Illinois Gun Laws 2025: Complete Guide to Firearm Regulations
Illinois maintains some of the most comprehensive firearm regulations in the United States, centered around the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card system that has been in place since 1968. Whether you are a first-time buyer, a long-time collector, or an FFL dealer operating in the state, understanding Illinois gun laws is essential for legal compliance. This guide covers every major aspect of Illinois firearm regulations — from the FOID card application process to the state's assault weapons ban enacted in 2023 — with citations to official sources so you can verify every detail.
- The FOID Card: Illinois's Cornerstone Requirement
- Purchasing Firearms in Illinois: Waiting Periods and Requirements
- Illinois Assault Weapons Ban: The Protect Illinois Communities Act
- Concealed Carry in Illinois: CCL Requirements and Restrictions
- Preemption, Home Rule, and Local Ordinances
- Red Flag Law: Firearms Restraining Orders in Illinois
- Transport Laws and Reciprocity with Other States
- Penalties for Firearm Violations in Illinois
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources & Citations
The FOID Card: Illinois's Cornerstone Requirement
The Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card is the foundation of Illinois's firearm regulatory system. Established by the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (430 ILCS 65), every Illinois resident who wishes to possess or purchase firearms or ammunition must hold a valid FOID card issued by the Illinois State Police (ISP). This requirement applies to possession in the home, not just purchase — meaning even inheriting a firearm requires a FOID card.
To apply for a FOID card, applicants must be at least 21 years of age (or between 18-20 with a parent/guardian sponsor who holds a valid FOID), must not have been convicted of a felony, must not be subject to a current order of protection, must not have been a patient in a mental health facility within the past five years, and must not be an illegal alien. The application is submitted online through the ISP's Firearms Services Bureau portal and requires a valid Illinois driver's license or state ID, a recent photograph, and a $10 fee that covers a 10-year validity period.
Processing times for FOID cards have been a significant issue in Illinois. While state law mandates a 30-day turnaround, actual processing times have historically exceeded 100 days during peak periods. In 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation requiring the ISP to process applications within 30 days for FOID cards and 90 days for Concealed Carry Licenses (CCLs), with provisions for applicants to seek mandamus relief if timelines are exceeded. As of 2025, the ISP reports average processing times between 30-60 days depending on volume.
The FOID card must be presented at the time of any firearm or ammunition purchase in Illinois. Dealers are required to verify the card's validity through the ISP's Firearms Transfer Inquiry Program (FTIP) before completing any sale. If your FOID card is revoked — due to a felony conviction, order of protection, or other disqualifying event — you must surrender all firearms and ammunition to law enforcement or transfer them to a valid FOID holder within 48 hours of receiving the revocation notice.
Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (430 ILCS 65) - Illinois General Assembly (accessed 2025-01-10)
ISP Firearms Services Bureau - FOID Card - Illinois State Police (accessed 2025-01-10)
Purchasing Firearms in Illinois: Waiting Periods and Requirements
Illinois imposes mandatory waiting periods on all firearm purchases. Under 720 ILCS 5/24-3, there is a 72-hour waiting period for handgun purchases and a 24-hour waiting period for long guns (rifles and shotguns). The waiting period begins when the dealer initiates the background check through the FTIP system. These waiting periods apply to all purchases from licensed dealers — there is no exemption for CCL holders, unlike some other states that waive waiting periods for permit holders.
The purchase process in Illinois involves several steps beyond what federal law requires. First, the buyer must present a valid FOID card and a government-issued photo ID. The dealer then contacts the ISP's FTIP system to verify the FOID card's validity and run a state-level background check that supplements the federal NICS check. The ISP maintains its own databases that include mental health records reported by Illinois courts and healthcare providers, making the state check more comprehensive than the federal NICS check alone.
Private sales between individuals are also regulated in Illinois. Since January 1, 2014, all private firearm transfers must be processed through a licensed dealer who conducts the same FTIP background check. The seller must verify the buyer's FOID card through the ISP's online verification system and retain a record of the transfer for at least 10 years. Violations of the private sale requirements constitute a Class 4 felony for the seller. This universal background check requirement makes Illinois one of approximately 20 states that extend background check requirements beyond licensed dealer sales.
