Firearm law reference

Illinois Gun Laws: Complete Guide

A practical overview of Illinois firearm laws affecting private transfers, purchases, carrying, transportation, storage, and ownership.

Illinois residents generally need a valid FOID card to acquire or possess firearms and ammunition. Private transfers require eligibility verification and records, public carry requires a CCL, and PICA restricts defined assault weapons, attachments, .50 caliber rifles and cartridges, and large-capacity magazines.

Illinois Gun Law Quick Facts

Start with the three rules most people need. The full comparison table covers the remaining purchase, carry, ownership, and restriction topics.

Minimum acquisition age: FOID and federal rules apply
Applicants under twenty-one generally need qualified parental or guardian consent for a FOID; federal dealer minimums remain eighteen for long guns and twenty-one for handguns and other firearms. [1][15]
Concealed Carry License: Required
Qualified applicants age twenty-one or older may apply after completing the statutory training and eligibility requirements. [5][6]
Assault weapons: State ban
PICA generally prohibits manufacture, sale, import, and new acquisition of defined assault weapons, assault-weapon attachments, and .50 caliber rifles. [4][3]

Swipe horizontally to read the full table.

Law	Status	What it means
Private sale eligibility check	Generally required	A private seller generally must use an FFL or the Illinois State Police system to verify the buyer's FOID under state and federal law, including NICS. [2][1]
FFL required for private transfers	FFL or ISP verification process	A same-state private transfer can use ISP verification instead of dealer processing, but statutory record-delivery and retention rules apply. [2]
Purchase credential	FOID required	Most Illinois residents need a valid FOID or qualifying CCL to acquire a firearm or ammunition. [1][13]
Waiting period	72 hours	Illinois generally requires at least seventy-two hours between agreement to purchase and delivery of a firearm. [3]
Firearm registration	Partial for PICA-regulated items	Illinois has no universal registration of every ordinary firearm, but continued possession of grandfathered PICA-regulated items required an ISP endorsement affidavit. [4][1]
Firearm owner credential	FOID generally required	Most Illinois residents must maintain a valid FOID card to possess firearms or ammunition. [1][13]
Permitless concealed carry	No	Public concealed carry generally requires a valid Illinois CCL and FOID eligibility. [5][6]
Open carry	Generally prohibited	Illinois generally does not authorize public open carry of firearms by ordinary civilians. [3][5]
Castle doctrine / duty to retreat	No statutory stand-your-ground law	Illinois has no stand-your-ground statute, but courts have generally held there is no duty to retreat before using justified force in the home or in public, and 720 ILCS 5/7-2 justifies deadly force against a violent unlawful entry into a dwelling. [21][20]
Vehicle carry and transport	CCL or statutory transport method	A CCL holder may carry a concealed handgun in a vehicle; otherwise a firearm generally must be broken down, inaccessible, or unloaded and enclosed in a case as the applicable exception requires. [12][5]
Magazine capacity	Generally 10 long-gun / 15 handgun rounds	PICA generally prohibits new acquisition and restricts possession of magazines over ten rounds for long guns or fifteen rounds for handguns, subject to exceptions and grandfather rules. [4][3]
NFA firearms	Many prohibited or narrowly limited	Illinois generally prohibits machine guns, silencers, and short-barreled firearms, with narrow statutory exceptions that federal approval alone does not replace. [3][16]
Firearms restraining orders	Yes	Family members and law enforcement may petition for emergency or plenary orders restricting a person who presents the statutory danger. [10]
Safe storage	Required in specified access-risk situations	A firearm must be secured when the owner knows or reasonably should know that a minor, at-risk person, or prohibited person is likely to gain access. [8]
Lost or stolen reporting	Within 48 hours	A FOID holder generally must report a lost or stolen firearm to local law enforcement within forty-eight hours after learning of the loss or theft. [9]
State preemption	Partial	Illinois preempts specified handgun, transport, and carry regulation, but some local firearm ordinances remain effective, including grandfathered assault-weapon rules. [11][5]
Private-transfer records	Required	Illinois requires detailed private-transfer records and delivery or retention under the statutory process; an informal bill of sale alone is insufficient. [2]

Handgun and Rifle/Shotgun Rules in Illinois

Illinois law mostly treats handguns and rifles/shotguns the same way, but a few rules — the layered FOID/federal age minimums, PICA's magazine-capacity cutoff, and the .50 caliber rifle ban — apply differently depending on firearm type.

