◆ ILLINOIS · CARRY LAW
Illinois.
Information, not legal advice. Confirm with the state before you carry.
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◆ THE SHORT ANSWEREvery tile below is one of the answers further down this page, with its citation.
Concealed, no permit
No
Open, no permit
No
In a vehicle, no permit
Only in some cases
Getting a permit
Yes, shall-issue
- You must produce your permit if an officer asks for it.
- Magazine capacity is capped here.
- A permit is required to buy a firearm, not just to carry one.
- This state has an extreme-risk protective order law.
◆ CARRYING HERE
What Illinois requires
The state's permit is the Concealed Carry License, issued by the Illinois State Police.
Carrying without a permit3
Can I carry concealed here without a permit?
Permitless or "constitutional" carry. "Limited" means some adults qualify and others do not. Read the qualifier.
No
A Concealed Carry License is required, and Illinois honors no other state's permit.
Can I carry openly here without a permit?
No
The Firearm Concealed Carry Act authorizes concealed carry only.
Can I keep a loaded handgun in my car without a permit?
Only in some cases
For an out-of-state visitor: yes, CONCEALED and only while it stays inside the vehicle. Step out and it must stay behind, locked in the vehicle or in a locked container inside it. You must be eligible to carry at home. A Louisiana driver qualifies without a permit, because Louisiana requires none, and must not hold an Illinois license. An Illinois resident without a license is on a different rule entirely: FOID card, unloaded and cased.
Permits and age3
If I want this state's permit, will they issue one?
Shall-issue means the state must issue to any qualified applicant. May-issue leaves it to an official's discretion.
Yes, shall-issue
Shall-issue, but a law enforcement agency may object and refer an application to a review board.
Can I get this state's permit if I live somewhere else?
Only in some cases
Only residents of states Illinois has determined are "substantially similar" may apply. Currently Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas and Virginia.
How old do I have to be to carry here?
The floor for the least restrictive lawful route. Where permitless and permit ages differ, the qualifier says so.
21
If an officer stops you1
Do I have to tell an officer I am armed?
"Required" means you must volunteer it on contact. "On request" means only when asked.
Only if asked
Only when the officer asks. You do not have to volunteer it. When asked you must say you are carrying, say where the firearm is, and let the officer secure it for the stop. This applies to out-of-state visitors carrying under the vehicle rule, not just license holders.
Buying and owning2
Do I need a state-issued card just to own or buy a firearm here?
Illinois' FOID is the main example. Distinct from a carry permit.
Required
A Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card is required to possess or acquire firearms or ammunition in-state.
Is there a limit on magazine capacity here?
Only in some cases
15 rounds for handguns, 10 for long guns. Magazines possessed before the ban are grandfathered subject to its conditions.
In force since January 10, 2023.
How the state governs guns2
Can a city here write its own gun rules on top of the state's?
Full preemption means state law is the only law. Partial means some cities may go further. Check locally.
Sometimes, check the city
Split by subject. A city cannot write its own rules about a LICENSE HOLDER carrying a handgun. That is the state's alone. It can still regulate people without a FOID or license, and the zoning, sale, transfer and storage of firearms. Check the city.
Does this state have a red-flag law?
An extreme risk protection order lets a court order firearms surrendered temporarily.
Yes, this state has one
Firearms Restraining Order Act.
◆ RECIPROCITY
Permits Illinois honors
If you are visiting Illinois, this is whether your permit counts here.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Not honored54
◆ RECIPROCITY, THE OTHER WAY
Where Illinois permits are honored
If you live in Illinois, this is where your permit travels.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored32
Honored, with a condition1
Not honored21
◆ NFA ITEMS
Suppressors and NFA legality
Federal registration is required everywhere these are legal. A state can prohibit them regardless, and several do.
Can I possess a suppressor here?
Federal NFA registration is required everywhere it is legal. State law can prohibit it regardless.
Prohibited
Prohibited outright. Federal NFA registration is not a defense.
Can I possess a short-barreled rifle here?
Prohibited
Prohibited outright. Federal NFA registration is not a defense.
Can I possess a short-barreled shotgun here?
Prohibited
Prohibited outright. Federal NFA registration is not a defense.
Can I possess a machine gun here?
Federally, civilian possession is limited to pre-1986 registered transferables.
Prohibited
Can I possess an AOW here?
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork, and it is still a firearm. The FOID card and the carry rules apply to it like any handgun.
No any-other-weapon provision in 720 ILCS 5/24-1Read at the Illinois General Assembly ↗Checked 9 days ago
How we checked there is no such law
Read 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(1) through (a)(7) on 2026-09-07 and searched for “cane gun”, “pen gun”, “wallet gun”, “zip gun”, “disguised” and “any other weapon”. None appears in the section.◆ SOURCES
Where this comes from
This is information, not legal advice. Gun law changes often and the penalty for getting it wrong is criminal. Confirm every answer with the state before you carry there.
- The authority
- the Illinois State Police ↗
- ATF’s index
- Illinois firearm statutes ↗ (PDF)