Illinois does not have a one-gun-per-month purchase limit, and there is no state-level registration requirement for most firearms. However, the Protect Illinois Communities Act (discussed below) does require registration of certain firearms classified as assault weapons for owners who possessed them before the ban's effective date. Additionally, the City of Chicago has its own municipal registration ordinances that layer on top of state requirements.
720 ILCS 5/24-3 - Unlawful Sale of Firearms - Illinois General Assembly (accessed 2025-01-10)
ISP Firearm Transfer Inquiry Program - Illinois State Police (accessed 2025-01-10)
Illinois Assault Weapons Ban: The Protect Illinois Communities Act
On January 10, 2023, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act (HB 5471) into law, making Illinois one of ten states with a comprehensive assault weapons ban. The law prohibits the manufacture, sale, delivery, and purchase of assault weapons, assault weapon attachments (including certain triggers and stocks), .50 caliber rifles, and .50 caliber cartridges. It also bans large-capacity magazines — defined as those holding more than 15 rounds for long guns or more than 12 rounds for handguns.
The law defines 'assault weapon' by both specific model name and by feature tests. Named firearms include AR-15 and AK-47 pattern rifles and their variants. The feature test prohibits semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines that also possess one or more of the following: a pistol grip, a thumbhole stock, a folding or telescoping stock, a grenade launcher, a barrel shroud, or a flash suppressor. Semi-automatic pistols with detachable magazines and one additional feature (threaded barrel, second handgrip, barrel shroud, capacity to accept a magazine outside the pistol grip, or a stabilizing brace) are also classified as assault weapons.
Critically, the Protect Illinois Communities Act includes a grandfathering provision for lawful owners who possessed affected firearms before January 10, 2023. These owners were required to register their assault weapons with the Illinois State Police by January 1, 2024 (extended to October 1, 2024 via court order). Registration is submitted through the ISP's online portal and must include the make, model, caliber, and serial number of each firearm. Registered assault weapons may be possessed at the owner's residence, at a licensed firing range, or while transporting between the two in a case.
The constitutionality of the Protect Illinois Communities Act has been challenged in both state and federal courts. In January 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the law in Caulkins v. Pritzker, finding that it did not violate the Illinois Constitution. Federal challenges under the Second Amendment, analyzed under the Bruen framework, remain pending in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Regardless of the ongoing litigation, the law remains in full effect and is actively enforced.
Protect Illinois Communities Act (HB 5471) - Illinois General Assembly (accessed 2025-01-10)
ISP Assault Weapon Registration - Illinois State Police (accessed 2025-01-10)
Concealed Carry in Illinois: CCL Requirements and Restrictions
Illinois was the last state in the nation to enact a concealed carry law, doing so in 2013 after the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the state's blanket prohibition in Moore v. Madigan (2012). The Illinois Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) established a shall-issue permit system administered by the Illinois State Police. To obtain a Concealed Carry License (CCL), applicants must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid FOID card, complete 16 hours of mandatory firearms training (including live-fire qualification), and pass a background check that includes a review of the applicant's mental health history, criminal record, and any arrests within the past seven years.
The 16-hour training requirement is among the most extensive in the nation. It must be conducted by an ISP-approved instructor and covers firearm safety, basic marksmanship, use-of-force law specific to Illinois, and the legal responsibilities of carrying a concealed firearm. At least 8 of the 16 hours must include range training with live ammunition. The training certificate is valid for three years from the date of completion, so applicants who delay their CCL application may need to retake the course.
Illinois's CCL comes with significant location restrictions. Concealed carry is prohibited in government buildings, schools and school property, public parks, public transportation, airports, hospitals, bars and restaurants that derive more than 50% of revenue from alcohol sales, stadiums, amusement parks, casinos, libraries, and Cook County Forest Preserve property. Property owners may also prohibit concealed carry by posting approved signage. Illinois recognizes no other state's concealed carry permit — it is one of the few states that offers zero reciprocity with other states.
Non-residents may apply for an Illinois CCL only if their home state has substantially similar licensing requirements. As of 2025, the ISP recognizes only four states as meeting this standard: Hawaii, Arkansas (Enhanced), Mississippi (Enhanced), and Virginia. This extremely limited non-resident provision means that most out-of-state visitors cannot legally carry concealed in Illinois, even if they hold valid permits from their home states.
