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Ohio Age of Consent Laws: Statutes, Penalties and Reporting

Independently fact-checkedBy Recording Law Editorial Team19 min read

Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited September 30, 2026). · 25 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content

Ohio Age of Consent Laws: Statutes, Penalties and Reporting

Ohio's age-based sexual offenses protect persons under 13 through rape and related offenses, protect persons 13 to 15 against offenders 18 or older through unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (R.C. 2907.02, 2907.04), and protect minors through age 17 through sexual battery, grooming and other offenses that turn on the offender's position or conduct (R.C. 2907.03, 2907.071).

To report a concern: if a child is in immediate danger, call 911. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth states on its official page: "To make a report, call 855-OH-CHILD (855-642-4453)." The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453, call or text) can help you figure out where and how to report. Online exploitation can be reported to the NCMEC CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678.

Information last verified on 2026-09-30. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer. It is legal-reference information, not legal advice.

This page covers Ohio's criminal statutes on sexual offenses involving minors, mainly chapter 2907 of the Ohio Revised Code, together with R.C. 2905.32, 2919.22, chapter 2950 (registration) and the sentencing provisions it cites. Federal law is summarized on the age of consent laws by state hub. The statute text below was read on codes.ohio.gov, the official Ohio Revised Code site, on 2026-09-30, through a text-rendering service because direct connections to the site were refused.

This page describes the main age-based sexual offense statutes. Other Ohio statutes also protect minors, and one of them can apply even where none of the offenses described here does.

How Ohio law protects minors by age

Ohio's offenses use the victim's age, the offender's age and, for sexual battery and grooming, the offender's role. The table summarizes the main provisions.

Person protectedOffenderOffenseGrade
Under 13Any personRape (2907.02(A)(1)(b))Felony of the first degree
Under 13 (sexual contact); under 12 (touching genitalia)Any personGross sexual imposition (2907.05)Felony of the third degree
13 to 1518 or olderUnlawful sexual conduct with a minor (2907.04)Felony of the fourth degree; misdemeanor of the first degree, third degree felony or second degree felony as stated below
Minor (under 18), listed rolesCoach, instructor, scouting leader, disciplinary control, higher-education authority, cleric, peace officer more than 2 years olderSexual battery (2907.03)Second degree felony with mandatory prison term (conduct, 13 to 17); fourth degree felony (contact)
Any age, listed relationshipsParent, stepparent, guardian, custodian, school personnel, custodial authoritySexual battery (2907.03)Third degree felony (conduct); second degree felony with mandatory prison term where the victim is 13 to under 18
Under 1618 or older, four or more years olderGrooming (2907.071)Second degree misdemeanor, higher as stated below

Under 13

Section 2907.02(A)(1)(b) makes it rape to engage in sexual conduct with another when "The other person is less than thirteen years of age." Rape is a felony of the first degree. The section states that an offender under this division is sentenced under section 2971.03, with a stated exception for offenders under 16 at the time who caused no serious physical harm, where the victim is 10 or older and the offender has no prior conviction.

Section 2907.05 covers gross sexual imposition, including sexual contact with a person under 13 (division (A)(4)) and touching the genitalia of a person under 12 without clothing (division (B)). Both are felonies of the third degree, with a presumption in division (C)(2) that a prison term is imposed for (A)(4) and (B), and a mandatory prison term in stated cases involving a prior offense against a victim under 13. Section 2907.07 covers importuning, including soliciting a person under 13 to engage in sexual activity (division (A)) and, by telecommunications device, a person under 13 (division (D)).

Ages 13 to 15

Section 2907.04(A) provides that no person who is 18 or older shall engage in sexual conduct with another when the other person is 13 or older but less than 16 (with the mental state the section states). Division (B) sets the grade by the offender's age relative to the other person, as described in the next section.

Section 2907.07(B)(1) covers soliciting a person 13 to under 16 to engage in sexual conduct where the offender is 18 or older and four or more years older than the other person. Section 2907.07(B)(2) covers soliciting a person who is 16 or 17 and a victim of trafficking under section 2905.32 where the offender is 18 or older and four or more years older.

Section 2907.071, effective April 9, 2025 (H.B. 322, 135th General Assembly), creates the offense of grooming. Under division (B), a person 18 or older commits it by engaging in a pattern of conduct with a minor who is less than 16 and four or more years younger, where the pattern would cause a reasonable adult person to believe the person is communicating with the minor with the purpose of enticing, coercing or soliciting the minor to engage in sexual activity, or of preparing the minor for sexual activity that would violate sections 2907.02 to 2907.07. Division (C) applies the same conduct standard to an adult and a minor in any of the relationships in R.C. 2907.03(A)(5) to (13).

