What Are the Gun Laws in Illinois?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Illinois requires a FOID card for firearm ownership, mandates background checks for all sales, bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and has strict concealed carry licensing requirements.
What This Means for You
For builders in Illinois, the state's assault weapons ban significantly restricts what you can legally assemble. The FOID card requirement applies to all firearm components and ammunition purchases. Private transfers must go through licensed dealers with background checks. These laws create substantial compliance burdens that don't exist in many other states.
The Detail
Illinois operates under some of the most restrictive firearm laws in the United States. The Firearm Owner's Identification Card system requires all residents to obtain a FOID card before purchasing or possessing firearms, ammunition, or firearm components. This includes everything from complete firearms down to individual parts used in builds. The application process involves background checks and can take several months to complete.
The state's assault weapons ban, enacted in 2023, prohibits the sale, manufacture, or transfer of numerous semi-automatic rifles and pistols. This includes many popular platforms commonly used for home builds. The law also bans magazines with capacities over 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns. Existing owners were required to register their firearms with the state by a specific deadline, though you should verify current registration requirements with Illinois State Police.
All firearm transfers in Illinois must go through licensed dealers with mandatory background checks, including private sales between individuals. There are no gun show or private sale exemptions. The state also has a mandatory waiting period for firearm purchases. Cook County and several municipalities have additional local ordinances that may be more restrictive than state law.
Concealed carry requires a separate license with training requirements, and the state does not have constitutional carry provisions. Illinois is a may-issue state for concealed carry, though in practice they generally issue to qualified applicants. Given the complexity and frequent changes to Illinois firearms law, you should always verify current requirements with the Illinois State Police or consult with a local attorney familiar with firearms law.
Build Impact
Many common build platforms fall under Illinois assault weapon restrictions, severely limiting your options compared to more permissive states. You'll need to carefully research whether your planned build configuration complies with both state assault weapon definitions and magazine capacity limits before purchasing any components.