Property owners wishing to prohibit concealed firearms from being carried on their property must post officially approved signage conspicuously at the entrance of their building, premises or real property, according to a regulation published by the Illinois State Police. Owners of parcels where concealed carry is prohibited by the Illinois Firearms Concealed Carry Act also must post the required sign in the same manner.
In July, 2013, the Illinois Legislature passed the Illinois Firearms Concealed Carry Act, which allows qualified persons to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm (handgun) in Illinois. (For more on the Act, please see Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act: What Employers Need to Know.) The Act prohibits concealed carry in numerous locations, including any property where the owner has posted a sign advising persons that firearms are not allowed on the premises.
The State Police regulation requires that the sign have a white background, no text (except the reference to Illinois Code) or marking within the one-inch area surrounding the graphic design, and a depiction of an encircled handgun in black ink with a diagonal slash in red ink across the firearm. The graphic image must be 4 inches in diameter and the sign in its entirety must be at least 4 inches x 6 inches. Rules permit the posting of a larger sign. (The Act provides that all signs must be of the uniform design approved by the State Police.) A copy of the approved template is available for downloading at www.isp.state.il.us/firearms/ccw.
According to the State Police, applications for concealed carry licenses should be available by January 5, 2014. The State Police have between 90 and 120 days to process an application.
