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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Anyone know the legal age in DC?  My son is about to turn 8 and I could imagine leaving him for 30 minutes while I ran out to CVS.  He knows how to call 911 in an emergency or an (adult) friend if something happened to me and I didn't come home.[/quote]

There is no "legal age" in DC, MD, or VA.

CPS in the various jurisdictions has recommendations.  Usually ~8 for short periods.

Legally, it's up to the parents, though some jurisdictions have bureaucrats that are pretty invasive.[/quote]

Oh for the love... this comes up so often here.
DC and VA have recommendations.
 
Maryland does, in fact, have a law.

https://dhr.maryland.gov/documents/Child%20Protective%20Services/Brochures/Unattended-Childre-Brochure-2016.pdf

Maryland Family Law §5-801 states that it is a
CRIME to leave a child younger than 8 years
old unattended, locked or confined to a home,
car, building or other enclosure without proper
supervision.

You may remember the case where parents were charged with neglect for letting their under 8 year old walk home from a park.  Turns out, that is NOT illegal, as they were not confined in an enclosure, and several county CPSs specifically sent out guidelines stating that there were recommendations for being alone outside, but that the law applied to b eing home alone or in a car alone.[/quote]

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