Clothing Laws by State 2024

Clothing laws vary by country around the world. The United States, like most countries, does not have laws that state what clothing is required to be worn; however, wearing insufficient clothing can be prosecuted in many countries under indecent exposure or public indecency. Indecent exposure is the crime of deliberately showing one's sexual organs in public or being naked in a public place. "Decency" is typically judged by the local community's standards and can be based on morality, tradition, or religion.

Although there is no federal law for or against nudity in the United States, nudity is generally against the law in public places in every state. Several offenses may involve exposure of a specific body part or specific intention, including "indecent exposure," "public lewdness," "public indecency," and "disorderly conduct." Every state has a law regarding these types of offenses and classifies them differently. In some cases, these laws may conflict with constitutional protections for freedom of expression.

Clothing Laws by State

The following are every state's nudity laws.

Alabama

Indecent exposure (Class A misdemeanor): A person commits the crime of indecent exposure if, with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of himself or any person other than his spouse, he exposes his genitals under circumstances in which he knows his conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm in any public place or on the private premises of another or so near thereto as to be seen from such private premises. Public lewdness (Class C misdemeanor): A person commits the crime of public lewdness if: (1) He exposes his anus or genitals in a public place and is reckless about whether another may be present who will be offended or alarmed by his act; or (2) He does any lewd act in a public place which he knows is likely to be observed by others who would be affronted or alarmed.

Alaska

Indecent exposure in the second degree: (a) An offender commits the crime of indecent exposure in the second degree if the offender knowingly exposes the offender's genitals in the presence of another person with reckless disregard for the offensive, insulting, or frightening effect the act may have. (b) Indecent exposure in the second degree before a person under 16 years of age is a class A misdemeanor. Indecent exposure in the second degree before a person 16 years of age or older is a class B misdemeanor.

Arizona

Indecent exposure: (a) An offender commits the crime of indecent exposure in the second degree if the offender knowingly exposes the offender's genitals in the presence of another person with reckless disregard for the offensive, insulting, or frightening effect the act may have. (b) Indecent exposure in the second degree before a person under 16 years of age is a class A misdemeanor. Indecent exposure in the second degree before a person 16 years of age or older is a class B misdemeanor.

Arkansas

Indecent exposure: (1) (Class A misdemeanor) A person commits indecent exposure if, with purpose to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of himself or of any other person, he exposes his sex organs in a public place or view; or under circumstances in which he knows his conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm. (2) (Class D felony) A person commits indecent exposure to a person under the age of twelve (12) years if, with the purpose to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of himself or any other person, he purposefully exposes his sex organs to a person under the age of twelve (12) years.

California

Every person who willfully and lewdly, either: 1. Exposes his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or where there are present other persons to be offended or annoyed thereby; or, 2. Procures, counsels, or assists any person so to expose himself or take part in any model artist exhibition, or to make any other exhibition of himself to public view, or the view of any number of persons, such as is offensive to decency, or is adapted to excite to or thoughts or acts, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Colorado

Public indecency (Class 1 petty offense): Any person who performs any of the following in a public place or where the conduct may reasonably be expected to be viewed by members of the public commits public indecency: (1) an act of sexual intercourse; or (2) an act of deviate sexual intercourse; or (3) a lewd exposure of the body done with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desire of any person; or (4) a lewd fondling or caress of the body of another perso. Indecent exposure (Class 1 misdemeanor): A person commits indecent exposure if he knowingly exposes his genitals to the view of any person under circumstances in which such conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm to the other person. Indecent exposure is a class 6 felony if the violation is committed subsequent to two prior convictions of a violation of this section or a violation of a comparable offense in any other state or the United States, or a violation of a comparable municipal ordinance.

Connecticut

Public indecency (Class B misdemeanor): A person is guilty of public indecency when he performs any of the following in a public place: 1) An act of sexual intercourse as defined in subdivision (2) of section 53a-65; or (2) a lewd exposure of the body with the intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desire of the person; or (3) a lewd fondling or caress of the body of another person. "Public place" means any place where the conduct may be expected to be viewed by others.

Delaware

Indecent exposure in the second degree (unclassified misdemeanor) (a) A male is guilty of indecent exposure in the second degree if he exposes his genitals or buttocks under circumstances in which he knows his conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm to another person. (b) A female is guilty of indecent exposure in the second degree if she exposes her genitals, breast, or buttocks under circumstances in which she knows her conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm to another person.

Florida

Exposure of sexual organs: It is unlawful to expose or exhibit one's sexual organs in public or on the private premises of another, or so near thereto as to be seen from such private premises, in a vulgar or indecent manner, or to be naked in public except in any place provided or set apart for that purpose. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A mother's breastfeeding of her baby does not under any circumstance violate this section.

