Overview of Section 66/65
Section 65 of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66/65) establishes a comprehensive list of locations where concealed carry is prohibited, even for holders of a valid CCL.[1] Illinois's prohibited locations list is one of the most extensive in the nation, covering more than 20 distinct categories of places. Private property owners and businesses may also prohibit concealed carry by posting approved signage.[2]
Educational Institutions
Concealed carry is prohibited in any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public or private elementary or secondary school, as well as any pre-school or child care facility. The prohibition also extends to public or private colleges, community colleges, and universities, covering buildings, real property, and parking areas under their control.[1]
Government Buildings and Courts
The Act prohibits concealed carry in any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of any officer of the executive or legislative branch of government. Any building designated for matters before a circuit court, appellate court, or the Supreme Court is also prohibited. Buildings or portions of buildings under the control of a unit of local government are likewise off-limits.[1]
Detention and Correctional Facilities
Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of an adult or juvenile detention or correctional institution, prison, or jail is a prohibited location.[1]
Healthcare Facilities
Concealed carry is prohibited in any public or private hospital or hospital affiliate, mental health facility, or nursing home.[1]
Public Transportation
Any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds is prohibited, along with the stations, platforms, and stops serving those systems.[1]
Alcohol-Serving Establishments
Any building, real property, and parking area under the control of an establishment where more than 50% of gross receipts come from the sale of alcohol is a prohibited location. This threshold is specific -- a restaurant where food revenue exceeds alcohol revenue is not automatically prohibited, though individual owners may still post signage prohibiting firearms.[1]
Entertainment, Recreation, and Cultural Venues
The following are all prohibited locations:[1]
- Stadiums, arenas, and their real property and parking areas, including any collegiate or professional sporting event
- Amusement parks, zoos, and museums, including their real property and parking areas
- Public libraries, including their real property and parking areas
- Gaming facilities, including their real property and parking areas
- Public parks, athletic areas, and athletic facilities under the control of a municipality or park district
- Cook County Forest Preserve District property
Special Events and Other Locations
Any public gathering or special event conducted on property open to the public that requires a government-issued permit is prohibited. Concealed carry is also banned in nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development facilities, and in any area where firearms are prohibited under federal law.[1]
Private Property Signage
Beyond the statutory list, private property owners may prohibit concealed carry by posting a sign of a specific design prescribed by the ISP at the entrance of their establishment. A CCL holder who enters a properly posted private property while carrying a concealed firearm is in violation of the Act.[3]
Penalties
A first violation of the prohibited locations provision is a Class B misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation is a Class A misdemeanor. Carrying in certain sensitive locations (such as schools) may result in additional or enhanced charges under the Criminal Code.[2]
Public Transportation Prohibition -- 430 ILCS 66/65(a)(8)
Section 66/65(a)(8) prohibits carrying a concealed firearm on any public transportation facility, including the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, Pace buses, and any other publicly funded transportation system. This prohibition was challenged by four Illinois CCL holders in Schoenthal v. Raoul.
On September 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the transit prohibition, finding it consistent with the historical tradition of firearm regulation required by New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. On April 6, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs' petition for certiorari (case 25-541), leaving the Seventh Circuit ruling in place [99]. The transit carry prohibition is now final.
Practical consequence: An Illinois CCL holder may not carry a concealed firearm on a CTA bus or train, on Metra, on Pace, or on any other publicly funded transit. Storage of an unloaded, cased firearm in checked baggage or similar is not covered by this ruling and remains subject to separate provisions.