Sexual battery: minors through age 17 and relationships at any age

Section 2907.03 makes sexual activity (sexual conduct or sexual contact) a sexual battery where the offender occupies a listed position. The categories fall into two groups.

  • Minors through 17. Division (A)(8) covers a teacher, administrator, coach or other person in authority employed by or serving in an institution of higher education. Division (A)(9) covers an athletic or other coach, an instructor, the leader of a scouting troop of which the minor is a member, or a person with temporary or occasional disciplinary control over the minor. Division (A)(13) covers a cleric. Division (A)(14) covers a peace officer who is more than two years older than the other person.
  • Any age. Division (A)(5) covers a natural or adoptive parent, stepparent, guardian, custodian or person in loco parentis. Division (A)(6) covers an offender with supervisory or disciplinary authority over a person in custody of law or a patient in a hospital or other institution. Division (A)(7) covers a teacher, administrator, coach or other person in authority employed by or serving in a school the other person is enrolled in or attends. Division (A)(12) covers an employee of a detention facility where the other person is confined.

How the age difference works

In R.C. 2907.04, the offender's age of 18 or older is an element of the offense, and the four-year and ten-year lines change only the grade. Section 2907.04(B) provides that unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony of the fourth degree, "if the offender is less than four years older than the other person" it is a misdemeanor of the first degree, and "if the offender is ten or more years older than the other person" it is a felony of the third degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03 or 2907.04 or former section 2907.12, it is a felony of the second degree. These are grading provisions: they do not change the elements of the offense.

State seal or government emblem on a wall

In the importuning offense in section 2907.07(B), the four-year difference is an element. In sexual battery under R.C. 2907.03(A)(14), the requirement that a peace officer be more than two years older is an element.

Other Ohio offenses that protect minors

The offenses above are not the only ones. Other provisions, each with its own elements and grade, include:

  • Importuning and grooming. See 2907.07 and 2907.071 above. Importuning of a person under 13 (divisions (A) and (D)) is a felony of the third degree on a first offense; soliciting a person 13 to under 16 or a trafficking victim 16 or 17 (divisions (B) and (E)) is a felony of the fifth degree on a first offense. Where the offender also arranged to meet the other person, division (G) provides mandatory prison terms in stated cases. Grooming under division (B) is a misdemeanor of the second degree and under division (C) a misdemeanor of the first degree, and division (D) raises the grade, up to a felony of the third degree, where the victim is under 13 or alcohol or a drug of abuse was supplied, and further where the offender also has a prior listed conviction; for division (C), a prior listed conviction alone makes it a felony of the fourth degree.
  • Sexual imposition. Section 2907.06 covers sexual contact where the offender knows the contact is offensive to the other person or is reckless in that regard, at any age. It is a misdemeanor of the third degree, higher with prior convictions. The version in effect before March 21, 2025 also covered sexual contact with a person 13 to 15 by an offender 18 or older and four or more years older; the current text, as amended by S.B. 109 (135th General Assembly), does not contain that division.
  • Voyeurism. Section 2907.08(C) covers secretly or surreptitiously recording a minor in a place where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy, for the purpose of viewing the private areas of the minor. It is a felony of the fifth degree.
  • Public indecency directed at a minor. Section 2907.09(B) covers listed conduct likely to be viewed by and affront a minor in the offender's physical proximity. Divisions (B)(1) to (3) are misdemeanors of the second degree and (B)(4) is a misdemeanor of the first degree, a felony of the fifth degree after a prior violation.
  • Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor. Section 2907.19 covers purchasing or obtaining advertising space for an advertisement for sexual activity for hire that includes a depiction of a minor. It is a felony of the third degree.
  • Compelling, promoting and procuring. Section 2907.21 covers compelling prostitution, including inducing, soliciting or paying a minor to engage in sexual activity for hire. It is a felony of the third degree, of the second degree where a person 16 or 17 is compelled under division (A)(1), and of the first degree where a person under 16 is compelled under that division. Section 2907.22 makes promoting prostitution a felony of the third degree where the person involved is a minor. Section 2907.23 makes procuring a felony of the fourth degree where the prostitute involved is under 16 and a felony of the fifth degree where the person is 16 or 17.
  • Sexual material and performances. Section 2907.31 covers disseminating matter harmful to juveniles (a misdemeanor of the first degree, with a felony of the fifth degree for obscene material). Sections 2907.321, 2907.322 and 2907.323 cover pandering obscenity involving a minor, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance; most divisions are felonies of the second degree where the offense involves a minor, while buying, receiving, possessing or controlling such material under 2907.321(A)(5) and 2907.322(A)(5) is a felony of the fourth degree and 2907.323(A)(3) is a felony of the fifth degree, higher with a prior offense. Section 2919.22(B)(5) covers enticing, hiring or using a child under 18 in such material or a performance and is a felony of the second degree.
  • Trafficking in persons. Section 2905.32 covers trafficking of a person under 18 for sexual activity for hire or for an obscene, sexually oriented or nudity-oriented performance or material. It is a felony of the first degree.
  • Sexual battery by a parent, stepparent, guardian or custodian. R.C. 2907.03(A)(5), described above, covers these relationships at any age.

