four years older than the victim engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with a victim who is a student, at any time during or after the time the defendant and victim were present together in the same school, but before the victim ceases to be a student, the defendant is guilty of a Class G felony, except when the defendant is lawfully married to the student. The term "same school" means a school at which the student is enrolled and the defendant is employed, assigned, or volunteers. (b) A defendant who is school personnel, other than a teacher, school administrator, student teacher, school safety officer, or coach, and is less than four years older than the victim and engages in vaginal intercourse or a sexual act with a victim who is a student, is guilty of a Class G felony. (c) This section shall apply unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing for greater punishment. (d) Consent is not a defense to a charge under this section.

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(a) Offense. - A person commits the offense of incest if the person engages in carnal intercourse with the person's (i) grandparent or grandchild, (ii) parent or child or stepchild or legally adopted child, (iii) brother or sister of the half or whole blood, or (iv) uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece. (b) Punishment and Sentencing. - (1) A person is guilty of a Class B1 felony if either of the following occurs: a. The person commits incest against a child under the age of 13 and the person is at least 12 years old and is at least four years older than the child when the incest occurred. b. The person commits incest against a child who is 13, 14, or 15 years old and the person is at least six years older than the child when the incest occurred. (2) A person is guilty of a Class C felony if the person commits incest against a child who is 13, 14, or 15 and the person is more than four but less than six years older than the child when the incest occurred. (3) In all other cases of incest, the parties are guilty of a Class F felony. (c) No Liability for Children Under 16.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

(a) Unless the conduct is punishable under subsection (a1) of this section, any person who shall willfully expose the private parts of his or her person in any public place and in the presence of any other person or persons, except for those places designated for a public purpose where the same sex exposure is incidental to a permitted activity, or aids or abets in any such act, or who procures another to perform such act; or any person, who as owner, manager, lessee, director, promoter or agent, or in any other capacity knowingly hires, leases or permits the land, building, or premises of which he is owner, lessee or tenant, or over which he has control, to be used for purposes of any such act, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (a1) Unless the conduct is prohibited by another law providing greater punishment, any person at least 18 years of age who shall willfully expose the private parts of his or her person in any public place in the presence of a minor as defined in G.S. 14-190.13 for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire shall be guilty of a Class H felony.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

Also relied on in: North Carolina Pornography Laws (2026): Legal Status and Felonies

(a) A person is guilty of taking indecent liberties with children if, being 16 years of age or more and at least five years older than the child in question, he either: (1) Willfully takes or attempts to take any immoral, improper, or indecent liberties with any child of either sex under the age of 16 years for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire; or (2) Willfully commits or attempts to commit any lewd or lascivious act upon or with the body or any part or member of the body of any child of either sex under the age of 16 years. (b) Taking indecent liberties with children is punishable as a Class F felony. (1955, c. 764; 1975, c. 779; 1979, c. 760, s. 5; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1316, s. 47; 1981, c. 63, s. 1, c. 179, s. 14; 1993, c. 539, s. 1201; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

Also relied on in: North Carolina Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties, North Carolina Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

(a) Offense. - A person is guilty of solicitation of a child by a computer if the person is 16 years of age or older and the person knowingly, with the intent to commit an unlawful sex act, entices, advises, coerces, orders, or commands, by means of a computer or any other device capable of electronic data storage or transmission, any of the following: (1) A child who is less than 16 years of age and at least five years younger than the defendant to meet with the defendant or any other person for the purpose of committing an unlawful sex act. (2) A person the defendant believes to be a child who is less than 16 years of age and who the defendant believes to be at least five years younger than the defendant, to meet with the defendant or any other person for the purpose of committing an unlawful sex act. (3) A person the defendant believes to be the parent, guardian, or caretaker of a child who is less than 16 years of age and who the defendant believes to be at least five years younger than the defendant, to meet with the defendant or any other person for the purpose of committing an unlawful sex act. (b) Jurisdiction.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

(a) If a defendant, who is a teacher, school administrator, student teacher, school safety officer, or coach, at any age, or who is other school personnel and is at least four years older than the victim, takes indecent liberties with a victim who is a student, at any time during or after the time the defendant and victim were present together in the same school but before the victim ceases to be a student, the defendant is guilty of a Class G felony, unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing for greater punishment. A person is not guilty of taking indecent liberties with a student if the person is lawfully married to the student. (b) If a defendant, who is school personnel, other than a teacher, school administrator, student teacher, school safety officer, or coach, and who is less than four years older than the victim, takes indecent liberties with a student as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the defendant is guilty of a Class G felony. (c) Consent is not a defense to a charge under this section. (d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Indecent liberties. - Means any of the following: a.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

