Virginia time zone and daylight saving time

Eastern Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Richmond, UTC−4Sunrise 7:32 a.m. · Sunset 6:15 p.m. · 10 h 43 min of daylight

Virginia 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. Virginia is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted one.

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

Time zones in bordering states

Virginia and all 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 Virginia 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.AlabamaGeorgiaIndianaNew JerseyNorth CarolinaPennsylvaniaWest VirginiaDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaKentuckyMarylandMichiganNew YorkOhioTennesseeSouth Carolina

Current time in each zone

  • Eastern
  • Central
  • Maryland, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and North Carolina: same time all along the border.
  • Kentucky and Tennessee: same time; the parts of both states next to Virginia use Eastern Time.

What permanent time would mean for Virginia

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 Richmond.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:21 a.m.

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

Winter sunset: 5:55 p.m. (now 4:55 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:34 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:34 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 4:49 a.m. (now 5:49 a.m.).

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

Virginia and permanent daylight time

Virginia 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.

Lawmakers have tried both directions. A 2023 bill for permanent daylight time (Senate Bill 1017) failed, and in 2025 separate bills, one for permanent standard time and one for permanent daylight time, also failed, 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 Virginia in?

All of Virginia uses Eastern Time and observes daylight saving time.

Is Bristol on the same time on both sides of the state line?

Yes. Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee both use Eastern Time.

Is Virginia on the same time as Washington, D.C.?

Yes. Both use Eastern Time.

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

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