Illinois Gun Laws

Illinois has no permitless (constitutional) carry. A Concealed Carry License issued by the Illinois State Police is required to carry a concealed handgun on or about the person or within a vehicle. Open carry is not authorized at all under the Act.

"The Illinois State Police shall issue a license to carry a concealed firearm under this Act to an applicant who [meets the qualifications of Section 25]... A license shall be valid throughout the State for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance."

430 ILCS 66/10 statute

A Concealed Carry License applicant must be at least 21 years old, hold a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card (Illinois residents) and meet FOID eligibility requirements, have no prohibiting criminal history, complete the firearms training required by Section 75, and not pose a danger to self or others.

"is at least 21 years of age... has a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card and at the time of application meets the requirements for the issuance of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card... has completed firearms training and any education component required under Section 75 of this Act."

430 ILCS 66/25 (Qualifications) statute

An applicant for a new Concealed Carry License must complete an ISP-approved course or combination of courses totaling at least 16 hours covering firearm safety, marksmanship, applicable state and federal law, and law-enforcement interaction, and must pass a live-fire qualification of 30 rounds at a B-27 silhouette at 5, 7, and 10 yards. A renewal applicant must complete at least 3 hours of approved training.

"An applicant for a new license shall provide proof of completion of a firearms training course or combination of courses approved by the Illinois State Police of at least 16 hours."

430 ILCS 66/75 (Training) statute

The Illinois State Police issues a CCL valid throughout the state for 5 years from the date of issuance. ISP must approve or deny a complete application within 90 days. The CCL application fee is $150 for Illinois residents and $300 for eligible non-residents.

"A license shall be valid throughout the State for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance... No later than 90 days after receipt of a completed application, the Illinois State Police shall issue or deny the applicant a license."

430 ILCS 66/10 (Issuance / validity) statute

The Illinois State Police Firearms Services Bureau administers the Concealed Carry License program. Resident applicants pay $150 and must complete 16 hours of ISP-approved training; non-resident applicants (limited to residents of states with 'substantially similar' laws) pay $300.

"16 hours of Concealed Carry firearms training provided by an ISP approved Instructor."

Illinois State Police — Concealed Carry License ag

A Firearm Owner's Identification Card is required to acquire or possess any firearm, firearm ammunition, stun gun, or taser within Illinois. The card is a precondition to obtaining a CCL for residents and is issued by the Illinois State Police; it is valid for 10 years (430 ILCS 65/7).

"No person may acquire or possess any firearm, stun gun, or taser within this State without having in his or her possession a Firearm Owner's Identification Card previously issued in his or her name by the Illinois State Police under the provisions of this Act."

430 ILCS 65/2 (FOID required) statute

A Firearm Owner's Identification Card issued by the Illinois State Police is valid for the person to whom it is issued for a period of 10 years from the date of issuance, subject to suspension or revocation under the FOID Act. A timely-filed renewal application keeps the existing card valid past the printed expiration date.

"a Firearm Owner's Identification Card issued under the provisions of this Act shall be valid for the person to whom it is issued for a period of 10 years from the date of issuance."

430 ILCS 65/7 (FOID Card validity period) statute

The Firearm Concealed Carry Act authorizes only concealed carry of a handgun. By statutory definition the license covers a 'concealed firearm' — one 'completely or mostly concealed from view of the public' — so open carry in public is not permitted. Carry remains lawful on one's own land or in one's own dwelling or fixed place of business.

"'Concealed firearm' means a loaded or unloaded handgun carried on or about a person completely or mostly concealed from view of the public or on or about a person within a vehicle."

430 ILCS 66/5 (definition of 'Concealed firearm') statute

Carrying an uncased, loaded, accessible firearm on or about the person outside one's land, dwelling, or fixed place of business is the offense of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, which makes open carry effectively prohibited in public regardless of FOID status; only a CCL holder may carry under the concealed-carry exception, and the statute requires the firearm to be concealed.

"Carries on or about his or her person or in any vehicle... any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm... not on his or her land or in his or her abode, legal dwelling, or fixed place of business."

