Consent is the ethical foundation of every interaction in the Lifestyle. It must be given by a person who has the capacity to agree, who understands what is being proposed, and who is free from coercion, intoxication or unequal pressure that would compromise their ability to refuse.

Consent is specific rather than global: agreement to one activity is not agreement to another, and agreement given once does not extend indefinitely. It may be revoked at any moment, and its revocation ends the activity.

Different traditions describe consent through different frameworks such as SSC, RACK and PRICK. All share the requirement that participants be adults capable of meaningful agreement.