Topic	Handguns	Rifles & shotguns
Minimum age to buy from a licensed dealer	21 (federal floor); a FOID applicant under 21 also needs qualifying parental or guardian consent to hold a FOID at all.	18 (federal floor for rifles/shotguns); the same FOID age/consent rule applies to the license needed to take possession.The FOID Act's own general age-21 rule, with its consent exception down to 18, sits on top of the federal dealer-sale age split. [1][15]
Large-capacity magazine limit	Generally 15 rounds	Generally 10 roundsPICA sets the cutoff differently for each firearm type; magazines owned before the statutory date have separate grandfathered possession and transport conditions. [4][3]
.50 caliber restriction	Not applicable — this PICA provision only reaches rifles.	PICA generally bans .50 caliber rifles and .50 BMG cartridges.An ordinary .50 caliber handgun is not reached by this particular PICA ban. [4][3]

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Private Sales and Transfers

Quick answer

A private Illinois firearm transfer generally requires a valid FOID or CCL, eligibility verification through an FFL or ISP, the 72-hour waiting period, and statutory transfer records. [2][1][3]

Before a transfer between non-FFLs, the seller generally must contact an FFL to conduct the transfer or submit the buyer's FOID number to ISP for validation under state and federal law, including NICS. An ISP approval is valid for thirty days. [2]
The parties must follow record requirements identifying the firearm, transaction, FOID and approval number. Depending on the route used, records must be delivered to an FFL and retained for the statutory period. [2]

Inspect the buyer's current FOID or CCL and complete ISP or FFL eligibility verification before transfer. [2]
Wait the full seventy-two hours before delivery and preserve the required approval and firearm information. [2][3]
Confirm the firearm, magazine, and recipient are not prohibited by PICA or another state or federal rule. [4][14]

Important notice: An informal bill of sale does not replace FOID verification, NICS review, waiting-period, FFL record-delivery, or retention duties. [2][3]

Buying a Firearm

Most Illinois residents need a valid FOID card to acquire firearms or ammunition. ISP reviews statutory state and federal eligibility when issuing and monitoring the card. [1][13]
A dealer conducts an FTIP/NICS inquiry, and Illinois generally bars firearm delivery until seventy-two hours after the agreement to purchase. Passing a check does not override the waiting period. [13][3]
Applicants under twenty-one generally need written consent from a qualified parent or guardian unless a statutory military exception applies. Federal dealer-age rules remain independently applicable. [1][15]
Before choosing a firearm or magazine, verify its status under PICA and any valid local ordinance. Many formerly common configurations and capacities cannot now be newly acquired by ordinary residents. [4][11]

Ownership and Prohibited Persons

Most residents must keep a valid FOID while possessing firearms or ammunition. Disqualifying events can lead to denial, suspension, revocation, and firearm disposition requirements. [1][13]
Illinois continuously checks relevant records for FOID and CCL eligibility. Criminal history, protective orders, specified mental-health findings, substance use, and other state or federal prohibitors can affect possession. [1][5]
A family member or law-enforcement officer may petition for an emergency or plenary firearms restraining order. An order can prohibit acquisition and possession and require surrender or seizure. [10]
Owners of qualifying PICA items acquired before the statutory cutoff could retain them only by satisfying the endorsement-affidavit and possession-location conditions, unless exempt. [4][3]

Concealed and Open Carry

Illinois does not have permitless carry. A resident generally must be at least twenty-one, hold a valid FOID, complete the required handgun training, and obtain an Illinois CCL before carrying a concealed handgun in public. [5][6]
Illinois does not recognize another state's permit as authority for general public carry. Only residents of states ISP identifies as substantially similar may apply for a nonresident Illinois CCL. [6][5]
A qualifying nonresident with home-state carry authority may keep a concealed firearm within a vehicle while traveling in Illinois under the limited statutory vehicle exception; leaving the vehicle triggers specific storage conditions. [5][12]
Open carry is generally not authorized for ordinary civilians. Hunting, range, property, employment, and law-enforcement exceptions are fact specific. [3][5]

Self-Defense and Castle Doctrine

Quick answer

Illinois's constitutional right to keep and bear arms is subject to the state's police power. Deadly force in self-defense is justified only to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or a forcible felony, and courts have generally held there is no duty to retreat before using justified force in the home or in public, though Illinois has no codified stand-your-ground statute. [19][20][21]

The Illinois Constitution states: "Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." That police-power qualifier is why the state's licensing and PICA restrictions coexist with the constitutional right. [19]
720 ILCS 5/7-1 justifies force against another person when and to the extent a person reasonably believes it necessary to defend themselves or another against imminent unlawful force. Force intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm is justified only if reasonably believed necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a forcible felony. [20]
720 ILCS 5/7-2 is Illinois's castle-doctrine statute: deadly force against an unlawful entry into or attack upon a dwelling is justified if the entry is made in a violent, riotous, or tumultuous manner and the occupant reasonably believes the force is necessary to prevent an assault or personal violence, or to prevent a felony inside the dwelling. [21]
Illinois has no statute labeled 'stand your ground.' Illinois Supreme Court case law has generally held there is no duty to retreat before using justified force in public, but this is a court-made rule rather than a codified one, and the reasonableness of the force used is still evaluated case by case under Section 7-1. [20]
720 ILCS 5/7-3 covers force in defense of property other than a dwelling: reasonable force may be used to prevent a trespass or other tortious or criminal interference with real or personal property, but deadly force is justified only if reasonably believed necessary to prevent a forcible felony. [22]

