North Carolina time zone and daylight saving time

Eastern Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Charlotte, UTC−4Sunrise 7:42 a.m. · Sunset 6:32 p.m. · 10 h 50 min of daylight

North Carolina at a glance

Time zone
Eastern
Daylight saving time
Observed. UTC−4 in summer, UTC−5 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. North Carolina is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted one.

All of North Carolina uses Eastern Time and observes daylight saving time: UTC−4 in summer and UTC−5 in winter.

Time zones in bordering states

North Carolina and all four of its neighbours use Eastern Time where they meet, so the time is the same across every border, all year.

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

Time zone map of North Carolina 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.AlabamaGeorgiaIndianaWest VirginiaDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaKentuckyMarylandOhioTennesseeVirginiaSouth Carolina

Current time in each zone

  • Eastern
  • Central
  • Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia: same time all along the border.
  • Tennessee: same time; East Tennessee, next to North Carolina, uses Eastern Time.

What permanent time would mean for North Carolina

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 Charlotte.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:28 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 7:28 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 6:15 p.m. (now 5:15 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:41 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:41 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 5:09 a.m. (now 6:09 a.m.).

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

North Carolina and permanent daylight time

North Carolina 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.

The North Carolina House has supported the idea: in 2023, it passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent once federal law allows it (House Bill 326), but the bill did not become law. In 2025, two bills took opposite approaches, House Bill 12 for permanent standard time and Senate Bill 81 for permanent daylight time if Congress allows it; neither passed, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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 North Carolina in?

All of North Carolina uses Eastern Time and observes daylight saving time.

Is Charlotte on the same time as Atlanta?

Yes. Both use Eastern Time.

Is North Carolina considering ending clock changes?

Yes. Bills for both permanent daylight time and permanent standard time have been filed in recent years.

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation (49 CFR Part 71); Congressional Research Service; Congress.gov; National Conference of State Legislatures.

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