What's Open, Closed On New Year's Day 2026 In Ellicott City

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — New Year’s Day is one of several holidays that usually affect the hours of government offices, libraries, public transportation, garbage pickup and other services in Ellicott City and across Howard County.

To help you plan, here’s a roundup of what’s open and what’s closed on New Year's Day.

All government offices and courts will be closed for the holiday. The county animal shelter, 50+ centers, Alpha Ridge Landfill, Cedar Lane and Schooley Mill Activity Rooms, Gary J. Arthur, North Laurel and Roger Carter Community Centers, Meadowbrook Athletic Complex, Robinson Nature Center, Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, Kiwanis-Wallas Hall, Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum, and county historic sites also will be closed.

There won't be curbside trash, recycling, yard trim or food scrap collection on New Year’s Day, so the county’s holiday "slide” schedule will be in effect the rest of the week. For a complete explanation of the slide schedule, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/holidayschedule.

County park gates will be open on the holiday but there won't be any staff on duty.

Regional Transportation Agency buses will not operate Monday. For more information about RTA, call 1-800-270-9553 or visit www.transitrta.com. Howard County parking fees will not be enforced Monday either.

The 9-1-1 Center, police and fire departments remain staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For emergencies, call 9-1-1; for non-emergencies, call 410-313-2200.

All Howard County Library System branches will close at 4 p.m. Dec. 31 and will remain closed Jan. 1, 2026, in observance of New Year’s Day.

School resumes Jan. 5 for Howard County Public School System students and staff.