POSSESSION OF FIREARMS (8-20-020 et seq.))

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 8, ch. 8-20, art. II

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-020 Unlawful possession of a firearm.

8-20-020 Unlawful possession of a firearm. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess a firearm in violation of any applicable state or federal law. (b) This section shall not apply to concealed carry licensees under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66/1, et seq.) and holders of a FOID card under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (430 ILCS 65/0.01, et seq.). (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d), in addition to the sanctions provided in Sections 8-20-070 and 8-20-250, any person who violates this section shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000, or be incarcerated for not less than 20 days nor more than 90 days, or both. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (d) In addition to the sanctions provided in Sections 8-20-070 and 8-20-250, any person who: (i) violates this section for a second or subsequent time; or (ii) violates this section and has a previous weapons conviction; or (iii) carries or possesses an assault weapon, a high capacity magazine, a laser sight accessory, or a firearm silencer or muffler as defined in Section 8-20-010, in violation of this section, shall be fined not less than $10,000 nor more than $20,000, or be incarcerated for not less than 90 days nor more than 180 days, or both. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (Added Coun. J. 12-14-22, p. 58876, § 1) Editor's note – Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 7, repealed former § 8-20-020, which pertained to unlawful possession of handguns.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-030 Reserved. Editor's note – Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 7, repealed § 8-20-030, which pertained to unlawful possession of long guns.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-035 Reserved. Editor's note – Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 7, repealed § 8-20-035, which pertained to unlawful possession of unregisterable firearms.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-040 Reserved. Editor's note – Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 7, repealed § 8-20-040, which pertained to firearms kept or maintained in a home.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-050 Firearms - Protection of minors.

8-20-050 Firearms - Protection of minors. (a) It is unlawful for any person to keep or possess any firearm or ammunition in his home if the person knows or has reason to believe that a minor under the age of 18 years is likely to gain access to the firearm or ammunition, unless: (1) the person is physically present in the home and the firearm is either being held by the person or is physically secured on the person's body; (2) the firearm is secured by a trigger lock or other mechanism, other than the firearm safety mechanism, designed to render a firearm temporarily inoperable; or (3) the firearm and ammunition are placed in a securely locked box or container. (b) No person shall be punished for a violation of this section under the following circumstances: (1) if the minor gains access to the firearm and uses it in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another; or (2) if the minor gains access to the firearm because of an unlawful entry of the premises by the minor or another person. The provisions of this section shall not apply to peace officers. (Added Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-060 Possession of a laser sight accessory, firearm silencer or muffler.

8-20-060 Possession of a laser sight accessory, firearm silencer or muffler. (a) It is unlawful for any person to carry, possess, display for sale, sell or otherwise transfer any laser sight accessory, or a firearm silencer or muffler. (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any members of the armed forces of the United States, or the organized militia of this or any other state, or peace officers, to the extent that any such person is otherwise authorized to acquire or possess a laser sight accessory, or firearm silencer or muffler, and is acting within the scope of his duties. (c) Any laser sight accessory, or firearm silencer or muffler, carried, possessed, displayed or sold in violation of this section is hereby declared to be contraband and shall be seized by and forfeited to the city. (Added Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 4)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-070 Unlawful firearm, laser sight accessory, or firearm silencer or muffler in a motor vehicle - Impoundment.

8-20-070 Unlawful firearm, laser sight accessory, or firearm silencer or muffler in a motor vehicle - Impoundment. (a) The owner of record of any motor vehicle that contains: (i) a firearm that is carried or possessed in violation of any applicable state or federal law other than the expiration of a FOID card or concealed carry license of a person who otherwise remains qualified under Illinois law to lawfully possess or carry firearms; or (ii) an assault weapon; or (iii) a laser sight accessory; or (iv) a firearm silencer or muffler, shall be liable to the City for an administrative penalty of $2,000 plus any towing and storage fees applicable under Section 9-92-080. Any such vehicle shall be subject to seizure and impoundment pursuant to this section. (b) Whenever a police officer has probable cause to believe that a vehicle is subject to seizure and impoundment pursuant to this section, the police officer shall provide for the towing of the vehicle to a facility controlled by the City or its agents. Before or at the time the vehicle is towed, the police officer shall notify any person identifying himself as the owner of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation or the person who is found to be in control of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation, if there is such person, of the fact of the seizure and of the vehicle owner's right to request a vehicle impoundment hearing to be conducted under Section 2-14-132 of this Code by serving such person with a copy of the vehicle impoundment seizure report. (c) Section 2-14-132 shall apply whenever a motor vehicle is seized and impounded pursuant to this section. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to regulate any firearm to the extent that such regulation is preempted. (Added Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 14596, Art. I, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-17-13, p. 57262, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-22-20, p. 18957, § 5)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-075 Possession of assault weapons.

