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.
Skokie, IL
Aircraft overflight noise in Skokie is regulated by the FAA, not the Village. Skokie lies within the O'Hare International Airport noise corridor, and residen...
Skokie, IL
Skokie restricts lawn equipment use — including gas and electric leaf blowers — to 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunda...
Skokie, IL
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Skokie, IL
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Skokie, IL
Skokie prohibits parking of commercial vehicles over 8,000 pounds gross weight on residential streets and driveways overnight. Box trucks, semi-tractors, and...
Skokie, IL
Skokie limits residential fences to 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards. Corner lots have additional sight-line restrictions at intersect...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
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