{{Short description|North American time zone}} {{Redirect|Pacific Time|the usage in British Columbia|Time in British Columbia|the radio show|Pacific Time (radio show){{!}}''Pacific Time'' (radio show)}} {{Redirect|Pacific Standard Time|the art exhibition|Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A., 1945–1980}} {{Redirect|PT time|the blood test|Prothrombin time}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox time zone | title = Pacific Time Zone | image = North American Time Zones 2026.png | caption = {{legend|#ff8a43|Pacific Time Zone}} | offset = −08:00 | dst offset = −07:00 | dst use = some | initials = PST | dst initials = PDT }} The '''Pacific Time Zone''' ('''PT''') is a time zone encompassing the western United States and northwestern Mexico. Places in this zone observe standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC−08:00). During daylight saving time, a time offset of UTC−07:00 is used instead.
In the United States, this time zone is generically called the Pacific Time Zone. Specifically, time in this zone is referred to as '''Pacific Standard Time''' ('''PST''') when standard time is being observed (early November to mid-March), and '''Pacific Daylight Time''' ('''PDT''') when daylight saving time (mid-March to early November) is being observed. In Mexico, the corresponding time zone is known as the {{lang|es|Zona Noroeste}} ({{literal|Northwest Zone}}) and observes the same daylight saving schedule as the United States. The largest city in the Pacific Time Zone is Los Angeles, whose metropolitan area is also the largest in the time zone.
The zone is two hours ahead of the Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone, one hour ahead of the Alaska Time Zone, one hour behind the Mountain Time Zone,{{efn|While the state of Arizona lies entirely within the Mountain Time Zone, daylight saving time is only observed within the Navajo Nation; as a result, most of Arizona is aligned with the Pacific Time Zone from mid-March to early November.}} two hours behind the Central Time Zone, three hours behind the Eastern Time Zone, and four hours behind the Atlantic Time Zone.
==Canada== {{main|Yukon Time Zone|Pacific Time (British Columbia)|Time in Canada}}
The border between time zones in British Columbia was decided in a 1972 plebiscite held in northeastern and southeastern electoral districts due to their ties to neighbouring Alberta.<ref>{{cite news |last=Palmer |first=Vaughn |date=March 20, 2019 |title=Pushing to make daylight time permanent without ticking off the masses |url=https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-pushing-to-make-daylight-time-permanent-without-ticking-off-the-masses |work=Vancouver Sun |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
In March 2020, the Canadian territory of Yukon abolished Pacific Standard Time and adopted daylight saving time (UTC−07:00) year-round.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2020 |title=How do you stop a time change? In Yukon, it's taken time |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-prepares-ending-seasonal-time-change-1.5742334 |access-date=March 2, 2026 |website=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunham |first=Jackie |date=March 5, 2020 |title=Final spring forward: Yukoners to end seasonal time changes |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/final-spring-forward-yukoners-to-end-seasonal-time-changes/ |access-date=March 3, 2026 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}</ref>
British Columbia announced in March 2026 that it would adopt daylight saving time (UTC−07:00) year-round, named ''Pacific Time'' by the provincial government, beginning March 8, 2026, by bringing into force a law passed in 2019.<ref name="bcgovnews">{{Cite web |last=General |first=Attorney |date=March 2, 2026 |title=Adopting permanent daylight saving time |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026AG0013-000209 |access-date=March 3, 2026 |website=BC Gov News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/bills/billsprevious/4th41st:gov40-3|title=INTERPRETATION AMENDMENT ACT, 2019|work=BC Laws|publisher=King's Printer for British Columbia|date=November 21, 2019|access-date=March 2, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/oic/oic_cur/0063_2026|title=ORDER OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL: Order in Council No. 63|work=BC Laws|publisher=King's Printer for British Columbia|date=March 2, 2026|access-date=March 2, 2026}}</ref> This effectively aligned most of the province with the Yukon Time Zone already used in that territory.