8-20-075 Possession of assault weapons. (a) It shall be unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess an assault weapon. (b) This section shall not apply to corrections officers, members of the armed forces of the United States, or the organized militia of this or any other state, and peace officers, to the extent that any such person is otherwise authorized to acquire or possess assault weapons, and is acting within the scope of his duties, or to any person while engaged in the manufacturing, transportation or sale of assault weapons to people authorized to possess them under this section. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (a): (1) Any person who lawfully possesses a firearm that on the effective date of this section became prohibited as being an assault weapon has 60 days after the effective date of this section to legally dispose of, or remove from the city, the assault weapon. (2) Any person who is a qualified retired law enforcement officer, as that term is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 926C, and who lawfully possessed a duty-related assault weapon at the time of separation from active duty in law enforcement, shall legally dispose of, or remove from the city, the assault weapon within 60 days of such separation. (d) Any assault weapon carried, possessed, displayed, sold or otherwise transferred in violation of this section is hereby declared to be contraband and shall be seized by and forfeited to the city. (Added Coun. J. 7-17-13, p. 57262, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-080 Reserved. Editor's note – Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 7, repealed § 8-20-080, which pertained to possession of ammunition.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-085 High capacity magazines and certain tubular magazine extensions - Sale and possession prohibited - Exceptions.

8-20-085 High capacity magazines and certain tubular magazine extensions - Sale and possession prohibited - Exceptions. (a) It is unlawful for any person to carry, possess, sell, offer or display for sale, or otherwise transfer any high capacity magazine or tubular magazine extension for a shotgun. This section shall not apply to corrections officers, members of the armed forces of the United States, or the organized militia of this or any other state, and peace officers, to the extent that any such person is otherwise authorized to acquire or possess a high capacity magazine or tubular magazine extension for a shotgun, and is acting within the scope of his duties, or to any person while in the manufacturing, transportation or sale of high capacity magazines or tubular magazine extension for a shotgun to people authorized to possess them under this section. (b) Any high capacity magazine or tubular magazine extension for a shotgun carried, possessed, displayed, sold or otherwise transferred in violation of this section is hereby declared to be contraband and shall be seized by and forfeited to the city. (Added Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 7-17-13, p. 57262, § 1)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-090 Limitation on purchase of handguns.

8-20-090 Limitation on purchase of handguns. (a) No person shall purchase more than one handgun within any 30-day period; provided that this section shall not apply to the purchase of a handgun by: (1) a peace officer; (2) a collector issued a federal firearm collector's license who is purchasing an antique, curio or relic firearm; (3) a person whose handgun was stolen or lost and the person timely reported the theft or loss to the appropriate local law enforcement official; or (4) a person returning a handgun purchased within the thirty-day period because the handgun is defective or damaged and the person is seeking a replacement handgun. (b) No person shall sell or transfer any firearm to a person he knows to be intoxicated. (Added Coun. J. 6-25-14, p. 83727, § 8) Editor's note – Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 7, repealed a former § 8-20-090, which pertained to interstate transportation of firearms.

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-20-100 Sale or transfer of firearms at gun shows prohibited.

8-20-100 Sale or transfer of firearms at gun shows prohibited. No firearm shall be sold or otherwise transferred by any person at a gun show. For purposes of this subsection, "gun show" means a temporary exhibit or gathering where firearms or ammunition are sold, leased, or otherwise transferred. (Added Coun. J. 7-2-10, p. 96234, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 7-6-11, p. 3073, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 1-17-13, p. 45370, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 9-11-13, p. 59869, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 6-25-14, p. 83727, § 8)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2644479Fetched: 10/24/2026