Breach of the peace; disorderly conduct: Exposure of sexual organs. It is unlawful to expose or exhibit one's sexual organs in public or on the private premises of another, or so near thereto as to be seen from such private premises, in a vulgar or indecent manner, or to be naked in public except in any place provided or set apart for that purpose. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A mother's breastfeeding of her baby does not under any circumstance violate this section. Some resorts and beaches in Florida are "unofficial" clothing optional spots; however, one should always be aware of local ordinances.

Georgia

Public indecency: (a) A person commits the offense of public indecency when he or she performs any of the following acts in a public place: (1) An act of sexual intercourse; a lewd exposure of the sexual organs; (3) a lewd appearance in a state of partial or complete nudity; or (4) a lewd caress or indent fondling of the body of another person. (b) A person convicted of the offense of public indecency as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be punished as for a misdemeanor except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section. (c) Upon a third or subsequent conviction for public indecency for the violation of paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (a) of this Code section, a person shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years. (d) For the purposes of this Code section only, "public place" shall include jails and penal and correctional institutions of the state and its political subdivisions. (e) This Code section shall be cumulative to and shall not prohibit the enactment of any other general and local laws, rules, and regulations of state and local authorities or agencies and local ordinances prohibiting such activities which are more restrictive than this Code section.

Hawaii

Sexual assault in the fourth degree (misdemeanor): A person commits the offense of sexual assault in the fourth degree if: with the actor by compulsion; (b) The person knowingly exposes the person's genitals to another person under circumstances in which the actor's conduct is likely to alarm the other person or put the other person in fear of bodily injury; or (c) The person knowingly trespasses on property for the purpose of subjecting another person to surreptitious surveillance for the sexual gratification of the actor. Indecent exposure (petty misdemeanor): A person commits the offense of indecent exposure if the person intentionally exposes the person's genitals to a person to whom the person is not married under circumstances in which the actor's conduct is likely to cause affront.

Idaho

Indecent exposure (misdemeanor): Every person who willfully and lewdly either: (1) Exposes his or her genitals, in any public place, or in any place where there is present another person or persons who are offended or annoyed thereby; or, (2) Procures, counsels, or assists any person so as to expose his or her genitals, where there is present another person or persons who are offended or annoyed thereby is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Illinois

Public indecency (Class A misdemeanor; Class 4 felony if a person is convicted of a third or subsequent violation of public decency). Any person of the age of 17 years and upwards who performs any of the following acts in a public place commits a public indecency: (1) An act of sexual penetration or sexual conduct as defined in Section 12-12 of this Code; or (2) A lewd exposure of the body done with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desire of the person. Breast-feeding of infants is not an act of public indecency.

Indiana

Public indecency: (a) A person who knowingly or intentionally, in a public place: (1) appears in a state of nudity with the intent to arouse the sexual desires of the person or another person; or (2) fondles the person's genitals or the genitals of another person; commits public indecency, a Class A misdemeanor. (b) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or intentionally, in a public place, appears in a state of nudity with the intent to be seen by a child less than sixteen (16) years of age commits public indecency, a Class A misdemeanor. (c) A person who, in a place other than a public place, with the intent to be seen by persons other than invitees and occupants of that place: appears in a state of nudity; where the person can be seen by persons other than invitees and occupants of that place commits indecent exposure, a Class C misdemeanor

As used in this section, "nudity" means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks with less than a fully opaque covering, the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple, or the showing of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.

Public nudity (Class a misdemeanor; Class D felony If the person has a prior unrelated conviction under subsection b or c): (a) A person who knowingly or intentionally appears in a public place in a state of nudity commits public nudity, a Class C misdemeanor. (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally appears in a public place in a state of nudity with the intent to be seen by another person commits a Class B misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Class D felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction under this subsection or under subsection (c). (c) A person who knowingly or intentionally appears in a state of nudity in a public park or with the intent to arouse the sexual desires of the person or another person, in a department of natural resources owned or managed property

Iowa

Indecent exposure

A person who exposes the person's genitals or pubes to another, not the person's spouse, or who commits a sex act in the presence of or view of a third person, commits a serious misdemeanor, if: (1) The person does so to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of either party; and (2) The person knows or reasonably should know that the act is offensive to the viewer.

Kansas

Lewd and lascivious behavior

(1) Publicly engaging in otherwise lawful sexual intercourse or sodomy with knowledge or reasonable anticipation that the participants are being viewed by others; or

(2) Publicly exposing a sex organ or exposing a sex organ in the presence of a person who is not the spouse of the offender and who has not consented thereto, with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of the offender or another.