720 ILCS 5/24-1.6 (Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon) statute

Without a Concealed Carry License, a firearm transported in a vehicle must be either broken down, not immediately accessible, or unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container — and the carrier must hold a valid FOID Card. A CCL holder may carry a loaded, accessible handgun on or about the person or in the vehicle. There is no separate loaded glove-box / console / trunk allowance for FOID-only holders.

"are broken down in a non-functioning state; or are not immediately accessible; or are unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container by a person who has been issued a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card."

720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(4) (Unlawful Use of Weapons — vehicle) statute

A CCL permits the licensee to carry a loaded or unloaded handgun, concealed on or about the person or within a vehicle. Rental cars are not separately treated — the license applies to any vehicle the licensee lawfully occupies.

"carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm, fully concealed or partially concealed, on or about his or her person; and... keep or carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle."

430 ILCS 66/10(c) (Scope of license — vehicle) statute

Illinois grants a parking-area exception to the Concealed Carry Act's prohibited-place list: a CCL holder otherwise barred from carrying inside a prohibited location (including many employer premises) may still carry the firearm into the parking lot in his or her vehicle, and may store the firearm or ammunition concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view. The exception applies only to CCL holders, not to FOID-only carriers, and does not override federal-property or nuclear-facility rules.

"any licensee prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm into the parking area of a prohibited location... shall be permitted to carry a concealed firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle into the parking area and may store a firearm or ammunition concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view within the vehicle in the parking area."

430 ILCS 66/65(b) (Parking-area exception) statute

Illinois does not honor any out-of-state concealed-carry permit and has no formal reciprocity. Instead, the ISP allows non-resident CCL applications only from residents of states the ISP has determined have 'substantially similar' firearm laws. As of 2026 the ISP-recognized substantially-similar states are Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia.

"The Illinois State Police shall by rule allow for non-resident license applications from any state or territory of the United States with laws related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying, that are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under this Act."

430 ILCS 66/40 (Non-resident applications) statute

The ISP-administered Concealed Carry License portal lists the six states whose residents may apply for an Illinois non-resident CCL based on substantially-similar laws: Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, and Virginia. No other state's permit grants Illinois carry authority.

"Currently, the states identified below have been determined to have laws related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying that are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under Illinois' law."

Illinois State Police — Concealed Carry License (non-resident states list) ag

Illinois codifies a castle doctrine permitting force against another's unlawful entry into or attack upon a dwelling. Deadly force is justified if the entry is violent, riotous, or tumultuous and force is reasonably necessary to prevent assault on an occupant, or if force is reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of a felony in the dwelling. Justified defensive force confers civil immunity absent willful or wanton misconduct.

"A person is justified in the use of force against another when and to the extent that he reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to prevent or terminate such other's unlawful entry into or attack upon a dwelling."

720 ILCS 5/7-2 (Use of force in defense of dwelling) statute

Illinois self-defense statute contains no duty-to-retreat language and authorizes force when a person reasonably believes it necessary to defend against imminent unlawful force, with deadly force permitted to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or commission of a forcible felony. Illinois has no separate stand-your-ground statute; long-standing Illinois case law (People v. McGraw and progeny) holds that a person lawfully present and not the initial aggressor has no duty to retreat before using lawful defensive force.

"A person is justified in the use of force against another when and to the extent that he reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or another against such other's imminent use of unlawful force."

720 ILCS 5/7-1 (Use of force in defense of person) statute

Illinois imposes no general duty to volunteer to a police officer that you are armed. During an investigative stop (including a traffic stop), upon the officer's request a CCL holder must either disclose possession of a concealed firearm or present the CCL, and upon request must identify the firearm's location and permit the officer to safely secure it for the duration of the stop. Passengers in the vehicle who are licensees are bound by the same on-request duty.

"upon the request of the officer the licensee or non-resident shall disclose to the officer that he or she is in possession of a concealed firearm under this Act, or present the license upon the request of the officer."

