Illinois Carry Laws

FOID Card + CCL Required

Illinois requires a FOID card to own firearms and a CCL to carry concealed. OPEN CARRY IS PROHIBITED.

Illinois requires FOID (Firearm Owner ID) to own/purchase and CCL for concealed carry. Must complete 16 hours training. OPEN CARRY PROHIBITED. Chicago has additional restrictions. 430 ILCS 66.

Magazine Limit - 15 Rounds Handguns / 10 Rounds Long Guns

Illinois bans magazines over 10 rounds for long guns and over 15 rounds for handguns (720 ILCS 5/24-1.10): manufacture, delivery, sale and purchase are banned outright, and possession is banned UNLESS the magazine was lawfully possessed before January 10, 2023 - grandfathered magazines may be possessed only on the owner's private property, at ranges/competitions, at a gunsmith, or in transit between those places.

MAGAZINE CAPACITY
ILLINOIS

Illinois bans magazines over 10 rounds for long guns and over 15 rounds for handguns (720 ILCS 5/24-1.10): manufacture, delivery, sale and purchase are banned outright, and possession is banned UNLESS the magazine was lawfully possessed before January 10, 2023 - grandfathered magazines may be possessed only on the owner's private property, at ranges/competitions, at a gunsmith, or in transit between those places.

Authority: 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10 (Protect Illinois Communities Act, P.A. 102-1116); enforcement allowed per Bevis v. City of Naperville, 85 F.4th 1175 (7th Cir. 2023); Barnett v. Raoul litigation ongoing.

No-Carry Signs Have Force of Law

Illinois: the owner of private real property may prohibit concealed carry by posting the Illinois State Police uniform 4x6-inch sign at the entrance (430 ILCS 66/65); a licensee who knowingly carries past a compliant sign violates the Act — Class B misdemeanor for a first violation, Class A for a second or subsequent (430 ILCS 66/70(e)).

"NO FIREARMS" SIGN LAW
ILLINOIS

Illinois: the owner of private real property may prohibit concealed carry by posting the Illinois State Police uniform 4x6-inch sign at the entrance (430 ILCS 66/65); a licensee who knowingly carries past a compliant sign violates the Act — Class B misdemeanor for a first violation, Class A for a second or subsequent (430 ILCS 66/70(e)).

Authority: 430 ILCS 66/65 (Firearm Concealed Carry Act - prohibited areas; posting) and 430 ILCS 66/70(e) (penalty).

Prohibited Places - Where You Cannot Carry

Illinois: Licensees may not carry into the 23 prohibited areas of 430 ILCS 66/65: K-12 schools, child-care facilities, government and court buildings, jails, hospitals, mental-health/nursing facilities, public transit, bars over 50% alcohol receipts, playgrounds, parks, colleges, casinos, stadiums, sporting events, libraries, airports, amusement parks, zoos, museums and nuclear sites; firearms may stay in a locked vehicle in parking areas.

PROHIBITED PLACES - WHERE YOU CANNOT CARRY
Illinois

Illinois: Licensees may not carry into the 23 prohibited areas of 430 ILCS 66/65: K-12 schools, child-care facilities, government and court buildings, jails, hospitals, mental-health/nursing facilities, public transit, bars over 50% alcohol receipts, playgrounds, parks, colleges, casinos, stadiums, sporting events, libraries, airports, amusement parks, zoos, museums and nuclear sites; firearms may stay in a locked vehicle in parking areas.
Authority: 430 ILCS 66/65 (Firearm Concealed Carry Act prohibited areas).

No Duty to Retreat - No Stand Your Ground Statute

Illinois: Castle Doctrine applies. Illinois has no statute labeled Stand Your Ground, but Illinois law imposes no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, in public or at home.

SELF-DEFENSE LAWS
ILLINOIS LAW
Stand Your Ground statute: NO
Duty to retreat: NO
Castle Doctrine: YES
Illinois has no statute labeled "Stand Your Ground," but it also imposes no duty to retreat. 720 ILCS 5/7-1 contains no retreat requirement, and Illinois courts and the Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions hold that a person who did not provoke the encounter has no duty to attempt to escape before using force.
WHAT THIS MEANS
No Duty to Retreat: Illinois law does not require you to retreat before using force in self-defense, in public or at home. Force must still be reasonable and proportional, and deadly force is justified only where you reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, or the commission of a forcible felony (720 ILCS 5/7-1).
CASTLE DOCTRINE
Illinois recognizes the Castle Doctrine, meaning:
• No duty to retreat in your home
• No statutory presumption about an intruder's intent — dwelling defense is governed separately by 720 ILCS 5/7-2, which requires a reasonable belief rather than presuming one
• Greater legal protection for home defense

Red Flag Law - ERPO in Effect

Illinois: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (Firearms Restraining Order Act, 430 ILCS 67).

RED FLAG / EXTREME RISK LAW
Illinois

Illinois: An Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag) law is in effect (Firearms Restraining Order Act, 430 ILCS 67).

Authority: Firearms Restraining Order Act, 430 ILCS 67 (P.A. 100-607, eff. Jan 1, 2019).

Vehicle Transport - Restrictions Apply

Illinois: Concealed with FCCL, or unloaded in case without CCL.

VEHICLE TRANSPORT - RESTRICTIONS APPLY
Illinois

Illinois: Concealed with FCCL, or unloaded in case without CCL.

Authority: 430 ILCS 66/10, Issuance of licenses to carry a concealed firearm (Illinois General Assembly).

Duty to Inform - Only If Asked

Illinois: No duty to volunteer you are carrying. Must provide FOID/CCL if asked

DUTY TO INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT
ILLINOIS REQUIREMENT
Type: Only if asked
Must provide FOID/CCL if asked
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE
Lying to an officer about carrying is a crime. If asked, always answer truthfully.