AED Requirements in Illinois: Laws for Businesses, Gyms & Schools (2026)

Illinois is one of the more proactive states when it comes to automated external defibrillator (AED) access — and as a family-owned supplier based in Palatine, AED Professionals helps Illinois facilities meet those requirements every day. If you operate a gym, school, medical office, or other public-facing facility in the state, here is a clear look at AED requirements in Illinois for 2026 and how to stay compliant.

Which Illinois facilities are required to have an AED?

Illinois law requires AEDs in several categories of facilities, including:

• Physical fitness facilities — health clubs, gyms, and fitness centers (indoor and outdoor), under the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act (210 ILCS 74).
• Dental and medical offices that perform moderate or deep sedation or general anesthesia.
• Sheriff’s offices and certain police departments.
• Licensed horse racing facilities, which must keep at least two accessible, operational AEDs on the premises.
• Fitness facilities located within schools.

This is not an exhaustive list, and local ordinances can add requirements. Confirm your specific obligations with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and your local authorities.

The Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act

This Act — the cornerstone of Illinois’ fitness-facility rules — requires covered facilities to:

• Have at least one AED on site.
• Keep at least one trained AED user on staff during staffed business hours.
• Adopt and implement a written medical emergency plan, filed with IDPH.
• Coordinate with the local EMS system and register the device.
• Maintain and test the AED per manufacturer specifications and keep the maintenance manual on site.

Staff must know the AED’s location and the facility’s emergency plan. Outdoor and indoor physical fitness facilities alike fall under these rules.

Schools and CPR/AED education

Beyond fitness facilities within schools, Illinois requires that secondary school curricula include training on CPR and how to use an AED — a requirement in place since the 2014–2015 school year. Schools building or expanding an AED program should review our guide to AED requirements for schools.

Acquisition, training, and registration

Illinois’ Automated External Defibrillator Act sets expectations for anyone who acquires an AED: ensure users are properly trained in CPR and AED use, maintain the device, and register it with an agent of the local EMS system. These steps are not just box-checking — they are what keep your program ready and help preserve your liability protections.

Good Samaritan protection in Illinois

Illinois provides liability immunity for the good-faith use — or non-use — of an AED at a covered facility, provided the facility has met its obligations (such as adopting a medical emergency plan and maintaining the device). That protection does not extend to willful or wanton misconduct. Maintaining a compliant program is what keeps these protections intact.

Illinois AED compliance checklist

• Confirm whether your facility type is covered by Illinois law.
• Install the correct number of AEDs for fast retrieval.
• Adopt a written medical emergency plan and file it with IDPH where required.
• Keep at least one trained AED user on staff during operating hours.
• Register the device with your local EMS system.
• Run monthly readiness checks and keep pads and batteries in date.

Frequently asked questions

Are gyms required to have an AED in Illinois?

Yes. Under the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act, physical fitness facilities must have an AED on site, a trained user during staffed hours, and a filed medical emergency plan.

Do Illinois businesses have to register their AED?

Covered facilities must coordinate with and register the AED through their local EMS system. Verify the current process with IDPH and your EMS agency.

Does Illinois protect AED users from liability?

Yes, Illinois provides good-faith immunity at covered facilities that meet their requirements, except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct.

This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Illinois AED requirements may change; confirm current obligations with the Illinois Department of Public Health and your local authorities.