Florida time zone and daylight saving time

Eastern and Central Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Jacksonville, UTC−4Sunrise 7:39 a.m. · Sunset 6:41 p.m. · 11 h 3 min of daylight

Florida at a glance

Time zone
Eastern; Central (western Panhandle)
Daylight saving time
Observed. UTC−4 in summer, UTC−5 in winter (Eastern Time areas).
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
Enacted in 2018. It needs federal approval before it can take effect.

Most of Florida uses Eastern Time. The western Panhandle, west of the Apalachicola River, uses Central Time. The whole state observes daylight saving time.

Which parts of Florida use which time

Central Time: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties, and part of Gulf County. These include Pensacola, Panama City, Fort Walton Beach and Destin.

Eastern Time: the rest of the state, including Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

Gulf County is divided between the two zones, so the time there depends on which side of the line you are on.

Time zones in bordering states

Florida’s time zone line runs through the Panhandle, so its two neighbours meet different parts of the state.

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

Time zone map of Florida 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.AlabamaGeorgiaArkansasMississippiSouth CarolinaLouisiana

Current time in each zone

  • Eastern
  • Central

County split between two zones; the exact line isn't drawn

  • Alabama: same time; the western Panhandle shares Alabama’s Central Time.
  • Georgia: same time from Tallahassee east. The exception is Jackson County, Florida, which uses Central Time and is 1 hour behind Georgia where they meet.

What permanent time would mean for Florida

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 Jacksonville.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:19 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 7:19 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 6:30 p.m. (now 5:30 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:32 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:32 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 5:25 a.m. (now 6:25 a.m.).

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

Florida and permanent daylight time

In 2018, Florida became the first state to enact a law to observe daylight saving time year-round, known as the Sunshine Protection Act (House Bill 1013). It takes effect only if Congress allows it; until then, Florida keeps changing its clocks. Florida is among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted such a law.

The federal bill of the same name, the Sunshine Protection Act, passed the U.S. House in July 2026 and is now with the Senate.

Common questions

What time zone is Florida in?

Most of Florida uses Eastern Time. The western Panhandle, including Pensacola and Panama City, uses Central Time.

Is Pensacola on Central Time?

Yes. Escambia County, home to Pensacola, uses Central Time.

Didn’t Florida pass a law to stop changing clocks?

Florida passed a law in 2018 to observe daylight saving time year-round, but it takes effect only if Congress allows it. Until then, clocks keep changing.

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

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