The available registration locations vary by registry: 

• For individuals registering under the Illinois Sex Offender Registry:
  • 92^nd & Cottage Grove (9059 S. Cottage Grove) 
• For individuals registering under the Illinois Violence Against Youth and Murder Registry
  • 92^nd & Cottage Grove (9059 S. Cottage Grove)
  • Belmont & Campbell (2452 W. Belmont)
• For individuals registering under the Chicago Gun Offender Registry;
  • 92^nd & Cottage Grove (9059 S. Cottage Grove)
  • Belmont & Campbell (2452 W. Belmont)

Registration occurs daily from 7:30 am until 2:00 pm. 

Note: Individuals are seen on a first-come-first-served basis. Given the number of people who are required to register, it is not uncommon for there to be a line and significant wait times. It is advised, if possible, to arrive first thing in the morning to complete the process as fast as possible. 

When you register, you are required by law to provide certain information. CPD collects the majority of this information via the Basic Registration form which you can complete on-site. Information you will need to provide includes:

• CPD Basic Registration Form (you will complete on-site OR click here to download and complete beforehand.)
• See below for a list of the information required by law to be included on this form.
• A current driver’s license or other identification (copies can be made on-site)
• Proof of residency with name and home address dated within two weeks of your visit, unless you are homeless.
• Proof of residency options: Proof of I.D. with current address; utility, phone, internet or cable bill; government benefits document with address; unexpired vehicle registration with home address.
• Registration Fee, payable by cash, or money order (made out to the City of Chicago), in the amount of:
  • $100 for individuals on the Sex Offender Registry
  • $20 for initial registration; $10 for subsequent annual renewals on the Murder or Violence Against Youth Registries
  • $10 for initial registration; $5 for subsequent annual renewals on the Arsonist Registry
  • OR, a Fee Waiver Form with sufficient proof of income (see question #6 below for more information and click here to download the Fee Waiver Form to complete beforehand. You may also complete this form onsite.)
  • No fee is required for the Gun Offender Registry
• Your photograph and fingerprint will be taken on-site when you register.
• You will need to complete the CPD Basic Registration Form and the Fee Waiver Form (if applicable) on-site. The forms will be added to this website on May 1^st, 2023, in case you prefer to print, complete, and bring them with you to your visit. CPD staff are available on-site to help with questions on the forms.

CPD is required by law to include the following information on its Basic Registration Form:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Current address
• Current phone number
• Current place of employment
• Current employer’s phone number
• School (if currently attending)
• Extensions for the time period of registering
• Sex Offender Registry Only:
• Email addresses
• Instant messaging identities
• Other internet communication identities
• All URLs registered by the registrant
• Blogs, internet sites to which the registrant posts information
• A Copy of the terms and conditions of parole or released signed by the registrant
• County of conviction
• License plate numbers for every vehicle registered
• The age of the registrant at the time of conviction
• The age of the victim at the time of the commission of the offense
• Any distinguishing marks located on the body of the registrant

For individuals who are able to provide a fixed/permanent address, registration is required once per year; or every 90 days if convicted of violation of S.O.R.A after July 1, 2005. For individuals who lack a fixed address (e.g., are currently experiencing homelessness), registration is required by law on a weekly basis. 

More specifically:

Individuals required to register under the Illinois Sex Offender Registry

• Must register annually or every 90 days, for life (some convictions require 10 years of registration) with any municipality in which they reside, are employed, or attend school for a period of 3 or more days in aggregate during a calendar year (e.g., if they live in one municipality and are employed in another, they must register with both). 
• Must report any changes to address, employment, school within 3 days of change. 

Individuals required to register under the Illinois Murder or Violence Against Youth Registries:

• Must for a period of 10 years “after conviction or adjudication if not confined to a penal institution, hospital or any other institution or facility, and if confined, for a period of 10 years after parole, discharge or release from any such facility”.
• Must report any changes to address, employment, school within 5 days of change. 
• Must, if they are unable to provide a fixed address, register weekly and provide all addresses or locations where they have resided in the preceding seven days.
• Some convictions require lifetime registration.
• Must register once per year.

Individuals required to register under the Chicago Gun Offender Registry:

• Must register within 5 days of release from incarceration or sentencing if the sentence does not include incarceration.
• Must report any changes to address, employment, school within 5 days of change.
• Individuals must re-register on an annual basis, and for a time period of four years after the date of first registration.
• Must register within 5 days of moving to reside within the City of Chicago if they previously did not reside in the city.

Individuals required to register under the Illinois Arsonist Registry Act: 

• Must register within 10 days of release from incarceration or sentencing if sentence does not include incarceration.
• Must report any changes to address, employment, school within 10 days of change.
• Individuals must re-register annually for a period of 10 years.

When you arrive on-site, you will join the line to wait for an appointment. Residents are served on a first come, first served basis. You will be asked to complete a Basic Registration Form when you arrive, and a CPD staff person will help process your registration fee and make copies of your documents. Staff will also take your photo or fingerprint it if is your first time registering. If you are eligible for a Fee Waiver, you will also have to complete that form, and CPD staff will make copies of your income documents.

Fee waivers are available for individuals who qualify based on their income. In order to request the waiver, individuals must fill out a Fee Waiver Form on-site and bring sufficient proof of income (outlined below), to their annual registration visit.  Click here to download the Fee Waiver Form to complete before you arrive onsite to register.

Individuals are eligible for a fee waiver if they meet one or more of the following criteria: 

1. Can provide at least one of the following:
   • Illinois Medicaid Card (HealthChoice IL) 
   • HFS Medical Assistance Enrollment 
   • Proof of IDHS Benefits (recent mail, printout or LINK Card): EBT, SNAP, Cash Assistance, TANF, etc. 
   • CountyCare Card (133% of the Federal Poverty Level) 
   • Federal Court Fee Waiver Petition 
   • Secretary of State Homelessness Verification Form
2. Have a household income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income:
• Acceptable proof of income includes pay stubs, tax documents, social security letter, or other official proof issued by an employer or government entity.

If you are not able to register due to a long line, please remain in line and wait. CPD strives to serve everyone who arrived in line prior to 2 p.m., when feasible. If there is a long wait for a particular day, CPD will assess the number of individuals that they are able to register before the end of the day, and they will alert all others in line if they are unable to be seen that day. A Criminal Registrants Notification of Requirements (CRNR) is completed. This CPD document is sent to the Illinois Law Enforcement Data system (LEADS) (for the Sex Offender Registry and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry) and the reason is added into LEADS.

You can read the full laws here: 

• Illinois Sex Offender Registry Act
• Illinois Murder and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act
• Chicago Gun Offender Registration Ordinance
• Illinois Arsonist Registration Act