The change did not affect the East Kootenay region, which continued to follow Mountain Standard Time and Mountain Daylight Time alongside Alberta. The change did mean time in the Peace Region and Creston, which had previously adopted UTC−07:00 year-round, aligned with the bulk of the province.<ref>{{Cite news |title=B.C. to end time changes, adopt year-round daylight time |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-adopting-year-round-daylight-time-9.7111657 |first1=Lauren |last1=Vanderdeen |first2=Emily |last2=Fagan |access-date=March 3, 2026 |website=CBC News |language=en}}</ref>
==Mexico== {{Main|Time in Mexico}}
In Mexico, the {{lang|es|Zona Noroeste}}, which corresponds to Pacific Time in the United States, includes one state:<ref>{{cite web |title=Hora Oficial de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos |trans-title=Official Time of the United Mexican States |language=Spanish |url=https://www.cenam.mx/hora_oficial/default2.aspx |publisher=National Metrology Center |access-date=November 23, 2025}}</ref>
Parts of northern and western Mexico are in the {{lang|es|Zona Pacifico}} ({{literal|Pacific Zone}}) and mostly do not observe daylight saving time. Thus, despite the name similarity to Pacific Time, {{lang|es|Zona Pacifico}} is equivalent to either permanent Mountain Standard Time (as in Arizona) or permanent Pacific Daylight Time (as in British Columbia).
==United States== {{Main|Time in the United States}}
Two states are fully contained in the Pacific Time Zone:<ref name="NIST">{{cite web |title=Official U.S. Time |url=https://www.time.gov/ |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> *California *Washington
Three states are split between the Pacific Time Zone and the Mountain Time Zone:<ref name="NIST"/> *Idaho – 10 counties in the Idaho Panhandle north of Hells Canyon and the Salmon River observe Pacific time,<ref>{{cite map |year=2021 |title=Idaho Official State Highway Map |scale=1:1,248,000 |url=https://visitidaho.org/content/uploads/2021/05/Idaho_Highway_Map.pdf |location=Boise |publisher=Idaho Transportation Department |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> because of proximity to cities in Washington<ref>{{cite news |last=Russell |first=Betsy Z. |date=March 5, 2018 |title=What if North Idaho switched time zones? |url=https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2018/mar/05/what-if-north-idaho-switched-time-zones/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Suplee |first=Curt |date=October 12, 1986 |title=Idaho: Giant paradox with a panhandle |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/travel/1986/10/12/boise/e46e2b83-67fd-45fe-ae00-c4783e57634f/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> *Nevada – all, except for West Wendover, because of proximity to Wendover, Utah<ref>{{cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Delen |date=July 2, 2011 |title=Nevada's tiny town with a different time zone |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jul/02/nevadas-tiny-town-different-time-zone/ |work=Las Vegas Sun |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> and several towns along the Idaho border, including Jackpot, Jarbidge, Mountain City, and Owyhee.<ref>{{cite news |last=Phenix |first=Duncan |date=March 11, 2023 |title=While most of Nevada is set to 'spring forward,' these areas are already an hour ahead |url=https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/while-most-of-nevada-is-set-to-spring-forward-these-areas-are-already-an-hour-ahead/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311162409/https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/while-most-of-nevada-is-set-to-spring-forward-these-areas-are-already-an-hour-ahead/ |url-status=live |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |publisher=8 News Now |location=Las Vegas |access-date=June 28, 2023 }}</ref> *Oregon – all, except for the majority of Malheur County because of proximity to Idaho cities;<ref name="Oregonian">{{cite news |last=Cockle |first=Richard |date=November 3, 2008 |title=Ontario, Ore.: Idaho's spot to shop |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2008/11/ontario_ore_idahos_spot_to_sho.html |work=The Oregonian |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> it was moved in 1923 to accommodate the needs of the Oregon Short Line Railroad.<ref name="Oregonian"/>
One state is split between the Pacific Time Zone (unofficially), the Alaska Time Zone, and the Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone: *Alaska – Hyder, unofficially uses Pacific time because of proximity to Stewart, British Columbia<ref>{{cite news |last=Levin |first=Dan |date=July 2, 2016 |title=An Alaskan Village Where Grizzlies Roam and Canada Rules (if Anyone Does) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/us/canada-alaska-hyder-stewart-british-columbia.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
==Daylight saving time==
Through 2006, the local time (PST, UTC−08:00) changed to daylight time (PDT, UTC−07:00) at 02:00 LST (local standard time) to 03:00 LDT (local daylight time) on the first Sunday in April, and returned at 02:00 LDT to 01:00 LST on the last Sunday in October.<ref name="Columbian-DST">{{cite news |last=Sherwood |first=Courtney |date=March 7, 2007 |title=Daylight-saving time's early arrival may vex computers |page=A1 |work=The Columbian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-daylight-saving-times-ear/127289551/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> The United States Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which moved the local time changes from PST to PDT to the second Sunday in March and the reversal from PDT to PST to the first Sunday in November.<ref name="Columbian-DST"/> Like other Canadian provinces that observe daylight time, British Columbia adopted the same dates in April 2006, to take effect in March 2007 alongside the U.S.