Illinois Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) - Illinois General Assembly (accessed 2025-01-10)
ISP Concealed Carry License Information - Illinois State Police (accessed 2025-01-10)
Preemption, Home Rule, and Local Ordinances
Illinois has a complex relationship with state preemption of local firearms ordinances. Unlike many gun-friendly states that fully preempt local regulation, Illinois grants 'home rule' authority to municipalities with populations over 25,000 — and to any municipality that has adopted home rule by referendum. Home rule municipalities can enact firearm regulations that are more restrictive than state law, provided they do not conflict with specific state statutes that expressly preempt local regulation.
The Protect Illinois Communities Act partially addressed preemption by establishing that its assault weapons ban is a floor, not a ceiling — municipalities may ban additional firearms or impose stricter capacity limits. However, the FOID card system and the Concealed Carry Act both contain express preemption provisions that prevent municipalities from creating their own licensing or permitting systems. The result is a patchwork of local ordinances, particularly in the Chicago metropolitan area, that can catch unwary gun owners off guard.
The City of Chicago maintains the most extensive local firearms regulations in the state. Chicago requires a Chicago Firearm Permit (CFP) for all firearm owners within city limits — though recent litigation has challenged this requirement. The city also maintains an assault weapons registry that predates the state ban and has geographic restrictions on where firearms may be discharged, transported, and stored. Cook County has its own assault weapons ban (enacted before the state ban) with some definitional differences that remain relevant for pre-2023 enforcement actions.
For practical purposes, gun owners in Illinois should always check local ordinances before transporting firearms, especially when passing through the Chicago metropolitan area. The safest approach is to transport firearms unloaded, in a case, and separate from ammunition — which is also a requirement under the concealed carry transport provisions for non-CCL holders per 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(4) and (10).
Illinois Municipal Code - Home Rule (Article VII, Section 6) - Illinois Constitution (accessed 2025-01-10)
Chicago Municipal Code 8-20 (Firearms) - City of Chicago (accessed 2025-01-10)
Red Flag Law: Firearms Restraining Orders in Illinois
Illinois enacted its Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) law in 2018, making it one of the earlier states to adopt so-called 'red flag' legislation. Under 430 ILCS 67, family members, household members, law enforcement officers, and (as of a 2023 amendment) healthcare providers, school administrators, and co-workers may petition a circuit court for an emergency or plenary FRO if they believe an individual poses an immediate and present danger of causing personal injury to themselves or others.
An emergency FRO can be issued ex parte (without the respondent present) and lasts for 14 days. Within that period, a hearing must be held where the respondent can contest the order. If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent poses a significant danger, a plenary FRO lasting 6 months to one year can be issued. During the effective period of any FRO, the respondent must surrender all firearms and ammunition to law enforcement and is prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or receiving firearms. Their FOID card is automatically revoked.
The FRO process has specific due process protections built in. The respondent has the right to an attorney (though one is not provided by the state), the right to present evidence, and the right to cross-examine witnesses. After 14 days, the respondent may petition for early termination of a plenary FRO by demonstrating changed circumstances. If a plenary FRO expires without renewal, the respondent's FOID card is not automatically reinstated — they must reapply through the normal process.
Usage of FROs in Illinois has increased steadily since enactment. Cook County and DuPage County account for the majority of petitions filed. Critics argue the law infringes on due process rights by temporarily removing firearms before a full hearing, while proponents point to studies suggesting red flag laws reduce firearm suicides. Regardless of one's position on the policy, the law is actively enforced and failure to surrender firearms under an FRO constitutes a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 3 felony for subsequent violations.
Firearms Restraining Order Act (430 ILCS 67) - Illinois General Assembly (accessed 2025-01-10)
Transport Laws and Reciprocity with Other States
Transporting firearms in Illinois is governed by both state law and the federal Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA) safe passage provision (18 U.S.C. § 926A). For Illinois residents without a CCL, firearms must be transported unloaded, enclosed in a case, and the firearm must not be immediately accessible. Ammunition should be stored separately or in a compartment not immediately accessible to the driver. A valid FOID card must be carried whenever transporting firearms.
