What Is the Legal Age in Which Minors Can Leave Home in New York State?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 17, 2020

According to the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services, minors are not permitted to leave home in New York state until they are 18 years old. Police typically return minors to their homes if they leave without permission.

However, a minor under 18 is allowed to live in a certified runaway shelter for 30 days without parental permission, as the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services explains. Law NY, Legal Assistance of Western New York, notes that some minors over 16 are considered emancipated, or free, from their parents, although there is no formal process for this in the state. These minors generally do not live at home, and they support themselves financially.