Free the Nipple! - Where it's legal to go Topless in the USA

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Free the Nipple

What is Free the Nipple? Free the nipple is an organization focused on women's rights.  They specifically are addressing the double-standard of laws that make it illegal for women to go topless while it's perfectly acceptable for men to do so.  To learn more, please visit Free The Nipple

The organization, GoTopless has put together a great graphic to help guide people women can and can't go topless.  

Warning!  Many police officers do not know the laws in their own states.  Additionally, laws are always subject to change.

Is it legal?

Ask any lawyer, and they'll quickly tell you the law is never as cut-and-dry as people would like.  

Most likely safe...

Green colored states are those where it should be legal to go topless.

They include:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Sourth Dakota
  • Texas
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
Top Freedom
Tested Cities

The below cities have had topless laws tested, and should be relatively hassle-free.

  • Asheville, NC
  • Austin, TX,
  • Boulder, CO
  • Columbus, OH
  • Eugene, OR
  • Honolulu, HI
  • Keene, NH
  • Key West, FL at Fantasy Fest
  • Madison, WI,
  • New Orleans, LA, at Mardi Gras
  • New York City
  • Portland, Or,
  • Santa Fe, NM
  • South Miami Beach, FL (on the beach)
  • Washington, DC

Warning!

Even if a top free law is firmly in effect, the police can still arrest you under the pretense of "disorderly conduct". Don't be intimidated! You can sue the city back for wrongful arrest (if your only crime was to go topless). That is what Phoenix Feeley did in NYC in 2005 

Unclear Laws

Orange states have unclear laws.  Better not push it unless you want to get arrested.

  • Arizona
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Virginia
  • Washington
Maybe
Absolutely Illegal

Red states have fairly clear legal language that make it illegal for women to go topless.  Either do it to force a legal decision, or travel to another state.

  • Indiana
  • Tennessee
  • Utah
No!