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Time Change 1996 in the United States

Next change:
Nov
2
1 hour Back

Nov 2, 2025, 2:00 am

Country: United States
Long Name: United States of America
Abbreviations: US, USA
Capital: Washington DC
Time Zones: 7 (Main Country)
Total Time Zones: 13 (with dependencies)
Dial Code: +1

Apr 7

Forward 1 hour

Apr 7, 1996 - Daylight Saving Time Started

When local standard time was about to reach
Sunday, April 7, 1996, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, April 7, 1996, 3:00:00 am local daylight time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour later on Apr 7, 1996 than the day before. There was more light in the evening and less light in the morning.

Also called Spring Forward, Summer Time, and Daylight Savings Time.

Oct 27

Back 1 hour

Oct 27, 1996 - Daylight Saving Time Ended

When local daylight time was about to reach
Sunday, October 27, 1996, 2:00:00 am clocks were turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, October 27, 1996, 1:00:00 am local standard time instead.

Sunrise and sunset were about 1 hour earlier on Oct 27, 1996 than the day before. There was more light in the morning and less light in the evening.

Also called Fall Back and Winter Time.

Other years: 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2025

When Does DST Start and End in the US?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in most of the United States starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Which States and Federal Districts use Daylight Saving Time in 1996

Areas in United States using DST in 1996
Areas in United States on standard time all of 1996

DST in States and Federal Districts in USA in 1996
(51 in total, 48 where all observe DST, 1 which doesn't observe DST, 2 with parts on DST)

Alabama Apr 7 – Oct 27 Kansas Apr 7 – Oct 27 North Dakota Apr 7 – Oct 27
Alaska Apr 7 – Oct 27 Kentucky Apr 7 – Oct 27 Ohio Apr 7 – Oct 27
Arizona (northeast) Apr 7 – Oct 27 Louisiana Apr 7 – Oct 27 Oklahoma Apr 7 – Oct 27
Arizona No DST Maine Apr 7 – Oct 27 Oregon Apr 7 – Oct 27
Arkansas Apr 7 – Oct 27 Maryland Apr 7 – Oct 27 Pennsylvania Apr 7 – Oct 27
California Apr 7 – Oct 27 Massachusetts Apr 7 – Oct 27 Rhode Island Apr 7 – Oct 27
Colorado Apr 7 – Oct 27 Michigan Apr 7 – Oct 27 South Carolina Apr 7 – Oct 27
Connecticut Apr 7 – Oct 27 Minnesota Apr 7 – Oct 27 South Dakota Apr 7 – Oct 27
Delaware Apr 7 – Oct 27 Mississippi Apr 7 – Oct 27 Tennessee Apr 7 – Oct 27
District of Columbia Apr 7 – Oct 27 Missouri Apr 7 – Oct 27 Texas Apr 7 – Oct 27
Florida Apr 7 – Oct 27 Montana Apr 7 – Oct 27 Utah Apr 7 – Oct 27
Georgia Apr 7 – Oct 27 Nebraska Apr 7 – Oct 27 Vermont Apr 7 – Oct 27
Hawaii No DST Nevada Apr 7 – Oct 27 Virginia Apr 7 – Oct 27
Idaho Apr 7 – Oct 27 New Hampshire Apr 7 – Oct 27 Washington Apr 7 – Oct 27
Illinois Apr 7 – Oct 27 New Jersey Apr 7 – Oct 27 West Virginia Apr 7 – Oct 27
Indiana No DST New Mexico Apr 7 – Oct 27 Wisconsin Apr 7 – Oct 27
Indiana (northwest) Apr 7 – Oct 27 New York Apr 7 – Oct 27 Wyoming Apr 7 – Oct 27
Iowa Apr 7 – Oct 27 North Carolina Apr 7 – Oct 27

Which States Don't Use DST?

Most of Arizona and Hawaii don't use DST. Indiana introduced DST in 2006.

Daylight Saving Time in Dependencies of USA

Dependency Type Daylight Saving Time Period
American Samoa Unincorp. unorg. territory No Daylight Saving Time
Guam Unincorp. org. territory No Daylight Saving Time
Northern Mariana Islands Unincorp. org. territory No Daylight Saving Time
Puerto Rico Unincorp. org. territory No Daylight Saving Time
US Minor Outlying Islands Territory No Daylight Saving Time
US Virgin Islands Unincorp. org. territory No Daylight Saving Time

US dependencies do not use Daylight Saving Time (DST).

Daylight Saving Time History in United States

DST in the USA Today

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the USA starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The current schedule was introduced in 2007 and follows the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

According to section 110 of the act, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) governs the use of DST. The law does not affect the rights of the states and territories that choose not to observe DST.

Confusing DST Rules

Historically, there were no uniform rules for DST from 1945 to 1966. This caused widespread confusion, especially in transport and broadcasting. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 aligned the switch dates across the USA for the first time.

Following the 1973 oil embargo, the US Congress extended the DST period to 10 months in 1974 and 8 months in 1975, in an effort to save energy.

After the energy crisis was over in 1976, the DST schedule in the US was revised several times. From 1987 to 2006, the country observed DST for about 7 months each year.