Penalties

Ohio grades offenses as felonies of the first through fifth degree and misdemeanors of the first through fourth degree. Under section 2929.14, a felony of the fifth degree is a definite term of 6 to 12 months, of the fourth degree 6 to 18 months, and of the third degree generally 9 to 36 months, or 12 to 60 months for a violation of 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.321, 2907.322 or 2907.323. A felony of the second degree committed on or after March 22, 2019 is an indefinite term with a stated minimum of two to eight years, a felony of the first degree generally has a stated minimum of three to eleven years, and trafficking in persons under 2905.32(E) committed on or after that date has a minimum term of ten to fifteen years. Under section 2929.24, a first-degree misdemeanor carries up to 180 days in jail and a second-degree misdemeanor up to 90 days. Maximum fines under section 2929.18 are $20,000 (first degree felony), $15,000 (second), $10,000 (third), $5,000 (fourth) and $2,500 (fifth), and under section 2929.28 $1,000 (first degree misdemeanor) and $750 (second).

OffenseGrade as stated
Rape, victim under 13 (2907.02(A)(1)(b))Felony of the first degree; indefinite sentence under 2971.03: 10 to life; 15 to life if the victim is under 10; 25 to life for force or threat of force, a prior 2907.02(A)(1)(b) conviction or serious physical harm; life without parole authorized in stated circumstances, and not for an offender under 18
Gross sexual imposition, victim under 13 or touching genitalia of a person under 12 (2907.05)Felony of the third degree
Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (2907.04)Fourth degree felony; first-degree misdemeanor if less than four years older; third degree felony if ten or more years older; second degree felony after a prior 2907.02, 2907.03 or 2907.04 conviction
Sexual battery, sexual conduct (2907.03)Third degree felony; second degree felony with mandatory prison term where the victim is 13 to under 18
Sexual battery, sexual contact (2907.03)Fifth degree felony; fourth degree felony where the victim is under 18
Grooming (2907.071)Second degree misdemeanor (division (B)) or first degree misdemeanor (division (C)); felony grades where the victim is under 13, alcohol or a drug was supplied, or a prior listed conviction applies
Importuning (2907.07)Third degree felony (victim under 13); fifth degree felony (victim 13 to under 16 or trafficking victim 16 or 17); higher with a prior offense
Compelling prostitution (2907.21)Third degree felony; second degree felony (victim 16 or 17, division (A)(1)); first degree felony (victim under 16, division (A)(1))
Pandering offenses involving a minor (2907.321 to 2907.323)Second degree felony for most divisions; fourth degree felony for buying, receiving, possessing or controlling material (2907.321(A)(5), 2907.322(A)(5)); fifth degree felony for 2907.323(A)(3)
Trafficking in persons (2905.32)First degree felony

Sex offender registration

Section 2950.01 defines "sexually oriented offense" by listing offenses, and classifies offenders into three tiers. Section 2950.07 sets the duration: tier I, 15 years; tier II, 25 years; tier III, life.

  • Tier III (life): rape (2907.02), sexual battery involving sexual conduct (2907.03), and gross sexual imposition under 2907.05(B) (genitalia of a person under 12).
  • Tier II (25 years): sexual battery involving sexual contact, gross sexual imposition under 2907.05(A)(4), compelling prostitution (2907.21), pandering offenses under 2907.321 and 2907.322, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material under 2907.323(A)(1) and (2), trafficking under 2905.32 where described in 2950.01(A)(11), endangering children under 2919.22(B)(5), and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (2907.04) where the offender is at least four years older or where the offender has a listed prior conviction.
  • Tier I (15 years): importuning (2907.07), voyeurism (2907.08), promoting prostitution (2907.22), 2907.323(A)(3), and public indecency under 2907.09(B)(4) where the sentencing court classifies the offender as tier I.