Kentucky

Indecent exposure in the second degree (Class B misdemeanor): A person is guilty of indecent exposure in the second degree when he intentionally exposes his genitals under circumstances in which he knows or should know that his conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm to a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.

Louisiana

Obscenity: The crime of obscenity is the intentional exposure of the genitals, pubic hair, anus, vulva, or female breast nipples in any public place or place open to the public view with the intent of arousing sexual desire or which appeals to prurient interest or is patently offensive. Punishment: first offense is three years in prison and $2500; second offense is three years and $5,000; third offense is five years and $10,000 Violation in the presence of an unmarried person under 17 years old is the third offense.

Maine

Indecent conduct: A. In a public place: (1) The actor engages in a sexual act, as defined in section 251; or (2) The actor knowingly exposes the actor's genitals under circumstances that, in fact, are likely to cause affront or alarm; B. In a private place, the actor exposes the actor's genitals with the intention that the actor be seen from a public place or from another private place; or C. In a private place, the actor exposes the actor's genitals with the intention that the actor be seen by another person in that private place under circumstances that the actor knows are likely to cause affront or alarm.

Maryland

Indecent exposure: A person convicted of indecent exposure is guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

Massachusetts

Indecent exposure: Persons guilty of indecent exposure may be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than six months, or by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Michigan

Disorderly person: A person is a disorderly person if the person who engaged in indecent or obscene conduct in a public place. Michigan law allows cities and towns to regulate or prohibit nudity within village boundaries.

Minnesota

Indecent exposure (misdemeanor): A person who commits any of the following acts in any public place, or in any place where others are present, is guilty of a misdemeanor: (1) willfully and lewdly exposes the person's body, or the private parts thereof; (2) procures another to expose private parts.

Mississippi

Indecent exposure: A person who willfully and lewdly exposes his person or private parts thereof in any public place or in any place where others are present or procures another to so expose himself is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) or be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months or both.

Missouri

Sexual misconduct in the second degree: A person commits the crime of sexual misconduct in the second degree if such person exposes his or her genitals under circumstances in which he or she knows that his or her conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm.

Montana

Indecent exposure: A person who, for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the person's own sexual desire or the sexual desire of any person, exposes the person's genitals under circumstances in which the person knows the conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm commits the offense of indecent exposure.

Nebraska

Public indecency: A person, eighteen years of age or over, commits public indecency if such person performs or procures, or assists any other person to perform, in a public place and where the conduct may reasonably be expected to be viewed by members of the public: (a) An act of sexual penetration; or (b) An exposure of the genitals of the body done with intent to affront or alarm any person; or (c) A lewd fondling or caressing of the body of another person of the same or opposite sex.

Nevada

Indecent or obscene exposure: A person who makes any open and indecent or obscene exposure of his person, or of the person of another, is guilty: (a) For the first offense, of a gross misdemeanor.

New Hampshire

Indecent exposure and public lewdness: A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if such person fornicates, exposes his or her genitals, or performs any other act of gross lewdness under circumstances which he or she should know will likely cause affront or alarm.

New Jersey

Lewdness: A person commits a disorderly persons offense if he does any flagrantly lewd and offensive act which he knows or reasonably expects is likely to be observed by other non-consenting persons who would be affronted or alarmed. New Jersey allows the governing body of every municipality to make, amend, repeal, and enforce ordinances to regulate nudity.

New Mexico

Indecent exposure (misdemeanor): Indecent exposure consists of a person knowingly and intentionally exposing his primary genital area to public view. "Primary genital area" means the mons pubis, penis, testicles, mons veneris, vulva, or vagina. In addition to any punishment provided pursuant to the provisions of this section, the court shall order a person convicted for committing indecent exposure to participate in and complete a program of professional counseling at his own expense.

New York

Public lewdness (Class B misdemeanor): A person is guilty of public lewdness when he intentionally exposes the private or intimate parts of his body in a lewd manner or commits any other lewd act (a) in a public place, or (b) in private premises under circumstances in which he may readily be observed from either a public place or from other private premises, and with intent that he be so observed.

Exposure of a person: a person is guilty of exposure if he appears in a public place in such a manner that the private or intimate parts of his body are unclothed or exposed. For purposes of this section, the private or intimate parts of a female person shall include that portion of the breast which is below the top of the areola. This section shall not apply to the breastfeeding of infants or to any person entertaining or performing in a play, exhibition, show or entertainment

North Carolina

Indecent exposure (Class 2 misdemeanor): 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.

North Dakota

Indecent exposure: a person with intent to arouse, appeal to, or gratify that person's lust, passions, or sexual desires, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if that person: b. exposes one's penis, vulva, or anus in a public place or to a minor in a public or private place.

