How do I make a checkbox required on an ASP.NET form?

Question

javascript function for client side validation (using jQuery)...

function CheckBoxRequired_ClientValidate(sender, e)
{
    e.IsValid = jQuery(".AcceptedAgreement input:checkbox").is(':checked');
}

code-behind for server side validation...

protected void CheckBoxRequired_ServerValidate(object sender, ServerValidateEventArgs e)
{
    e.IsValid = MyCheckBox.Checked;
}

ASP.Net code for the checkbox & validator...

<asp:CheckBox runat="server" ID="MyCheckBox" CssClass="AcceptedAgreement" />
<asp:CustomValidator runat="server" ID="CheckBoxRequired" EnableClientScript="true"
    OnServerValidate="CheckBoxRequired_ServerValidate"
    ClientValidationFunction="CheckBoxRequired_ClientValidate">You must select this box to proceed.</asp:CustomValidator>

and finally, in your postback - whether from a button or whatever...

if (Page.IsValid)
{
    // your code here...
}

C# version of andrew's answer:

<asp:CustomValidator ID="CustomValidator1" runat="server" 
        ErrorMessage="Please accept the terms..." 
        onservervalidate="CustomValidator1_ServerValidate"></asp:CustomValidator>
    <asp:CheckBox ID="CheckBox1" runat="server" />

Code-behind:

protected void CustomValidator1_ServerValidate(object source, ServerValidateEventArgs args)
{
    args.IsValid = CheckBox1.Checked;
}

If you want a true validator that does not rely on jquery and handles server side validation as well ( and you should. server side validation is the most important part) then here is a control

public class RequiredCheckBoxValidator : System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseValidator
{
    private System.Web.UI.WebControls.CheckBox _ctrlToValidate = null;
    protected System.Web.UI.WebControls.CheckBox CheckBoxToValidate
    {
        get
        {
            if (_ctrlToValidate == null)
                _ctrlToValidate = FindControl(this.ControlToValidate) as System.Web.UI.WebControls.CheckBox;

            return _ctrlToValidate;
        }
    }

    protected override bool ControlPropertiesValid()
    {
        if (this.ControlToValidate.Length == 0)
            throw new System.Web.HttpException(string.Format("The ControlToValidate property of '{0}' is required.", this.ID));

        if (this.CheckBoxToValidate == null)
            throw new System.Web.HttpException(string.Format("This control can only validate CheckBox."));

        return true;
    }

    protected override bool EvaluateIsValid()
    {
        return CheckBoxToValidate.Checked;
    }

    protected override void OnPreRender(EventArgs e)
    {
        base.OnPreRender(e);

        if (this.Visible && this.Enabled)
        {
            System.Web.UI.ClientScriptManager cs = this.Page.ClientScript;
            if (this.DetermineRenderUplevel() && this.EnableClientScript)
            {
                cs.RegisterExpandoAttribute(this.ClientID, "evaluationfunction", "cb_verify", false);
            }
            if (!this.Page.ClientScript.IsClientScriptBlockRegistered(this.GetType().FullName))
            {
                cs.RegisterClientScriptBlock(this.GetType(), this.GetType().FullName, GetClientSideScript());
            } 
        }
    }

    private string GetClientSideScript()
    {
        return @"<script language=""javascript"">function cb_verify(sender) {var cntrl = document.getElementById(sender.controltovalidate);return cntrl.checked;}</script>";
    }
}

Scott's answer will work for classes of checkboxes. If you want individual checkboxes, you have to be a little sneakier. If you're just doing one box, it's better to do it with IDs. This example does it by specific check boxes and doesn't require jQuery. It's also a nice little example of how you can get those pesky control IDs into your Javascript.

The .ascx:

<script type="text/javascript">

    function checkAgreement(source, args)
    {                
        var elem = document.getElementById('<%= chkAgree.ClientID %>');
        if (elem.checked)
        {
            args.IsValid = true;
        }
        else
        {        
            args.IsValid = false;
        }
    }

    function checkAge(source, args)
    {
        var elem = document.getElementById('<%= chkAge.ClientID %>');
        if (elem.checked)
        {
            args.IsValid = true;
        }
        else
        {
            args.IsValid = false;
        }    
    }

</script>

<asp:CheckBox ID="chkAgree" runat="server" />
<asp:Label AssociatedControlID="chkAgree" runat="server">I agree to the</asp:Label>
<asp:HyperLink ID="lnkTerms" runat="server">Terms & Conditions</asp:HyperLink>
<asp:Label AssociatedControlID="chkAgree" runat="server">.</asp:Label>
<br />

<asp:CustomValidator ID="chkAgreeValidator" runat="server" Display="Dynamic"
    ClientValidationFunction="checkAgreement">
    You must agree to the terms and conditions.
    </asp:CustomValidator>

<asp:CheckBox ID="chkAge" runat="server" />
<asp:Label AssociatedControlID="chkAge" runat="server">I certify that I am at least 18 years of age.</asp:Label>        
<asp:CustomValidator ID="chkAgeValidator" runat="server" Display="Dynamic"
    ClientValidationFunction="checkAge">
    You must be 18 years or older to continue.
    </asp:CustomValidator>

And the codebehind:

Protected Sub chkAgreeValidator_ServerValidate(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.ServerValidateEventArgs) _
Handles chkAgreeValidator.ServerValidate
    e.IsValid = chkAgree.Checked
End Sub

Protected Sub chkAgeValidator_ServerValidate(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.ServerValidateEventArgs) _
Handles chkAgeValidator.ServerValidate
    e.IsValid = chkAge.Checked
End Sub

I typically perform the validation on the client side:

<asp:checkbox id="chkTerms" text=" I agree to the terms" ValidationGroup="vg" runat="Server"  />
<asp:CustomValidator id="vTerms"
                ClientValidationFunction="validateTerms" 
                ErrorMessage="<br/>Terms and Conditions are required." 
                ForeColor="Red"
                Display="Static"
                EnableClientScript="true"
                ValidationGroup="vg"
                runat="server"/>

<asp:Button ID="btnSubmit" OnClick="btnSubmit_Click" CausesValidation="true" Text="Submit" ValidationGroup="vg" runat="server" />

<script>
    function validateTerms(source, arguments) {
        var $c = $('#<%= chkTerms.ClientID %>');
        if($c.prop("checked")){
            arguments.IsValid = true;
        } else {
            arguments.IsValid = false;
        }
    }
</script>