Whatcom County government offices will be closed this Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. The closure affects all county departments, including Public Works, though on-call staff will remain available for public works emergencies throughout the long weekend. Regular office hours resume Monday, June 22.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 and commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of emancipation more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Washington State has observed the day as an official state holiday since 2022, and Whatcom County's closure reflects that statewide recognition.
For residents with public works-related concerns over the long weekend, the county asks that you call 9-1-1 for true emergencies such as missing stop signs or hazardous road conditions. On-call staff will be dispatched through that channel. Non-emergency inquiries should be held until Monday when standard operations resume.
The closure also affects Planning and Development Services, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office administrative offices, and county health services. Emergency law enforcement and public safety services continue as normal on Friday.
Residents who need to reach county departments before or after the closure can find contact information and office hours through the Whatcom County website. The county's online permitting portal and some self-service tools remain available around the clock regardless of office closures.
With Friday's closure and the weekend, county business will effectively pause from Thursday afternoon through the weekend. If you have time-sensitive permit applications, payment deadlines, or appointments scheduled for Friday, plan to reschedule or complete your business by Thursday close of business.
Next week's regular schedule resumes Monday morning, June 22, at standard hours across all departments.
