Does Arizona change clocks? No. Under A.R.S. 1-242, Arizona rejects daylight saving time and stays on Mountain Standard Time year-round. When most of the country falls back at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, clocks in Scottsdale and Phoenix don't move.
What does change? Your time gap with everyone else. On Nov. 1, Arizona goes from matching California to matching Colorado. The one exception inside the state is the Navajo Nation, which observes daylight saving time, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Data note: Dates and rules come from NIST's daylight saving time page, the federal Uniform Time Act (15 U.S.C. 260a) and Arizona Revised Statutes 1-242.
The 2026-2027 Dates at a Glance
- Nov. 1, 2026, 2 a.m.: daylight saving time ends in most of the U.S. (NIST)
- March 14, 2027, 2 a.m.: daylight saving time begins again (second Sunday of March, per federal law)
- Arizona: no change on either date
- Arizona's time: Mountain Standard Time, UTC-7, every day of the year
Why Arizona Opts Out
The Federal Rule
- The Uniform Time Act sets daylight saving time from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November
- A state entirely within one time zone may exempt itself, but only if the whole state stays on standard time
The Arizona Law
- A.R.S. 1-242(A): standard time in Arizona is standard mountain time
- A.R.S. 1-242(C): Arizona "elects to reject" daylight saving time
- A.R.S. 1-242(D): the choice may be changed by future legislative action
Who Else Skips It
NIST lists Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with Arizona, as places that don't observe daylight saving time.
The Navajo Nation Exception
- NIST notes the Navajo Indian Reservation does observe daylight saving time
- If you're driving to the northeastern corner of the state between March and November, your phone may jump an hour
- From Nov. 1 to March 14, the Navajo Nation and the rest of Arizona share the same clock
Arizona Time vs. Other States After Nov. 1
From Nov. 1, 2026 to March 14, 2027:
- California, Nevada, Washington: Arizona is 1 hour ahead
- Colorado, Utah, New Mexico: same time
- Most of Texas, Illinois: Arizona is 1 hour behind
- New York, Florida, Toronto: Arizona is 2 hours behind
From March 14, 2027 to Nov. 7, 2027, Arizona matches Pacific Daylight Time: same time as California, one hour behind Colorado and three hours behind New York.
Why It Matters When You're Buying or Selling
When a buyer, seller or lender is in another state, the clock shift is easy to miss:
- Contract deadlines: confirm which time zone a deadline uses. A 5 p.m. deadline in Arizona is 7 p.m. in New York this winter
- Lender and title calls: out-of-state lenders and attorneys may lose an hour of overlap with Arizona offices
- Remote signings: confirm the time zone on every e-signing and notary appointment
- Showings and video tours: schedule in Arizona time and say so in the invite
Relocating? Our Scottsdale and Phoenix relocation guide covers the rest of the move.
Clocks That Can Get It Wrong
- Phones and computers set to the Arizona time zone (America/Phoenix) adjust correctly on their own
- Radio-controlled clocks: NIST advises turning off the automatic DST function in places like Arizona
- "Auto-set" clocks in appliances, cars and thermostats may follow a built-in rule; check them Nov. 1 and March 14
- Smart thermostats and irrigation timers with a manual time setting are the usual culprits, so watch for sprinklers running an hour off
“November is when appointment times get mixed up with clients back East, so my rule is simple: every time I send an appointment, I write 'Arizona time' next to it. And for anyone moving here, the year-round clock is one of the quiet perks. No lost hour of sleep in March, ever.”
— Elizabeth Vijan, Tackett Team, eXp Realty
FAQ: Arizona and Daylight Saving Time
Does Arizona change clocks in November?
No. Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time; only the Navajo Nation changes.
Why doesn't Arizona do daylight saving time?
Federal law lets a state opt out, and A.R.S. 1-242 does exactly that.
Is Arizona on the same time as California?
March to November, yes. From Nov. 1, 2026 to March 14, 2027, Arizona is one hour ahead.
Do I need to change my clocks in Arizona?
Usually not, but turn off the auto-DST setting on radio-controlled and older clocks.
Moving to Scottsdale or Phoenix?
I'll plan your search around your schedule, in your time zone, and set up virtual tours and remote signings so the move runs on time.
Elizabeth Vijan | Tackett Team, eXp Realty
Scottsdale & Phoenix Real Estate
Talk to Elizabeth About Your Move · Call or text 602-885-7752
Sources: NIST: Daylight saving time rules · 15 U.S.C. 260a (Cornell LII) · A.R.S. 1-242: Standard time
Disclaimer: General information. Confirm deadlines and appointment times with your agent, lender and title company. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Tackett Team, eXp Realty · Get in touch