California time zone and daylight saving time

Pacific Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Los Angeles, UTC−7Sunrise 7:10 a.m. · Sunset 6:03 p.m. · 10 h 53 min of daylight

California at a glance

Time zone
Pacific
Daylight saving time
Observed. UTC−7 in summer, UTC−8 in winter.
Upcoming clock changes
  • Sunday, November 1, 2026: clocks fall back
  • Sunday, March 14, 2027: clocks spring forward
  • Sunday, November 7, 2027: clocks fall back
  • Sunday, March 12, 2028: clocks spring forward
Each change happens at 2:00 a.m. local time.
Permanent daylight time law
None. California is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted one.

All of California uses Pacific Time and observes daylight saving time: UTC−7 in summer and UTC−8 in winter.

Time zones in bordering states

California matches its northern and eastern neighbours all year. Its border with Arizona depends on the season.

Select a state on the map to see its time zone details.

Time zone map of California and surrounding states. Each state is a link to its page.Counties are shaded by time zone. Hatched counties are split between two zones; dotted areas do not observe daylight saving time, except the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona, which does observe it and is not drawn separately.ArizonaColoradoSouth DakotaTexasWyomingNew MexicoMontanaOregonUtahWashingtonNebraskaIdahoNevada

Current time in each zone

  • Central
  • MountainArizona
  • Pacific

No daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation in Arizona, which does observe it, isn't drawn separately.County split between two zones; the exact line isn't drawn

  • Oregon and Nevada: same time all along the border.
  • Arizona: most of Arizona stays on standard time all year. California matches it in summer and is 1 hour behind it in winter.
  • Mexico (Baja California): same time all year. Most of Mexico no longer changes its clocks, but Baja California, including Tijuana and Mexicali, still changes them on the same dates as California.

What permanent time would mean for California

Ending clock changes would mean keeping one time all year: either permanent daylight time or permanent standard time. Here’s how each would shift sunrise and sunset in Los Angeles.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

7:55 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 6:55 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 5:48 p.m. (now 4:48 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:08 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:08 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 4:42 a.m. (now 5:42 a.m.).

Times for Los Angeles, calculated for 2026. Actual sunrise and sunset can differ by a few minutes with terrain and weather.

California and permanent daylight time

California has not enacted a law to adopt permanent daylight time; it is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having done so.

California voters approved Proposition 7 in November 2018. It did not change the clocks by itself: it lets the Legislature adopt permanent daylight time (if Congress allows it) or permanent standard time, but only by a two-thirds vote of both houses. Lawmakers have not reached that threshold for either option, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

More recent proposals have leaned toward standard time. In 2025, a bill stating the intent to move to permanent standard time (Senate Bill 51) and a resolution acknowledging its health benefits (Senate Concurrent Resolution 7) both failed. A 2026 bill for permanent standard time (Senate Bill 1197) was pending as of March 2026, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

California’s choice also matters next door: Oregon’s 2019 law takes effect only once both California and Washington are on permanent daylight time (see Oregon).

Any switch to permanent daylight time would need Congress to act first. The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July 2026, and it is now with the Senate.

Common questions

What time zone is California in?

All of California uses Pacific Time and observes daylight saving time.

Didn’t Californians vote to stop changing clocks?

Voters approved Proposition 7 in 2018, which lets the Legislature end clock changes by a two-thirds vote. Lawmakers have not reached that threshold, so clocks keep changing.

Is California on the same time as Arizona?

In summer, yes. In winter, when California falls back, most of Arizona is 1 hour ahead.

Is Tijuana on the same time as San Diego?

Yes, all year. Baja California changes its clocks on the same dates as California, even though most of Mexico no longer does.

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation (49 CFR Part 71); Congressional Research Service; Congress.gov; National Conference of State Legislatures; Mexico: Ley de los Husos Horarios and CENAM (in Spanish).

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