430 ILCS 66/10(h) (Investigative stops) statute

The Firearm Concealed Carry Act enumerates 23 categories of locations where a CCL holder may not carry, including K-12 schools, preschools, child-care facilities, government buildings, courthouses, jails, hospitals, public transportation, establishments deriving more than 50% of receipts from alcohol, public playgrounds, public parks (municipal), college and university buildings, casinos and gaming facilities, stadiums and arenas, public libraries, airports, amusement parks, zoos, museums, public gatherings requiring a permit, and nuclear-regulated facilities.

"A licensee under this Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on or into [the listed locations]."

430 ILCS 66/65(a) (Prohibited areas) statute

Owners of private property may prohibit firearms on their premises by posting an Illinois State Police-approved sign — a 4-inch by 6-inch white sign with a black silhouette of a handgun within a red circle and red slash — clearly and conspicuously at each entrance. Violating a valid posting is an offense.

"The owner of private real property of any type may prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms on the property under his or her control... The sign shall be of a uniform design as established by the Department of State Police and shall be 4 inches by 6 inches in size."

430 ILCS 66/65(d) (Posted private property — 4"x6" sign) statute

Illinois requires a background check on every firearm transfer, including private sales. Effective January 1, 2024 (under PICA's 2023 amendment), a non-dealer transferor must process the transfer through a federally licensed dealer, or verify the transferee's FOID Card and confirm validity through the Illinois State Police, and must keep a record of the transfer for 10 years. Limited exceptions apply for transfers to immediate family members and transfers ordered by a court.

"no person may knowingly transfer, or cause to be transferred, any firearm... unless the transferee... displays either: (1) a currently valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card... or (2) a currently valid license to carry a concealed firearm."

430 ILCS 65/3 (Transfer / private-sale background check) statute

Illinois imposes a 72-hour waiting period on all firearm transfers, measured from the time a buyer applies to purchase. A seller who delivers a firearm before the 72 hours elapse commits unlawful sale or delivery, a Class 4 felony.

"Sellers must withhold delivery of a firearm for 72 hours from the time the application for purchase has been reached."

720 ILCS 5/24-3 (Unlawful sale — 72-hour waiting period) statute

Federal law requires a federally licensed dealer to sell a handgun only to buyers age 21 or older and a long gun only to buyers age 18 or older. Private transfers between unlicensed individuals are not governed by these federal FFL minimums.

"A licensee may not sell a handgun to anyone under the age of 21. A licensee may not sell a long gun to anyone under the age of 18."

18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1) (federal FFL minimum age) atf

Illinois requires a FOID Card to acquire or possess a firearm. An applicant under 21 may obtain a FOID only with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian who is themselves eligible to possess firearms. Combined with federal FFL minimums, the practical Illinois purchase ages are 21 for handguns and 18 for long guns (with FOID parental consent for applicants ages 18-20).

"Any person under 21 years of age who is not an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces or the Illinois National Guard must submit a Firearm Owner's Identification Card application with the written consent of his or her parent or legal guardian to possess and acquire firearms and firearm ammunition."

430 ILCS 65/4 (FOID Card eligibility) statute

Illinois has no general firearm registry. The Protect Illinois Communities Act, however, requires that individuals who lawfully possessed a PICA-defined assault weapon, assault-weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge before January 10, 2023 file an endorsement affidavit with the Illinois State Police by October 1, 2023 to lawfully retain the grandfathered item. Items acquired after January 10, 2023 cannot be registered or possessed.

"Beginning January 1, 2024, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly possess an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge."

720 ILCS 5/24-1.9 (PICA — assault weapons / endorsement affidavit) statute

Illinois has an extreme-risk-protection-order law — the Firearms Restraining Order Act — effective January 1, 2019 (Public Act 100-0607). A family member or law enforcement officer may petition a circuit court to bar a respondent from possessing, purchasing, or receiving firearms or ammunition when the respondent poses an immediate and present danger of personal injury to self or others. Public Act 102-0345 (effective June 1, 2022) extended the maximum order duration to one year and broadened standing.

