For the most part, what you do in your home is your business, even if that means walking around in your birthday suit.
However, if someone were to walk past your window and see you, you might face a criminal charge, even though you're in your own home.
Of course, everyone is granted a certain level of privacy inside their house, but there are specific guidelines within Arizona's public indecency laws that could put you at fault for being naked in your own home if a person sees you.
However, issues involving public indecency could have many scenarios depending on very specific circumstances, according to Arizona police departments.
To save yourself from a misdemeanor or felony charge simply for walking around au naturel, here's what to know about
Arizona's public indecency law.
Is it illegal to walk around naked in your home?
No, how you present yourself within your own home is your business. However, your choice of wardrobe, or lack thereof, becomes an issue when you are in view of others.
Everyone has a reasonable expectation of privacy, meaning that if someone were to enter your home without permission, or if someone were to peek inside your house from a viewpoint that is not in plain view, you would not be charged with public indecency.
However, you can still be charged with public indecency in your home, according to A.R.S. § 13-1402, and the Mesa Police Department, in certain scenarios.
"Being inside your own home does give you significant privacy protections, but it does not automatically prevent an indecent exposure charge if the person is deliberately or recklessly exposing themselves to someone outside through a window," Detective Jose Aguirre of the Mesa Police Department wrote in a statement.
Even a window looking out into a private backyard could be in public view if a neighbor could see you from a second-story building.
So, if you choose to strip nude in your home, it's important to make sure that no windows are visible to others outside the home, or to err on the side of caution, keep all windows closed if you are nude.
Arizona laws about nudity
Indecent exposure in Arizona is when someone exposes their genitals, anus, areola or nipple to another person, who could be offended given the scenario, according to A.R.S. § 13-1402.
The key to the law is intent and the scenario. If someone were to accidentally flash someone through a window while changing, it is unlikely they would be charged with indecent exposure because of the lack of intent.
Similarly, if someone were to get naked in a locker room, there would be no public indecency charge because this is a place where nudity is expected, and it is not reckless or alarming.
The law also specifically exempts breastfeeding mothers from public indecency.
Although these are funny scenarios, the potential charges that come with public indecency are not. Violations of this law could result in a Class 1 misdemeanor for anyone over the age of 15 or a Class 6 felony for repeat offenders.
Indecent exposure to a minor under the age of 15 is also a Class 6 felony, resulting in a Class 6 felony as well, which is a far more serious crime resulting in imprisonment in state or federal prison. Penalties for a Class 1 misdemeanor could result in up to 180 days in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Is it illegal to not wear clothes in your house? What Arizona law says