Under 2950.01(A)(2) and (E)(1)(b), a violation of 2907.04 by an offender less than four years older, where the other person did not consent and the offender has no prior listed conviction, is a tier I offense. Section 2950.01(B)(2) also provides that a person convicted of or adjudicated for a sexually oriented offense that involves consensual sexual conduct or contact is not a "sex offender" where the victim was 13 or older and the person is not more than four years older than the victim, or where the victim was 18 or older and not under the person's custodial authority. This is a registration provision only; the underlying offense and its grade are unchanged.

Recent changes

  • Grooming (R.C. 2907.071): enacted by H.B. 322 (135th General Assembly), effective April 9, 2025, as described above.
  • Sexual battery (R.C. 2907.03): S.B. 109 (135th General Assembly), effective March 21, 2025, extended sexual battery from sexual conduct to sexual activity (sexual conduct or sexual contact) and to causing others to engage in sexual activity, added a category for a licensed medical professional during medical treatment (division (A)(11)), and set the current grades: sexual conduct with a person 13 to under 18 is a felony of the second degree with a mandatory prison term, and sexual contact with a person under 18 is a felony of the fourth degree.
  • Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (R.C. 2907.04): the section's latest legislation line is Am. Sub. H.B. 161 (135th General Assembly), effective August 9, 2024. The age thresholds and the four-year and ten-year grading lines described above are those in the current text.

How to report

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth states on its official page: "To make a report, call 855-OH-CHILD (855-642-4453)." The page adds that the line connects callers directly to their county's child welfare or law enforcement office and that a report can be made without giving a name. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453, call or text) and the NCMEC CyberTipline (report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678) are also available.

Disclaimer

This page is general legal information about Ohio criminal statutes as verified on 2026-09-30. It is not legal advice. Statutes change, summaries simplify, and the statute text controls. Anyone with a specific situation should consult a lawyer licensed in Ohio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the four-year difference in R.C. 2907.04 change whether an offense applies?

Under R.C. 2907.04(A), the offense applies where the offender is 18 or older and the other person is 13 or older but less than 16. The four-year and ten-year lines in division (B) change the grade of the offense: a first-degree misdemeanor where the offender is less than four years older, and a felony of the third degree where the offender is ten or more years older. Separate registration provisions in R.C. 2950.01 also refer to a four-year difference.

Which sexual battery categories apply at any age?

R.C. 2907.03(A)(5) to (7) and (12) do not state a victim age. They cover a natural or adoptive parent, stepparent, guardian, custodian or person in loco parentis; a person in custody of law or a patient in a hospital or other institution where the offender has supervisory or disciplinary authority; a teacher, administrator, coach or other person in authority in a school the other person attends; and an employee of a detention facility. Divisions (A)(8), (9), (13) and (14) apply where the other person is a minor.

Where can the Ohio statute text be found?

The Ohio Revised Code is published on codes.ohio.gov. Chapter 2907 covers sex offenses, chapter 2950 covers registration and chapter 2971 covers sentencing for certain sexually violent offenders. This page links each section.

Updates

Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources

Sources and References

  1. Ohio R.C. 2907.02 (Rape)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  2. Ohio R.C. 2907.03 (Sexual battery)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  3. Ohio R.C. 2907.04 (Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  4. Ohio R.C. 2907.05 (Gross sexual imposition)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  5. Ohio R.C. 2907.07 (Importuning)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  6. Ohio R.C. 2907.071 (Grooming)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  7. Ohio R.C. 2907.08 (Voyeurism)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  8. Ohio R.C. 2907.09 (Public indecency)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  9. Ohio R.C. 2907.19 (Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  10. Ohio R.C. 2907.21 (Compelling prostitution)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  11. Ohio R.C. 2907.22 (Promoting prostitution)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  12. Ohio R.C. 2907.23 (Procuring)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  13. Ohio R.C. 2907.31 (Disseminating matter harmful to juveniles)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  14. Ohio R.C. 2907.321 (Pandering obscenity involving a minor)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  15. Ohio R.C. 2905.32 (Trafficking in persons)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  16. Ohio R.C. 2919.22 (Endangering children)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  17. Ohio R.C. 2929.14 (Felony prison terms)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  18. Ohio R.C. 2929.18 (Financial sanctions)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  19. Ohio R.C. 2929.24 (Misdemeanor jail terms)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  20. Ohio R.C. 2929.28 (Misdemeanor financial sanctions)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  21. Ohio R.C. 2950.01 (Sex offender definitions and tiers)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  22. Ohio R.C. 2950.07 (Duration of registration duties)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  23. Ohio R.C. 2971.03 (Sentencing for sexually violent offenses)(codes.ohio.gov).gov
  24. Ohio Department of Children and Youth: Report abuse or neglect(childrenandyouth.ohio.gov).gov
  25. Section 2907.06(codes.ohio.gov).gov
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