Columbus Day in California is not a state holiday. State offices, the DMV, public schools, and state courts all operate on a normal schedule the second Monday in October, and state employees do not get the day off. Federal offices inside California do close, because Columbus Day is still one of the 11 federal public holidays, so the practical answer depends on whether the service you need is run by the state or by Washington.
State Offices, DMV, and Schools Stay Open
California Government Code Section 6700 still lists “the second Monday in October, known as ‘Columbus Day'” among the state’s recognized holidays, but that listing does not translate into paid time off.1California Legislative Information. California Government Code Section 6700 The California Department of Human Resources publishes the holidays state workers are actually compensated for, and the 2026 schedule contains 11 paid holidays. Columbus Day is not one of them.2CalHR Website. State Holidays DMV field offices and state agencies run their normal hours.
Public schools generally hold class, but closures are set district by district. San Diego Unified, for example, does close for the day. Check your district’s calendar rather than assuming either way.
Courts: State Open, Federal Closed
California state courts are open on Columbus Day. In 2021, Governor Newsom signed AB 855, which removed Columbus Day from the judicial holiday list and replaced it with Native American Day on the fourth Friday in September.3Governor of California. On Native American Day, Governor Newsom Signs Package of Legislation to Advance Equity and Inclusion, Support California Native Communities The 2026 Judicial Branch holiday calendar closes courts on Friday, September 25 for Native American Day and does not list Columbus Day at all.4Judicial Branch of California. Court Holidays If a state filing deadline lands on the second Monday in October, the courthouse is open and the deadline does not automatically roll to the next day.
Federal courts in California are closed. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6, Columbus Day is a legal holiday, so a federal filing deadline that falls on that date automatically extends to the next business day.5Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. Rule 6 – Computing and Extending Time; Time for Motion Papers
Federal Services You’ll Notice Are Closed
Columbus Day remains one of 11 federal public holidays under 5 U.S.C. ยง 6103, which means federal operations inside California shut down even though the state itself keeps working.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays The closures that affect most residents:
- Social Security field offices are closed for the day.7Social Security Administration. Holiday Closings of Social Security Offices
- Post offices close and regular mail delivery stops. Only Priority Mail Express goes out.8U.S. Postal Service. USPS to Observe Columbus Day
- Federal courts are closed, with the Rule 6 deadline extension noted above.
- If a scheduled payment date for SSI, VA disability, or military retirement falls on Columbus Day, the payment generally processes early rather than late.
The split catches people out. Your DMV appointment goes forward, but anything you mailed to a federal agency will not arrive, and the Social Security office you planned to visit will be dark.
Banks and Financial Markets
Federal Reserve Banks observe Columbus Day, so interbank transfers and ACH processing pause.9Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Federal Reserve Calendars – Bank Holidays Many California banks and credit unions follow that schedule and close branches, though online banking and ATMs stay available. The decision is institution by institution, so check with your bank.
Stock markets stay open. The NYSE’s 2026 holiday calendar does not include Columbus Day, and trading runs on a normal schedule.10Intercontinental Exchange. NYSE Group Announces 2025, 2026 and 2027 Holiday and Early Closings Calendar Time-sensitive trades will clear on the market side; the slowdown, if any, will be in bank settlement.
Private Employers and Holiday Pay
Federal law does not require private employers to give workers a paid day off for Columbus Day or any other holiday. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not mandate payment for time not worked, and holiday pay is a matter of agreement between employer and employee.11U.S. Department of Labor. Holiday Pay Because California itself does not observe Columbus Day as a state holiday, there is no state-level holiday pay requirement for the date either. Most private employers in California treat it as a normal business day.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Since 2019, Governor Newsom has issued an annual proclamation declaring the second Monday in October Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The 2019 proclamation was the first in California history.12Governor of California. Governor Newsom Issues Proclamation Declaring Indigenous Peoples’ Day The 2025 proclamation described it as “the seventh formal celebration of the strength of culture and the memory of land that endure for all Indigenous people who now call California home.”13Governor of California. Governor Newsom Proclaims Indigenous Peoples’ Day
The proclamation is symbolic. It does not create a paid holiday, close any government buildings, or cancel school. State offices, courts, and schools operate on the schedule described above regardless of the proclamation.