Local Firearms Preemption: Arlington Heights vs Chicago
How do local firearms preemption rules compare between Arlington Heights, IL and Chicago, IL?
Arlington Heights and Chicago have similar restriction levels.
Arlington Heights, IL
Cook County
Illinois statewide preemption under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act bars most municipal gun ordinances, but Cook County's grandfathered assault weapons ban (Ord. 06-O-50) survives in unincorporated areas and several suburbs.
View full Arlington Heights rules →Chicago, IL
Cook County
Illinois law preempts most local firearm regulation, but Chicago's home-rule status survives in narrow areas. The McDonald v. Chicago decision struck down the city handgun ban; current MCC 8-20 governs registration adjacent to state FOID law.
View full Chicago rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington Heights | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| State act | Firearm Concealed Carry Act (2013) | - |
| Cook ban | Ord. 06-O-50, Ch. 54 Art. III | - |
| Court ruling | Wilson v. Cook County (2017) | - |
| Applies in | Unincorporated Cook + suburbs | - |
| State preemption | - | Firearm Concealed Carry Act |
| City code | - | MCC chapter 8-20 |
| Required state ID | - | FOID card, 430 ILCS 65 |
| Assault weapons | - | Banned under PA 102-1116 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington Heights FAQ
Can my suburb pass a stricter gun law?
Only home-rule municipalities can. Non-home-rule suburbs are preempted by 430 ILCS 66/90 from regulating handgun possession or carry beyond state law.
Does the Cook County assault weapons ban still apply?
Yes. It was grandfathered before the 2013 state preemption and was upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2017.
Chicago FAQ
Can Chicago still require handgun registration?
No. The city dropped its registration scheme after McDonald v. Chicago and Illinois preemption. Owners hold a state FOID card; Chicago has no separate registry.
Does Chicago's old handgun ban still apply?
No. The 2010 McDonald v. Chicago ruling struck down the ban. The City Council repealed it and replaced it with MCC chapter 8-20 storage and transport rules.
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