"An order issued by the court, prohibiting and enjoining a named person from having in his or her custody or control, purchasing, possessing, or receiving any firearms or ammunition."

430 ILCS 67/ (Firearms Restraining Order Act) statute

Public Act 100-0607, signed January 8, 2019 and effective January 1, 2019 for the FRO provisions, created the Firearms Restraining Order Act (430 ILCS 67/) authorizing a family member or law-enforcement officer to petition a circuit court for an order barring a respondent from possessing, purchasing, or receiving firearms or firearm ammunition when the respondent poses an immediate and present danger of personal injury.

"AN ACT concerning orders of protection."

Public Act 100-0607 (Firearms Restraining Order Act enactment) statute

Public Act 102-0345 (HB 1092), effective June 1, 2022, expanded the Firearms Restraining Order Act by creating a public-awareness program at the Department of Public Health (20 ILCS 2310/2310-705) and a Commission on Implementing the Firearms Restraining Order Act at the Illinois State Police (20 ILCS 2605/2605-51), and made conforming amendments extending the maximum duration of a plenary firearms restraining order to one year.

"There is created the Commission on Implementing the Firearms Restraining Order Act composed of at least 12 members to advise on the strategies of education and implementation of the Firearms Restraining Order Act."

Public Act 102-0345 (Firearms Restraining Order Act expansion) statute

The Protect Illinois Communities Act bans the manufacture, delivery, sale, import, or purchase of statutorily defined assault weapons, assault-weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, and .50 caliber cartridges effective January 10, 2023, and bans possession effective January 1, 2024 (except for items registered by endorsement affidavit before the deadline). The 7th Circuit upheld the ban in Bevis v. City of Naperville (Nov. 3, 2023); the Illinois Supreme Court rejected state-law challenges in Caulkins v. Pritzker (Aug. 11, 2023).

"Beginning January 1, 2024, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly possess an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge."

720 ILCS 5/24-1.9 (PICA — assault weapons / .50 caliber) statute

The Illinois Supreme Court upheld PICA against equal-protection and 'three-readings' procedural challenges under the Illinois Constitution. The court did not reach the federal Second Amendment claim, which plaintiffs had not raised below.

"The court held that the PICA did not violate plaintiffs' rights to equal protection under the Illinois Constitution."

Caulkins v. Pritzker, 2023 IL 129453 (Ill. Aug. 11, 2023) court

PICA prohibits the manufacture, delivery, sale, or purchase of magazines (or other feeding devices) holding more than 10 rounds for long guns or more than 15 rounds for handguns, effective January 10, 2023; possession is unlawful 90 days after that date. Grandfathered devices possessed before January 10, 2023 may be retained only on private property, at licensed ranges, or during transport. Violation is a petty offense with a $1,000 fine per violation.

"Holds more than 10 rounds of ammunition for long guns... Holds more than 15 rounds of ammunition for handguns."

720 ILCS 5/24-1.10 (Large capacity ammunition feeding devices) statute

Suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and machine guns are regulated under the federal National Firearms Act and require ATF registration.

"The National Firearms Act (NFA) imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those firearms."

26 U.S.C. ch. 53 (National Firearms Act) / ATF atf

Illinois generally prohibits machine guns, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and silencers under the Unlawful Use of Weapons statute, but recognizes possession by persons holding a valid federal license under the National Firearms Act as a defense, with state registration of NFA-status items required. Suppressor ownership by Illinois residents in compliance with federal NFA registration is generally permitted; SBRs and SBSs are likewise permitted with proper federal registration.

"A person who is in compliance with the federal National Firearms Act."

720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6)-(7) (UUW — prohibited items) statute

Illinois preemption is partial. The regulation, licensing, possession, and registration of handguns and handgun ammunition, the transportation of any firearm and ammunition by a FOID holder, and the regulation of assault weapons are exclusive functions of the state. Outside these preempted categories, however, municipalities and home-rule units may still impose additional registration requirements or greater restrictions on firearm acquisition, possession, and transfer. Cook County and several Chicago suburbs continue to enforce local assault-weapon and registration ordinances enacted before PICA's 10-day grandfather window.