Important notice: Criminal-law justification does not automatically prevent civil liability for the same conduct. 720 ILCS 5/7-1(b) bars a civil claim only when it is brought by or on behalf of the person found to be the statutory 'aggressor' (unless the defender's conduct was willful or wanton) — it does not broadly immunize a defender from every civil suit arising from the same encounter, including one brought by someone other than the aggressor. Get individualized legal advice after any use of force. [20]

Transportation and Vehicles

A valid Illinois CCL holder may generally carry a concealed handgun in a vehicle, subject to prohibited-area and parking-lot rules. [5][7]
For FOID transport outside CCL authority, ISP describes lawful alternatives as a firearm broken down in a nonfunctioning state, not immediately accessible, or unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container. [12]
When a CCL holder stores a firearm in a prohibited-location parking area, it generally must be concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container and kept out of plain view. [7]
Federal safe passage may protect qualifying interstate transport, but it does not replace compliance at the trip's origin, destination, or extended stops. [17]

Restricted Firearms and Magazines

PICA generally prohibits manufacture, sale, import, purchase, and new possession of defined assault weapons, assault-weapon attachments, .50 caliber rifles, and .50 BMG cartridges. Definitions include named models and feature-based categories. [4][3]
Large-capacity ammunition feeding devices are generally limited to ten rounds for long guns and fifteen rounds for handguns. Grandfathered devices are subject to possession and transport conditions. [4][3]
Illinois generally prohibits machine guns, firearm silencers, short-barreled shotguns, and short-barreled rifles, subject to narrow occupational, collector, law-enforcement, military, or other statutory exceptions. [3][16]
Federal NFA approval is necessary for federally regulated items but does not override a separate Illinois prohibition. [3][16]

Safe Storage and Reporting

Since January 1, 2026, a firearm owner who knows or reasonably should know that a minor, at-risk person, or prohibited person is likely to gain access generally must secure the firearm in a locked container or with a device that makes it inaccessible or unusable to unauthorized persons. [8]
A firearm carried by or under the control of the owner or another lawful user is treated as lawfully stored. The Act includes exceptions for lawful defense and firearms obtained through unlawful entry. [8]
A FOID holder must generally report a lost or stolen firearm to local law enforcement within forty-eight hours after learning of the loss or theft and provide the specified identifying and incident information. [9][1]

Restricted Locations and Private Property

Illinois lists many prohibited carry areas, including schools and childcare, government buildings, courthouses, correctional facilities, public transit, hospitals, establishments with specified alcohol sales, public gatherings, parks, museums, stadiums, and other designated places. [7]
Private property owners may prohibit concealed firearms using the standardized statutory sign; private residences do not need to post the sign to control firearm entry. [7]
Some prohibited-location parking areas permit limited vehicle carry and locked storage. Exceptions vary, so the exact paragraph governing a destination should be reviewed before arrival. [7]

Preemption and Local Rules

Illinois preempts local regulation of handgun licensing, possession, and registration, FOID-holder transportation of firearms and ammunition, and CCL-holder handgun carry within the statutory scope. [11][5]
Preemption is not comprehensive. Other municipal restrictions are not automatically invalidated, and assault-weapon ordinances enacted within the 2013 statutory window may remain and may be amended. [11]
Check city and county rules, especially in Chicago and Cook County, before acquiring, possessing, storing, or transporting firearms and magazines. [11][4]

Before Completing a Private Firearm Sale in Illinois

Maintain a valid FOID before acquiring or possessing firearms or ammunition unless a specific exception applies. [1][13]
For a private transfer, verify FOID eligibility through an FFL or ISP, observe the 72-hour period, and complete every record requirement. [2][3]
Verify the firearm, attachment, caliber, and magazine under PICA and applicable local ordinances before agreeing to a transfer. [4][11]
Obtain an Illinois CCL before public concealed carry and review every prohibited location on the planned route. [5][7]
Secure firearms whenever a minor, at-risk person, or prohibited person is likely to gain access. [8]
Report a lost or stolen firearm to local law enforcement within forty-eight hours after discovery. [9]

Illinois General Assembly

Illinois Gun Law FAQ

Do I need a FOID card to own a gun in Illinois?

Most Illinois residents need a valid FOID to acquire or possess firearms and ammunition. Statutory exceptions exist, and a new resident generally has sixty days after obtaining an Illinois driver's license or ID to apply.

[1][12]

How old do I need to be to buy a gun in Illinois?