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 2, 2006 |title=Daylight savings time changes next year |page=A2 |work=The Province |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-daylight-savings-time-chang/127289673/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> Several Mexican states, including Baja California, implemented the new dates for the daylight time changes in 2010, ending a three-year period during which cities across the Mexico–United States border had a one-hour difference for two months a year.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 5, 2010 |title=Sunday time change will put San Diego, Tijuana on same clock |url=https://www.lajollalight.com/sdljl-sunday-time-change-will-put-san-diego-tijuana-on-2010nov05-story.html |work=La Jolla Light |agency=City News Service |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> Baja California remains the only state in Mexico to fully observe daylight saving time.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Ley de los Husos Horarios en los Estados Unidos Mexicanos |language=Spanish |trans-title=The Law of the Time Zones of the United States of Mexico |url=https://www.ordenjuridico.gob.mx/Documentos/Federal/pdf/wo124682.pdf |work=Official Journal of the Federation |publisher=Secretariat of the Interior |location=Mexico City |access-date=November 23, 2025}}</ref>
Proposals to abolish the bi-annual time change and adopt year-round standard time or daylight time gained popularity among U.S. states in the 2010s. 59 percent of voters in California approved a 2018 ballot proposition that authorizes the legislature to use year-round daylight saving time, pending Congressional approval.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nixon |first=Nicole |date=March 11, 2022 |title=New bill could have California voters weigh in on daylight saving time — again |url=https://www.capradio.org/articles/2022/03/11/new-bill-could-have-california-voters-weigh-in-on-daylight-saving-time-again/ |publisher=CapRadio |location=Sacramento |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> The Washington State Legislature passed a bill in May 2019 that would move the state to permanent daylight time, subject to Congressional approval;<ref>{{cite news |last=Clarridge |first=Christine |date=May 8, 2019 |title=Inslee signs bill to make daylight saving time permanent in Washington; next step Congress |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/gov-inslee-expected-to-sign-bill-bringing-state-closer-to-permanent-daylight-saving-time/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed a similar bill a month later, while California's attempt failed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cuthill |first=Meagan |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Yes, we're still changing the clocks. Checking in on Oregon's quest for permanent daylight saving time |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2022/11/04/oregon-daylight-saving-time-effort-for-permanent/ |publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> The provincial government of British Columbia announced in 2019 that they would follow the U.S. states in whether the time changes were kept or removed to maintain a unified time zone.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chan |first=Cheryl |date=March 10, 2021 |title=Is this the last time B.C. 'springs forward' to daylight saving time? |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/is-this-the-last-time-b-c-springs-forward-to-daylight-saving-time |work=Vancouver Sun |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> In 2020, Idaho passed legislation to allow for permanent daylight time for the Pacific Time Zone.<ref>{{cite news |last=Heyward |first=Giulia |date=November 6, 2022 |title=These are the states enacting legislation to help make daylight saving time permanent |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/06/1134562545/daylight-saving-time-permanent-states |publisher=NPR |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> Congressional approval was sought through the Sunshine Protection Act, which was submitted several times and passed by the U.S. Senate in 2022, but its equivalent in the House of Representatives failed to pass.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zhao |first=Christina |date=March 2, 2023 |title=Permanent daylight saving time bill gets renewed push in Congress |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-rubio-renews-push-make-daylight-saving-time-permanent-rcna73183 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
In March 2026, British Columbia announced it would not wait for the U.S. Congress and would adopt daylight saving time (UTC−07:00) year-round first, now named ''Pacific Time'' by the provincial government.<ref name="bcgovnews"/>
==See also== *Effects of time zones on North American broadcasting
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.time.gov The Official NIST US Time] * [http://time5.nrc.ca/webclock_e.shtml Official times across Canada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118162140/http://time5.nrc.ca/webclock_e.shtml |date=January 18, 2016 }} * [http://geography.about.com/library/misc/ntimezones.htm U.S. time zone map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215175709/http://geography.about.com/library/misc/ntimezones.htm |date=February 15, 2009 }} * [http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/us_tzones.php History of U.S. time zones and UTC conversion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808232828/http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/us_tzones.php |date=August 8, 2011 }} * [http://www.worldtimezone.com/time-canada12.html Canada time zone map]
{{North American time zones}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Time in Canada Category:Time in Mexico Category:Time zones Category:Time zones in the United States