430 ILCS 66:
Firearm Concealed Carry Act Overview

The Firearm Concealed Carry Act, codified at 430 ILCS 66, is Illinois's governing statute for the lawful carrying of concealed firearms. Enacted in 2013, the Act established a shall-issue Concealed Carry License (CCL) system administered by the Illinois State Police (ISP).^[1] The Act covers eligibility requirements, training mandates, prohibited locations, and the obligations of CCL holders throughout the state.

Background and Enactment

The Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) was enacted in 2013 through Public Act 98-63. In 2012, the Seventh Circuit described Illinois as the only state maintaining a flat ban on carrying ready-to-use guns outside the home.^[1] The law was passed after the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Moore v. Madigan (2012) that Illinois's blanket prohibition on carrying firearms in public was unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The court initially stayed its mandate for 180 days to allow the Illinois legislature to craft a new gun law imposing reasonable limitations on carrying guns in public.

Shall-Issue Framework

Illinois operates under a shall-issue model, meaning the Illinois State Police (ISP) must issue a Concealed Carry License (CCL) to any applicant who meets all statutory qualifications.^[2] The ISP cannot deny a license based on discretionary judgment alone. Law enforcement agencies may file objections to specific applications, which are then reviewed by the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board, a board within the Illinois State Police that determines by majority vote whether the applicant is eligible for a license.^[1]

Core Provisions

The Act permits a CCL holder to carry a loaded or unloaded handgun fully or partially concealed on or about their person, or on or about their person within a vehicle.^[1] The license is valid for five years from the date of issuance. Applicants must be at least 21 years old. Resident applicants must hold a valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, or apply for one with their CCL application. Nonresident applicants submit the required eligibility documentation in place of a FOID card. New applicants must complete at least 16 hours of approved firearms training, subject to statutory credits and exemptions.^[2]

Application and Fees

Applications are submitted electronically through the ISP Firearms Services Bureau portal. The application fee is $150 for Illinois residents and $300 for non-residents.^[2] Except as otherwise provided in the Act, the ISP must issue or deny a license no later than 90 days after receipt of a completed application, with 30 additional days if fingerprints are not submitted. Referral of an objection to the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board tolls that period during review and until the Board issues its decision. Under 20 Ill. Adm. Code 1231.120(c), a CCL that expires during a statewide Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation is conditionally renewed if the holder applied for renewal while the proclamation was in effect, holds an active FOID card and is not subject to revocation. Renewal requires proof of completion of at least 3 hours of ISP-approved firearms training, subject to statutory exemptions.^[1]

Key Regulatory Features

The Act establishes more than 20 categories of prohibited locations where concealed carry is not permitted, a parking area exception allowing licensees to store firearms concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view at most restricted locations, and a duty to disclose a concealed firearm when an officer requests disclosure during an investigative stop. The parking area exception does not apply to nuclear facilities or places where firearms are prohibited by federal law. A licensee may satisfy that disclosure duty by presenting the CCL.^[3] It also created the framework for non-resident licenses, available to residents of states with substantially similar firearms laws.^[1]

Relationship to Other Firearms Laws

The Concealed Carry Act works in conjunction with the FOID Act (430 ILCS 65), which generally requires a FOID card for firearm possession in Illinois, subject to statutory exemptions.^[4] Resident applicants must hold a valid FOID card, or apply for one with their CCL application. Nonresident applicants submit the required eligibility documentation in place of a FOID card. Violations of the Act's provisions may result in criminal charges under 720 ILCS 5/24-1 (Unlawful Possession of Weapons) or 720 ILCS 5/24-1.6 (Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon), depending on the nature and severity of the violation. A licensee who has a valid license and is otherwise eligible to carry is subject only to the penalties under Section 70 for an Act violation and is not subject to the Criminal Code penalties specified in Section 70(f).^[5]

See also: How to Apply for an Illinois Concealed Carry License

See also: 430 ILCS 66/65: Prohibited Locations for Concealed Carry