CHAPTER 7. Holidays [6700. - 6735.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 7.
in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6700. Section 6700.

(a) The holidays in this state are: (1) Every Sunday. (2) January 1. (3) The third Monday in January, known as “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.” (4) The date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, known as “Lunar New Year.” (5) February 12, known as “Lincoln Day.” (6) The third Monday in February. (7) March 31, known as “Farmworkers Day.” (8) April 24, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day.” (9) The 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year, known as “Diwali.” (10) The last Monday in May. (11) June 19, known as “Juneteenth.” (12) July 4. (13) The first Monday in September. (14) September 9, known as “Admission Day.” (15) The fourth Friday in September, known as “Native American Day.” (16) The second Monday in October, known as “Columbus Day.” (17) November 11, known as “Veterans Day.” (18) December 25. (19) Good Friday from 12 noon until 3 p.m. (20) (A) Every day appointed by the President or Governor for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday. (B) Except for the Thursday in November appointed as Thanksgiving Day, this paragraph and paragraphs (3), (4), and (7) shall not apply to a city, county, or district unless made applicable by charter, or by ordinance or resolution of the governing body thereof. (b) If this section is in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if those provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6701. Section 6701.

(a) If January 1, February 12, March 31, July 4, September 9, November 11, or December 25 falls upon a Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday. (b) If November 11 falls upon a Saturday, the preceding Friday is a holiday. (c) If March 31 falls upon a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, the Legislature may observe the holiday on one of the following: (1) The preceding Friday. (2) The preceding Monday. (3) The following Friday. (d) If any holiday designated in Section 6700 falls on a Saturday, the board of supervisors of any county may by ordinance or resolution provide that an alternate day shall be a holiday for the employees of the county, except those employees of the county working as court attachés.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6702. Section 6702.

Every Saturday from noon to midnight is a holiday as regards the transaction of business in the public offices of the state and political divisions where laws, ordinances, or charters provide that public offices shall be closed on holidays. This section shall not be construed to prevent or invalidate the issuance, filing, service, execution, or recording of any legal process or written instrument during such period. Public offices of a city shall be closed on those holidays enumerated in Section 6700 unless otherwise provided by charter, ordinance or resolution.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6703. Section 6703.

(a) Public offices of the state, state institutions, and the University of California shall be closed on Admission Day. (b) Public offices of the state and state institutions, including, but not limited to, all state agencies and the Legislature, shall be closed on November 11, Veterans Day. If, in a given year, November 11 falls on a Saturday, then public offices of the state and state institutions, including the Legislature, shall be closed on Friday, November 10. If, in a given year, November 11 falls on a Sunday, then public offices of the state and state institutions, including the Legislature, shall be closed on Monday, November 12. It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of California also be closed on the Veterans Day holiday.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6704. Section 6704.

The legislative body of any city or district may, by ordinance or resolution, provide that every Saturday is a holiday as respects the transaction of business in the public offices of such cities or districts except that provision shall be made for the continuance of essential public services such as police and fire protection.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6705. Section 6705.

A special or limited holiday is a holiday applying only to a special class or classes of business, or a special class or classes of persons, and not appointed to be generally observed throughout the State by all classes of business and all classes of persons. On any special or limited holiday appointed by the President or Governor, all courts and public offices of the State, any political subdivision, or any city, shall be open and function in their normal and usual manner. All other public functions shall be performed as on days which are not holidays, and all contracts shall be performed and business transacted as usual, except only as to or by the particular class of business or persons expressly limited or restricted by the provisions of the proclamation appointing or declaring such special or limited holiday.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6706. Section 6706.

Whenever any act of a secular nature, other than a work of necessity or mercy, is appointed by law or contract to be performed upon a particular day which falls upon a holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6707. Section 6707.

When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6711. Section 6711.

The Governor shall proclaim February 19 to be known hereafter as “A Day of Remembrance: Japanese American Evacuation,” to reflect upon that day of February 19 in 1942 when Executive Order No. 9066 was issued to place over 110,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, most of whom were citizens of the United States, in American concentration camps during World War II, and to commemorate that day of February 19 of 1976 when Executive Order No. 9066 was rescinded.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6719. Section 6719.

The Governor shall proclaim the third Saturday in June of each year to be known as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day: A day of observance,” to urge all Californians in celebrating this day to honor and reflect on the significant roles that African-Americans have played in the history of the United States and how African-Americans have enriched society through their steadfast commitment to promoting freedom, brotherhood, and equality.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6720. Section 6720.

April 24 of each year shall be the “California Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide,” and the period beginning on the Sunday before that day through the following Sunday shall be the days of remembrance in this state, and shall annually be so proclaimed by the Governor, in memory of the 1,500,000 victims who were subjected to torture, starvation, and murder, including death marches into the Syrian desert, by the rulers of the Ottoman Turkish Empire and the exile of more than 500,000 innocent people during the period from 1915 to 1923, inclusive, and in honor of the survivors of those crimes against humanity.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6726. Section 6726.

(a) The Governor shall proclaim the first Friday in May of each year to be Space Day and designate that date as having special significance in public schools and educational institutions. The Governor shall encourage public schools and educational institutions to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date. (b) The Governor shall encourage every resident, business, and public entity to dim or turn off their lights between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Space Day. (c) Space Day shall promote space observation and appreciation, promote California’s aerospace industry, and encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (d) The Governor shall direct the Department of General Services to turn off the nonessential lights on the State Capitol Building between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Space Day as a symbolic act designed to encourage all California citizens, businesses, and other entities to voluntarily dim or turn off their lights on Space Day.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6727. Section 6727.

The Governor shall annually proclaim the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually occurs on March 20 or the following day, as Nowrūz Day.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 6731. Section 6731.

(a) August 26 of each year shall be designated as California Farmworker Day to highlight, remember, and appreciate the work that farmworkers contribute daily in California. (b) The Governor shall annually proclaim August 26 as California Farmworker Day.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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