LOS ANGELES — Chris Brown doesn’t have to stay away from Rihanna anymore after a judge on Tuesday downgraded a restraining order in the singer’s felony assault case.

Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg’s ruling came after an attorney for Rihanna said she didn’t object to removing the stay-away provisions. The old order required Brown to stay 50 yards away from Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music-industry event.

The judge said she never would have considered relaxing the order without Rihanna’s consent and until Brown completed domestic violence counseling. Prosecutors did not object to the change.

Schnegg praised Brown, who was in the court Tuesday and left holding a one-page copy of the new order.

The new order remains in effect until August 2014 when Brown’s probation is scheduled to end.

He and Rihanna, 23, can now see and speak to each other. But if Brown harasses, threatens, assaults, or tracks his ex-girlfriend’s movements, he could be found to be in violation of his probation.

Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Fenty, can record any threatening conversations with Brown and present them as evidence to authorities.

Her attorney, Donald Etra, said he thought the new order was adequate protection.