Disorderly conduct (Class B misdemeanor): An individual is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person or in reckless disregard of the fact that another person is harassed, annoyed, or alarmed by the individual's behavior, the individual: c. In a public place, uses abusive or obscene language, knowingly exposes that individual's penis, vulva, or anus, or makes an obscene gesture.

Ohio

Public indecency: No person shall recklessly do any of the following, under circumstances in which the person's conduct is likely to be viewed by and affront others who are in the person's physical proximity and who are not members of the person's household: (1) Expose his or her private parts.

Oklahoma

Indecent exposure; Indecent exhibitions; Obscene material or child pornography; Solicitation of minors. A. Every person who willfully and knowingly either: 1. Lewdly exposes his person or genitals in any public place, or in any place where there are present other persons to be offended or annoyed thereby.

Oregon

Public indecency: (1) A person commits the crime of public indecency if while in, or in view of, a public place the person performs: (a) An act of sexual intercourse; or (b) An act of deviate sexual intercourse; or (c) An act of exposing the genitals of the person with the intent of arousing the sexual desire of the person or another person.

Pennsylvania

Indecent exposure: A person commits indecent exposure if that person exposes his or her genitals in any public place or in any place where there are present other persons under circumstances in which he or she knows or should know that this conduct is likely to offend, affront or alarm.

Rhode Island

Indecent exposure; disorderly conduct: A person commits indecent exposure/disorderly conduct when for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation, such person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: (1) Exposes his or her genitals to the view of another under circumstances in which his or her conduct is likely to cause affront, distress, or alarm to that person

South Carolina

Indecent exposure: (1) It is unlawful for a person to willfully, maliciously, and indecently expose his person in a public place, on property of others, or to the view of any person on a street or highway. (2) This subsection does not apply to a woman who breastfeeds her own child in a public place, on property of others, to the view of any person on a street or highway, or any other place where a woman and her child are authorized to be.

South Dakota

Public indecency (Class 2 misdemeanor): A person commits the crime of public indecency if the person, under circumstances in which that person knows that his or her conduct is likely to annoy, offend, or alarm some other person, exposes his or her anus or genitals in a public place where another may be present who will be annoyed, offended, or alarmed by the person's act.

Indecent exposure (misdemeanor or felony): A person commits the crime of indecent exposure if, with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, the person exposes his or her genitals in a public place, or in the view of a public place, under circumstances in which that person knows that person's conduct is likely to annoy, offend, or alarm another person.

Tennessee

Public indecency; indecent exposure: A person commits the offense of public indecency who, in a public place knowingly or intentionally appears in a state of nudity

Texas

Disorderly conduct (public nudity): A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly: exposes his anus or genitals in a public place and is reckless about whether another may be present who will be offended or alarmed by his act.

Indecent exposure: A person commits an offense if he exposes his anus or any part of his genitals with intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, and he is reckless about whether another is present who will be offended or alarmed by his act.

Utah

Lewdness; sexual battery, public urination. A person is guilty of lewdness if the person under circumstances not amounting to rape, object rape, forcible sodomy, forcible sexual abuse, aggravated sexual assault, or an attempt to commit any of these offenses, performs any of the following acts in a public place or under circumstances which the person should know will likely cause affront or alarm to, on, or in the presence of another who is 14 years of age or older; (b) exposes his or her genitals, the female breast below the top of the areola, the buttocks, the anus, or the pubic area

Vermont

Lewd and lascivious conduct: A person guilty of open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior shall be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than $300.00, or both.

Virginia

Indecent exposure (Class 1 misdemeanor): Every person who intentionally makes an obscene display or exposure of his person, or the private parts thereof, in any public place, or in any place where others are present, or procures another to so expose himself, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. No person shall be deemed to be in violation of this section for breastfeeding a child in any public place or any place where others are present.

Washington

Indecent exposure: A person is guilty of indecent exposure if he or she intentionally makes any open and obscene exposure of his or her person or the person of another, knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm. The act of breastfeeding or expressing breast milk is not indecent exposure.

West Virginia

Indecent exposure: A person is guilty of indecent exposure when such person intentionally exposes his or her sex organs or anus or the sex organs or anus of another person, or intentionally causes such exposure by another or engages in any overt act of sexual gratification, and does so under circumstances in which the person knows that the conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm.

Wisconsin

Lewd and lascivious behavior (Class A misdemeanor); Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor: (a) Commits an indecent act of sexual gratification with another with the knowledge that they are in the presence of others; or (b) Publicly and indecently exposes genitals or pubic area.

Wyoming

Public indecency: A person is guilty of public indecency if, while in a public place where he may reasonably be expected to be viewed by others, he: (i) performs n act of sexual intrusion; or (ii) exposes his intimate parts with the intent of arousing the sexual desire of himself or another person.