Illinois is unique because it requires residents to posses a valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card to carry ammunition or firearms. There’s a period of 72 hours where you must wait to carry a handgun. Concealed carry permits are typically issued by the state police to individuals who are at least 21 and have passed a 16 hour training course. Non-resident permits are available for residents of four states, MS,AR, TX, VA and non-residents are also exempt from having a FOID card if they possess a valid CCW permit from their home state.
Illinois Gun Laws Quick Facts
| Open Carry Permitted? | No – Illinois does not allow for openly carrying firearms with or without a permit. |
| Carry In Vehicle? | Yes – Illinois does allow for individuals with an Illinois Concealed Carry License (CCL) to carry a firearm (loaded or unloaded) in your vehicle. If you’re a non-resident, you may transport your firearm if you have a CCW from a recognized state that Illinois has reciprocity with. There is also language which allows for non-residents, who reside in a state that doesn’t require licenses to open or conceal carry, to transport firearms so long as they are legally allowed to posses firearms and are allowed in their home state to carry a firearm. |
| Carry In State Park? | Yes – Illinois allows for concealed carry within state and national parks so long as you have the Illinois CCL. However, there are specific buildings and locations where you are not allowed to conceal carry. |
| Carry In Restaurants? | Yes/No – We found language which states that you’re allowed to carry a firearm within a restaurant that doesn’t serve alcohol. In the Illinois code it specifically states that individuals are not allowed to conceal carry in any establishment that has sales of 50% or more from alcohol. |
| Constitutional Carry? | No – Illinois is not recognized as a constitutional carry state. |
| No Weapon Sign Enforced? | Yes – No weapons signs have the rule of law behind them. The sign must be clear and posted at the entrance, unless it’s a private residence. If an individual violates this they can be convicted of a misdemeanor and get their license revoked. |
| Must Notify Officer? | No – We could not find any language requiring duty to inform. However, if a law enforcement officer asks you then you must provide a truthful answer along with the appropriate permits and ID verification. |
Illinois CCW Reciprocity List
States Honoring CCW
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
States NOT Honoring CCW
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Honors These States CCW Permits
How Reciprocity Works In Illinois
Illinois will not honor any other states concealed carry permits. They will however issue non-resident concealed carry licenses to residents of four states;
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- Texas
- Virginia
These states have been assessed as having substantially similar firearms laws to Illinois laws. This list is being continually updated as more states are identified as having similar CCW laws to Illinois.
Reciprocity Agreements In Illinois
Illinois: Where Is CCW Allowed?
Places Allowed
- State parks – see details
- State and national forests
- Vehicle – see details
- All areas of the state not listed as Off-Limits
Places Not Allowed
- Public or private elementary or secondary school.
- Pre-school or child care facility
- Any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government
- Circuit court, appellate court, or the Supreme Court
- Any building or portion of a building under the control of a unit of local government
- Adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, prison, or jail
- Public or private hospital or hospital affiliate, mental health facility, or nursing home
- Public bus, train, or form of transportation paid for with public funds
- Establishment that serves alcohol on its premises, if more than 50% of the establishment’s gross receipts within the prior 3 months is from the sale of alcohol
- Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public
- Any building or real property that has been issued a Special Event Retailer’s license
- Public playground
- Public park, athletic area, or athletic facility
- Property under the control of the Cook County Forest Preserve District
- Any building, classroom, laboratory, medical clinic, hospital, artistic venue, athletic venue, entertainment venue, officially recognized university-related organization property, including parking areas, sidewalks, and common areas under the control of a public or private community college, or university
- Gaming facility licensed under the Riverboat Gambling Act or the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, including an inter-track wagering location
- Any stadium, arena, or the real property or parking area under the control of a stadium, arena, or any collegiate or professional sporting event
- Public library
- Airport
- Amusement park
- Zoo or museum
- Any street, driveway, parking area, property, building, or facility, owned, leased, controlled, or used by a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by Federal Law.
Illinois: Conceal Carry Laws
Open Carry
No
Open carrying a handgun on your person with or without a license in Illinois is illegal. Even if you have a concealed permit you still cannot legally open carry. The handgun must be concealed from view of the public.
Carry In Vehicle
Yes
A person who is issued a valid concealed carry license is permitted to keep or carry a loaded or unloaded concealed handgun on or about his or her person within a vehicle. There is another separate law for Non-Residents A non-resident may transport a loaded concealed handgun in a vehicle if they have a valid CCW permit in their home state. They cannot under any circumstances remove the firearm from the vehicle. If they need to exit the vehicle they must lock it or place the firearm in a locked container. The Law 430 ILCS 66/40
Carry In State Parks
Yes
It is legal to carry in the following areas:
State Parks: YES
State/National Forests: YES (not in posted buildings)
State Wildlife Management Areas: YES (not in posted buildings)
State Refuge or Nature Preserves: NO
Road Side Rest Areas: NO
Carry In Restaurants
Yes/No
In Restaurants That Serve Alcohol Yes, unless the bar is posted. If a bar gets more than 50% of their income from selling alcohol then you cannot carry a firearm there.
Constitutional Carry
No
Illinois is not recognized as a constitutional carry state.
No Weapon Signs Enforced
Yes
Illinois gun laws give the force of law to “No Weapons” signs. There are legal penalties for entering a private property or business that has posted these signs. The Law 430 ILCS 66/70 430 ILCS 66 Section 65(d) 1231.150 Administrative Rules
Must Notify Officer
No
There is nothing in Illinois gun laws that state you must inform a law enforcement officer you have a firearm when approached on official business. You are legally required to carry the permit/license at all times during which the permittee is in actual possession of a concealed handgun. If an officer requests to see the license then you must hand it over. The Law 430 ILCS 66/10
Additional Resources
Illinois Concealed Carry Laws
Illinois Open Carry Laws
Illinois Gun Permit Laws