"This Section is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution... the regulation, licensing, possession, and registration of handguns and ammunition for a handgun, and the transportation of any firearm and ammunition by a holder of a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card... are exclusive powers and functions of this State."

430 ILCS 65/13.1 (Denial and limitation of home rule powers) statute

The Protect Illinois Communities Act, signed January 10, 2023, banned the sale and (after Jan. 1, 2024) possession of statutorily defined assault weapons, .50 caliber rifles, .50 caliber cartridges, and high-capacity feeding devices (over 10 rounds long-gun / over 15 rounds handgun). Owners of grandfathered assault weapons were required to file an endorsement affidavit with the ISP by October 1, 2023.

"AN ACT concerning regulation [the Protect Illinois Communities Act]."

Public Act 102-1116 (PICA, HB 5471) (Jan. 10, 2023) statute

On November 3, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed denial of preliminary injunctions in the consolidated PICA challenges (Bevis, Barnett, Harrel, Herrera, Langley, Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois), holding that plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on Second Amendment claims because PICA-prohibited weapons are not 'arms' within the meaning of the Bruen 'plain text' framework. The Supreme Court denied certiorari, leaving PICA in force.

"The challenged statutes... regulate weapons that are not within the scope of the Second Amendment."

Bevis v. City of Naperville, 85 F.4th 1175 (7th Cir. 2023) court

The Seventh Circuit struck down Illinois's blanket prohibition on carrying loaded firearms in public, holding the ban unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The court stayed its mandate 180 days to let the General Assembly craft a permit scheme, which became the 2013 Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66/).

"The Supreme Court has decided that the [Second] amendment confers a right to bear arms for self-defense, which is as important outside the home as inside."

Moore v. Madigan, 702 F.3d 933 (7th Cir. 2012) court

Knowing possession of any PICA-prohibited assault weapon, assault-weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge became unlawful unless the owner timely filed an endorsement affidavit with the Illinois State Police by October 1, 2023. The possession ban does not apply to law-enforcement officers and certain other categories enumerated in 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9.

720 ILCS 5/24-1.9 (PICA possession-ban effective date)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed denial of preliminary injunctions in the consolidated PICA challenges, holding that PICA-prohibited weapons fall outside the 'arms' protected by the Second Amendment under the Bruen framework. The Supreme Court denied certiorari, leaving PICA in force.

Bevis v. City of Naperville, 85 F.4th 1175 (7th Cir. 2023)

The Illinois Supreme Court rejected equal-protection and 'three-readings' challenges to PICA under the Illinois Constitution. The court did not reach the federal Second Amendment claim, which plaintiffs had not preserved below.

Caulkins v. Pritzker, 2023 IL 129453

Effective July 1, 2023 (with full enforcement January 1, 2024), 430 ILCS 65/3 was amended so a non-dealer transferor must process the firearm transfer through a federally licensed dealer or verify the transferee's FOID Card validity through the Illinois State Police, and must retain a transfer record for 10 years. Limited exceptions apply for transfers to immediate family.

Public Act 102-1116 (PICA — § 3 amendment)

Governor Pritzker signed Public Act 102-1116 (HB 5471) banning the manufacture, sale, and purchase of statutorily defined assault weapons, assault-weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, .50 caliber cartridges, and feeding devices holding more than 10 long-gun rounds or 15 handgun rounds, effective immediately. Possession of newly acquired prohibited items became unlawful January 1, 2024; grandfathered items required an ISP endorsement affidavit by October 1, 2023.

Public Act 102-1116

Public Act 102-0345 amended the FRO Act to extend the maximum duration of a plenary firearms restraining order from six months to one year, broaden the categories of who may petition, and add law-enforcement training requirements.

Public Act 102-0345

Illinois enacted an extreme-risk-protection-order law as 430 ILCS 67/, allowing family members and law-enforcement officers to petition a circuit court to bar a person from possessing or acquiring firearms or ammunition when the respondent poses an immediate and present danger of personal injury.

Public Act 100-0607