North Dakota Legal Holidays Laws
By Amber Sheppard, Esq. | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq. | Last reviewed November 14, 2024
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All states must observe federally recognized legal holidays, but some have their own. Independence Day or Christmas Day is a legal holiday in the state of North Dakota. Government employees get a paid day off under federal law, but private employers do not have to. Some offer a regular rate of pay for a public holiday, and others offer holiday pay as a perk for full-time or salaried workers.
This article offers a list of North Dakota state holidays for the calendar year and explains whether you are an eligible employee for paid holiday leave.
Legal Holidays in North Dakota at a Glance
Besides federally recognized legal holidays, North Dakota offers state holidays designated by statute. Most state offices close on those days according to state law.
Code section
N.D. Cent. Code 1-03-01 through 1-03-20
Public holidays
The following section lists North Dakota's legally recognized state holidays.
- New Year's Day (Jan. 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday (third Monday of January)
- Washington's birthday (third Monday of February)
- Good Friday (two days before Easter Sunday)
- Memorial Day (last Monday of May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (first Monday of September)
- Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (last Thursday of November)
- Christmas Day (Dec. 25), though state offices close at noon on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24)
North Dakota considers every Sunday a state holiday, during which state offices close. Also, any other day, the U.S. president or North Dakota governor declares a public holiday.
When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend
If the following holidays fall on a Sunday, then the following Monday is the holiday:
- Jan. 1
- July 4
- Nov. 11
- Dec. 25
If any holidays fall on a Saturday, the Friday before is the holiday.
Holiday Pay
The state of North Dakota pays state workers for 10 holidays. Employees of private businesses are not paid but can take unpaid time off. But many private employers pay workers holiday pay when a state holiday falls during a workweek. A company's employee manual will dictate the company's policy and leave benefits.
Other options for paid leave include a worker taking sick leave, which is unpaid if it is under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) governs wages.
If a wage or work environment dispute remains, follow the instructions outlined by the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights Wage Claim Process page.
FindLaw's Wages and Benefits explains wage rates and work hours in detail.
Talk to a North Dakota Labor Law Attorney
State laws are not carved in stone and may change at any time. While we strive to ensure these pages' accuracy, contact a North Dakota labor law attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state laws you are researching.
Research the Law
- North Dakota Law
- Official State Codes — Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and D.C.
North Dakota Legal Holiday Laws: Related Resources
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