Illinois requires a FOID card to acquire a firearm, and an applicant under twenty-one generally needs qualifying parental or guardian consent to get one. Federal law separately sets the dealer sale age at eighteen for rifles and shotguns and twenty-one for handguns and other firearms, so both layers apply at once.

[1][15]

Is there a waiting period in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois generally requires seventy-two hours between the agreement to purchase and delivery of any firearm, including a qualifying private transfer.

[3][2]

Can I privately sell a firearm without an FFL in Illinois?

A same-state transfer may use ISP FOID verification instead of being conducted entirely by an FFL. The parties must still follow eligibility, NICS, waiting-period, record-delivery, and retention requirements.

[2][3]

Does Illinois register firearms?

Illinois does not universally register every ordinary firearm. However, residents retaining qualifying PICA-regulated assault weapons, attachments, .50 caliber rifles, or devices were generally required to submit an ISP endorsement affidavit by the statutory deadline.

[4][1]

Can a non-resident buy a firearm in Illinois?

Illinois does not issue a FOID card to non-residents, so a non-resident generally cannot buy a handgun directly from an Illinois dealer. A non-resident from a state that borders Illinois may buy a rifle or shotgun in person under the federal contiguous-state exception; any other out-of-state purchase must go through an FFL transfer into the buyer's home state.

[1][18]

Can a convicted felon own a gun in Illinois?

Generally no. A felony conviction is a disqualifying event under the FOID Card Act, and federal law under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) independently bars anyone with a felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Limited restoration or expungement procedures exist but require individualized review before any possession.

[1][18]

What is a Firearms Restraining Order in Illinois?

A Firearms Restraining Order lets a family or household member or a law-enforcement officer petition a court to temporarily prohibit a person who presents the statutory danger from acquiring or possessing firearms, and to require surrender of firearms and any FOID card while the order is in effect. Illinois issues both emergency and longer plenary orders under the statutory standards.

[10]

Can I carry concealed without a license in Illinois?

No. Public concealed carry generally requires an Illinois CCL. A FOID card alone is not a carry license.

[5][6]

How do I renew my Illinois Concealed Carry License?

A CCL is valid for five years. Renewal is handled online through the ISP Firearms Services Bureau and generally requires a state-approved refresher training course before the license expires. Confirm the current renewal window and training-hour requirements directly with ISP, since those specifics can change between license terms.

[5][6]

Does Illinois recognize another state's carry permit?

Not for general public carry. Residents of states ISP deems substantially similar may apply for an Illinois nonresident CCL, and a limited vehicle exception may protect qualifying visiting permit holders.

[6][5]

Does Illinois have a stand-your-ground law?

Illinois has no statute labeled 'stand your ground.' Courts have generally held there is no duty to retreat before using justified force in public or inside a dwelling, but the reasonableness of the force used is still evaluated under 720 ILCS 5/7-1 and 7-2, and deadly force is justified only to prevent death, great bodily harm, or specified felonies.

[20][21]

How may I transport a firearm in Illinois without a CCL?

A FOID holder generally relies on an applicable transport exception: broken down in a nonfunctioning state, not immediately accessible, or unloaded and enclosed in a case or other qualifying container.

[12]

What magazine capacities are legal in Illinois?

PICA generally treats more than ten rounds for a long gun or more than fifteen rounds for a handgun as a prohibited large-capacity feeding device. Grandfathered possession and narrow exemptions have special conditions.

[4][3]

Can I buy an AR-15 in Illinois?

An ordinary resident generally may not newly acquire an AR-15 or another firearm defined as an assault weapon under PICA. The definitions, exemptions, and pending litigation require current review before any transaction.

[4][3]

Are suppressors legal in Illinois?

Illinois generally prohibits firearm silencers. Federal NFA registration or approval does not by itself create an Illinois exception.

[3][16]

When must a firearm be locked in Illinois?

The Safe Gun Storage Act generally requires secure storage when the owner knows or reasonably should know a minor, at-risk person, or prohibited person is likely to gain access. Vehicle and prohibited-location rules may add requirements.

[8][7]

How quickly must I report a stolen firearm in Illinois?

A FOID holder generally must report a firearm's loss or theft to local law enforcement within forty-eight hours after obtaining knowledge of it.

[9]

Sources

Educational information only, not legal advice.

GunList does not provide legal advice and does not guarantee that this guide covers every law, exception, court ruling, or local ordinance. Laws and court orders can change quickly. Verify current requirements through official government sources or consult a qualified attorney before possessing, carrying, buying, selling, or transporting a firearm, or before relying on any self-defense or castle-doctrine provision.

Reading or using this guide does not create an attorney-client relationship with GunList, and GunList disclaims liability for any loss or harm arising from reliance on this content. A criminal-law justification for using force does not guarantee protection from civil liability; use-of-force outcomes are fact-specific and high-stakes, so consult a qualified attorney before acting.