California Columbus Day is not a paid state holiday. On the second Monday in October, state offices, the DMV, public schools, and California state courts all operate on a normal schedule, while federal offices, post offices, and most banks close because Columbus Day is still a federal holiday. Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an annual proclamation since 2019 declaring the same date Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
What Stays Open in California
California Government Code Section 6700 still lists “the second Monday in October, known as ‘Columbus Day'” among the state’s recognized holidays.1California Legislative Information. California Government Code Section 6700 That listing is misleading. Recognition under Section 6700 does not mean state workers get paid time off. The California Department of Human Resources publishes the holidays state employees are actually compensated for, and the 2026 schedule includes 11 paid holidays. Columbus Day is not one of them.2CalHR Website. State Holidays
So the DMV takes appointments, state agencies answer phones, and most public schools hold class. A handful of districts, including San Diego Unified, close for the day, but that is a district decision, not a statewide one. Check your district calendar directly.
State courts also stay open. Until 2021, Columbus Day was a judicial holiday in California. That changed when Governor Newsom signed AB 855, which removed Columbus Day from the court holiday list and replaced it with Native American Day, observed 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 California court holiday calendar closes courts for Native American Day on Friday, September 25, and does not list Columbus Day at all.4Judicial Branch of California. Court Holidays If a state court filing deadline lands on the second Monday in October, the courthouse will be open and the deadline will not roll forward.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day in California
Since 2019, the governor has proclaimed the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The 2019 proclamation was the first in California state history.5Governor of California. Governor Newsom Issues Proclamation Declaring Indigenous Peoples’ Day The 2025 proclamation called it “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.”6Governor of California. Governor Newsom Proclaims Indigenous Peoples’ Day
The proclamation is symbolic. It does not create a paid holiday, close government buildings, or cancel school. Pew Research Center has noted that California’s governors have routinely recognized the day by annual proclamation, placing the state among those that formally observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day.7Pew Research Center. Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day or Just a Regular Monday? It Depends on Where You Are
What Closes Because of the Federal Holiday
Columbus Day remains one of 11 federal public holidays under 5 U.S.C. § 6103, so federal operations in California shut down even though the state keeps working.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays That affects several services:
- Social Security field offices close for the day.9Social Security Administration. Holiday Closings of Social Security Offices
- U.S. District Courts and appellate courts in California close. If a federal filing deadline falls on Columbus Day, it automatically extends to the next business day under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6, which names Columbus Day as a legal holiday.10Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. Rule 6 – Computing and Extending Time; Time for Motion Papers
- Post offices close and regular mail delivery stops. Only Priority Mail Express items go out.11U.S. Postal Service. USPS to Observe Columbus Day
- Federal benefit payments scheduled for that date, such as SSI, VA disability, or military retirement, generally process early rather than late.
The split catches people off guard. Your DMV appointment happens; a letter to a federal agency does not arrive.
Banks, Markets, and Private Employers
Federal Reserve Banks observe Columbus Day, so interbank transfers and ACH processing pause.12Federal 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 usually stay available. Closure 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.13Intercontinental Exchange. NYSE Group Announces 2025, 2026 and 2027 Holiday and Early Closings Calendar If you have a time-sensitive trade or wire transfer, the market side won’t be the holdup, but the bank settlement side could be.
For private employers, federal law does not require paid time off for any holiday. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not mandate payment for time not worked, whether the day is a federal holiday or not. Holiday pay is a matter of agreement between employer and employee.14U.S. Department of Labor. Holiday Pay Because California itself does not observe Columbus Day, there is no state-level requirement for private-sector holiday pay on that date either. Most California private employers treat it as a normal business day.