For non-residents passing through Illinois, FOPA's safe passage provision applies — meaning you may transport firearms through the state provided the firearms are unloaded and neither the firearm nor ammunition is readily or directly accessible from the passenger compartment. If the vehicle has no separate trunk, the firearm must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. However, FOPA only protects continuous transit — stopping overnight in Illinois or making an extended stop may negate the safe passage protection.
Illinois's lack of concealed carry reciprocity creates practical challenges for interstate travelers. If you hold a CCL from another state, you cannot carry concealed in Illinois (with the extremely limited non-resident exceptions noted above). You may, however, transport firearms in your vehicle consistent with Illinois's transport laws. Special rules apply at interstate highway rest stops and gas stations — the ISP has published guidance clarifying that brief stops for fuel and restroom use fall within FOPA's safe passage provisions.
For air travelers, firearms transported through Chicago O'Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW) airports must comply with both TSA regulations and Illinois law. Firearms must be declared at check-in, unloaded, in a hard-sided locked case, and checked as luggage. If you have a layover that requires you to collect and re-check your luggage, you must comply with Illinois's possession requirements — meaning you need either a valid Illinois FOID card or non-resident CCL, or must remain within the sterile area of the airport.
18 U.S.C. § 926A - Interstate Transportation of Firearms - Cornell Law Institute (accessed 2025-01-10)
720 ILCS 5/24-1 - Unlawful Use of Weapons - Illinois General Assembly (accessed 2025-01-10)
Penalties for Firearm Violations in Illinois
Illinois imposes severe penalties for firearm violations, with many offenses carrying mandatory minimum sentences. Possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense (up to 364 days in jail and $2,500 fine) but escalates to a Class 3 felony for subsequent offenses (2-5 years imprisonment). Aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (AUUW) — which includes carrying a loaded, uncased firearm on one's person or in a vehicle without a CCL — is a Class 4 felony carrying 1-3 years imprisonment.
Under the Protect Illinois Communities Act, selling, manufacturing, or delivering an assault weapon is a Class 3 felony. Possession of an unregistered assault weapon (for those who owned one before the ban but failed to register) is initially a civil infraction but escalates to a Class 3 felony for continued non-compliance after notice. Possession of a banned large-capacity magazine carries similar penalties. The penalties increase substantially if the possession occurs in conjunction with gang activity, drug trafficking, or on school property.
Armed habitual criminal (720 ILCS 5/24-1.7) is one of Illinois's most serious firearm charges. If a person possesses a firearm after two prior convictions for qualifying offenses (which include most violent felonies and serious drug offenses), they face a Class X felony carrying a mandatory 6-30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. This charge is non-probationable and requires the defendant to serve at least 85% of their sentence before becoming eligible for release.
Illinois also has sentencing enhancements for firearm use during other crimes. Under the Armed Violence statute (720 ILCS 5/33A-2), committing a felony while armed with a firearm adds 15 years to the sentence. Personally discharging a firearm during the commission of certain felonies adds 20 years, and if that discharge proximately causes great bodily harm or death, it adds 25 years to life. These enhancements are in addition to, not concurrent with, the sentence for the underlying offense.
720 ILCS 5/24-1.6 - Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon - Illinois General Assembly (accessed 2025-01-10)
720 ILCS 5/24-1.7 - Armed Habitual Criminal - Illinois General Assembly (accessed 2025-01-10)
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Citations
- Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (430 ILCS 65) - Illinois General Assembly. Accessed 2025-01-10.
- Illinois Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) - Illinois General Assembly. Accessed 2025-01-10.
- Protect Illinois Communities Act (HB 5471) - Illinois General Assembly. Accessed 2025-01-10.
- ISP Firearms Services Bureau - Illinois State Police. Accessed 2025-01-10.
- 720 ILCS 5/24 - Deadly Weapons Article - Illinois General Assembly. Accessed 2025-01-10.
- Firearms Restraining Order Act (430 ILCS 67) - Illinois General Assembly. Accessed 2025-01-10.
- 18 U.S.C. § 926A - Interstate Transportation of Firearms - Cornell Law Institute. Accessed 2025-01-10.
State-specific articles covering gun laws, licensing, carry permits, purchase requirements, and more.