Section 4015.10  Unlawful Acts

It is unlawful:

a)         For any person other than the landowner, Illinois Nature Preserve Commissioners, their staff or staff of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to enter any dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer or portion thereof if that area has been closed to visitors by notice posted by the landowner or the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

b)         For any person to possess or consume or be under the influence of intoxicating beverages, including beer, or to be in violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act [720 ILCS 570], the Cannabis Control Act [720 ILCS 550], the Use of Intoxicating Compounds Act [720 ILCS 690], the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act [720 ILCS 600], or the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act [720 ILCS 635] in any dedicated nature preserve.

c)         For any person to camp or place a tent or trailer or any type of camping device in a dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer unless provided for in the nature preserve or nature preserve buffer approved master plan (see 17 Ill. Adm. Code 4000.150 and 4000.160).

d)         For any person to cut, break, injure, destroy, take or remove any artifact, tree, shrub, timber, flower, plant, or other natural object, including rocks, soil, or water, from a dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer; except that small quantities of such materials may be collected and removed for scientific or educational purposes by written permit from the owner, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, and except for management in accordance with an approved master plan (see 17 Ill. Adm. Code 4000.150 and 4000.160).

e)         For any person to kill, cause to be killed, harass, pursue or take any animal, whether mammal, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, or invertebrate, or its nest or habitat in a dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer; except that small quantities of such materials may be collected and removed for scientific or educational purposes by written permit from the owner, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, and except for management purposes in accordance with an approved master plan.

f)         For any person to conduct scientific research in a dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer without a written permit from the owner, the Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

g)         For any person to possess a firearm, airgun, slingshot, bow and arrow, or any other weapon within the boundaries of any dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer, except:

1)         authorized peace officers;

2)         as authorized for management and control measures for wildlife population control in accordance with a plan approved by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and the landowner; or

3)         a person properly licensed under the Illinois Firearm Concealed Carry Act [430 ILCS 66] who is possessing or carrying a concealed firearm in accordance with said Act while on open lands, trails, or any area which the landowner has not prohibited the carrying of concealed firearms as designated by a sign posted in accordance with the Act indicating that firearms are prohibited within that area.

h)         For any person to take, mutilate, deface, move, or destroy any structure, artifact, improvement, work, sign, stone, soil, or other natural object or material in any dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer, except for management in accordance with an approved master plan.

i)          For any person to operate a motor vehicle in any dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer other than on designated roadways or parking areas or to park a motor vehicle in a place other than designated parking areas, except for maintenance and management vehicles operated by authorized persons.

j)          For any person to operate a motor vehicle in a reckless manner or to exceed posted speed limits on roadways within any dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer.

k)         For any person to build or light any fire or willfully or carelessly permit any fire that has ignited or been caused to ignite or that is under the person's charge and care to spread or extend to or burn any part of a dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer, except for prescribed burning for vegetation management in accordance with an approved master plan and for camp fires in designated locations within picnic areas located in nature preserve buffers in accordance with an approved master plan.

l)          For any person to discard rubbish of any kind in any dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer except in designated containers provided by the landowner or the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

m)        For any person to bring or allow to enter into a dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer any dog, cat, horse, or other animal or pet, unless provided for in an approved master plan.

n)         For any person to engage in any sporting or athletic activity, including swimming, within the boundaries of any dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer unless provided for in an approved master plan.

o)         For admittance to be granted to groups of 25 or more persons to any nature preserve or nature preserve buffer unless written permission from the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and the landowner has been secured in advance.  Groups of 25 or more will be granted permission to visit preserves if the groups do not exceed the capacity of the facility.

p)         For any group of minors to enter a dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer without adequate supervision.  At least one responsible adult shall accompany each group of not more than 15 minors.

q)         For any person to plant or disperse any native or non-native plant or release or disperse any native or non-native animal species or their parts or any other material or object into any dedicated nature preserve or nature preserve buffer without the written approval of the landowner and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 12406, effective August 4, 2023)