(a) Any person who willfully performs any of the following acts with a person not his or her spouse commits the offense of patronizing a prostitute: (1) Engages in vaginal intercourse, any sexual act as defined in G.S. 14-27.20, or any sexual contact as defined in G.S. 14-27.20, for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification with a prostitute. (2) Enters or remains in a place of prostitution with intent to engage in vaginal intercourse, any sexual act as defined in G.S. 14-27.20, or any sexual contact as defined in G.S. 14-27.20, for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. (b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, a first violation of this section is a Class A1 misdemeanor. Unless a higher penalty applies, a second or subsequent violation of this section is a Class G felony. (c) A violation of this section is a Class F felony if the defendant is 18 years of age or older and the prostitute is a minor. (d) A violation of this section is a Class D felony if the prostitute has a severe or profound mental disability. (2013-368, s. 5; 2015-181, s. 18; 2018-47, s. 4(f).)

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(a) Any person who willfully performs any of the following acts commits promoting prostitution: (1) Advances prostitution as defined in G.S. 14-203. (2) Profits from prostitution by doing any of the following: a. Compelling a person to become a prostitute. b. Receiving a portion of the earnings from a prostitute for arranging or offering to arrange a situation in which the person may practice prostitution. c. Any means other than those described in sub-subdivisions a. and b. of this subdivision, including from a person who patronizes a prostitute. This sub-subdivision does not apply to a person engaged in prostitution who is a minor. A person cannot be convicted of promoting prostitution under this sub-subdivision if the practice of prostitution underlying the offense consists exclusively of the accused's own acts of prostitution under G.S. 14-204. (b) Any person who willfully performs any of the following acts commits the offense of promoting prostitution of a minor or person who has a mental disability: (1) Advances prostitution as defined in G.S.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

The following definitions apply in this Article: (1a) Aggravated offense. - Any criminal offense that includes either of the following: (i) engaging in a sexual act involving vaginal, anal, or oral penetration with a victim of any age through the use of force or the threat of serious violence; or (ii) engaging in a sexual act involving vaginal, anal, or oral penetration with a victim who is less than 12 years old. (1b) County registry. - The information compiled by the sheriff of a county in compliance with this Article. (1c) Department. - The Department of Public Safety. (1d) Email. - The transmission of information or communication by the use of the internet, a computer, a facsimile machine, a pager, a cellular telephone, a video recorder, or other electronic means sent to a person identified by a unique address or address number and received by that person. (1e) Employed. - Includes employment that is full-time or part-time for a period of time exceeding 14 days or for an aggregate period of time exceeding 30 days during any calendar year, whether financially compensated, volunteered, or for the purpose of government or educational benefit. (1f) Entity.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

(a) A person is guilty of statutory rape of a child by an adult if the person is at least 18 years of age and engages in vaginal intercourse with a victim who is a child under the age of 13 years. (b) A person convicted of violating this section is guilty of a Class B1 felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to Article 81B of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes, except that in no case shall the person receive an active punishment of less than 300 months, and except as provided in subsection (c) of this section. Following the termination of active punishment, the person shall be subject to enrollment in satellite-based monitoring as provided in Part 5 of Article 27A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 81B of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes, the court may sentence the defendant to active punishment for a term of months greater than that authorized pursuant to G.S.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov

(a) A parent or any other person providing care to or supervision of a child less than 16 years of age who intentionally inflicts any serious physical injury upon or to the child or who intentionally commits an assault upon the child which results in any serious physical injury to the child is guilty of a Class D felony, except as otherwise provided in subsection (a3) of this section. (a1) A parent or any other person providing care to or supervision of a child less than 16 years of age who commits, permits, or encourages any act of prostitution with or by the child is guilty of child abuse and shall be punished as a Class D felon. (a2) A parent or any other person providing care to or supervision of a child less than 16 years of age who commits or allows the commission of any sexual act upon the child is guilty of a Class D felony.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at ncleg.gov