The Illinois State Police began accepting online applications for concealed carry permits pursuant to the Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66/1, et. seq.) on January 5, 2014 and expects the first licenses to be issued by mid-January. This means that business owners and employers who opt to ban concealed firearms from their workplaces should immediately post signage approved by the State Police for that purpose. (Click here to see a template of the approved sign). Places such as schools, government buildings, hospitals, gaming facilities, public parks and playgrounds and other “statutorily prohibited areas” must ban firearms from their premises and therefore, are required under the Act to post the sign. (Click here for a complete list of statutorily prohibited areas).

Requirements of Signage
Whether you opt to prohibit concealed firearms from your workplace, or are required to do so, you must post the approved signage clearly and conspicuously at the entrance of the building, premises, or real property. The signage approved by the Illinois State Police must meet the following criteria: (1) be of a uniform design; (2) have a white background; (3) have no text (except the reference to the Illinois Code 430 ILCS 66/1) or marking within the one-inch area surrounding the graphic design; (4) have a depiction of a handgun in black ink with a circle around and diagonal slash across the firearm in red ink; (5) have a circle that is four inches in diameter; and (6) must measure four inches by six inches in its entirety. You may post a larger sign on your premises (and even include additional language on it) if you believe it is necessary, but the smaller four inch by six inch sign must be included on the larger sign. (Click here for Illinois State Police information regarding the approved signage).

Parking Lot Exemption
It is important to remember that even if you ban firearms from your workplace, licensed individuals are permitted to carry a concealed firearm in their vehicles in the parking area of a prohibited location so long as the firearm is secured in the locked vehicle or locked compartment within the vehicle. Licensees also may carry a concealed unloaded firearm in the immediate area surrounding their vehicles for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving the firearm within the vehicle’s trunk.

Renters and Lessees
Please remember that if your company rents or leases its building, you should consult with the property owners before posting the sign. Private residences are excluded from the signage requirement. (Click here for the full text of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act).