Illinois prohibits open carry of firearms statewide under 720 ILCS 5/24-1 and the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, which authorized only concealed carry. Cook County follows state law; there is no local open-carry exception in unincorporated areas or suburbs.
When Illinois passed the Firearm Concealed Carry Act in 2013, the legislature explicitly authorized only concealed carry, leaving the existing prohibition on open carry under 720 ILCS 5/24-1 in force. A handgun must be concealed on the person or carried in a case, unloaded, when in public. Cook County has no local rule loosening this. The only narrow exceptions are at one's own dwelling, fixed place of business, or while hunting on permitted lands. Plainclothes and off-duty law enforcement are also exempt.
Open carry of a handgun is Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, a Class 4 felony first offense; second offense is Class 2 with three to seven years prison.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Oak Park, IL
Oak Park's animal control ordinance prohibits dogs from barking excessively to the point of disturbing neighbors. Under Village Code, keeping an animal that ...
Oak Park, IL
Oak Park regulates outdoor music under its general noise ordinance. Residents may play music outdoors during permitted hours but must keep volume at levels t...
Oak Park, IL
Oak Park Village Code Chapter 23 establishes strict noise regulations. Quiet hours run from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 PM to 8:00 A...
Oak Park, IL
Oak Park prohibits amplified music and sound systems that create unreasonable noise disturbing neighbors, particularly during quiet hours (9 PM–7 AM weekdays...
Oak Park, IL
Oak Park is not located directly under major airport flight paths and does not have its own local airport. The Village does not maintain separate aircraft no...
Oak Park, IL
Oak Park permits leaf blower use during allowed construction and landscaping hours, generally 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Leaf blower use on ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how Oak Park's open carry rules stack up against other locations.
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