diff --git a/docs/user_guide/auto_config.rst b/docs/user_guide/auto_config.rst
index f11137eb..5770d72f 100644
--- a/docs/user_guide/auto_config.rst
+++ b/docs/user_guide/auto_config.rst
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@ time
 | 
 
 | **time_zone**
-| 	Time zone for all times provided and how the model will be run see pytz docs for information on what is accepted
+| 	Case sensitive time zone for all times provided and how the model will be run. See pytz docs for information on what is accepted. Full list can be found en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tz_database_time_zones
 | 		*Default: UTC*
-| 		*Type: string*
+| 		*Type: rawstring*
 | 
 
 
diff --git a/smrf/framework/CoreConfig.ini b/smrf/framework/CoreConfig.ini
index 414339ed..4c3097fb 100755
--- a/smrf/framework/CoreConfig.ini
+++ b/smrf/framework/CoreConfig.ini
@@ -63,7 +63,10 @@ description = Date and time to end the data distribution that can be parsed by p
 
 time_zone:
 default = UTC,
-description =  Time zone for all times provided and how the model will be run see pytz docs for information on what is accepted
+type = RawString,
+description =  Case sensitive time zone for all times provided and how the model will be run. See
+                pytz docs for information on what is accepted. Full list can be found 
+                en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tz_database_time_zones
 
 ################################################################################
 # CSV section configurations
diff --git a/smrf/utils/utils.py b/smrf/utils/utils.py
index de5bc5d1..097eadbc 100755
--- a/smrf/utils/utils.py
+++ b/smrf/utils/utils.py
@@ -1,10 +1,3 @@
-
-"""
-20160104 Scott Havens
-
-Collection of utility functions
-"""
-
 import copy
 import os
 import random
@@ -26,6 +19,7 @@
 
 from .gitinfo import __gitVersion__
 
+
 class CheckStation(CheckType):
     """
     Custom check for ensuring our stations are always capitalized
@@ -39,8 +33,7 @@ def type_func(self, value):
         Attempt to convert all the values to upper case.
 
         Args:
-            value: A single string in a a config entry representing a
-                station name
+            value: A single string in config entry representing a station name
         Returns:
             value: A single station name all upper case
         """
@@ -48,6 +41,26 @@ def type_func(self, value):
         return value.upper()
 
 
+class CheckRawString(CheckType):
+    """
+    Custom `inicheck` checker that will not change the input string
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+        super(CheckRawString, self).__init__(**kwargs)
+
+    def type_func(self, value):
+        """
+        Do not change the passed value at all
+        Args:
+            value: A single string
+        Returns:
+            value: A single string unchanged
+        """
+
+        return value
+
+
 def find_configs(directory):
     """
     Searches through a directory and returns all the .ini fulll filenames.
@@ -282,7 +295,8 @@ def getConfigHeader():
     cfg_str = ("Config File for SMRF {0}\n"
                "For more SMRF related help see:\n"
                "{1}").format(
-                   getgitinfo(), 'http://smrf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/')
+                   getgitinfo(),
+                   'http://smrf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/')
     return cfg_str
 
 
diff --git a/tests/Lakes/config.ini b/tests/Lakes/config.ini
index 05396e21..47cfddf2 100644
--- a/tests/Lakes/config.ini
+++ b/tests/Lakes/config.ini
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ filename:                      ./topo/topo.nc
 time_step:                     60
 start_date:                    2019-10-01 15:00
 end_date:                      2019-10-01 17:00
-time_zone:                     UTC
+time_zone:                     utc
 
 
 ################################################################################
diff --git a/tests/RME/config.ini b/tests/RME/config.ini
index deb9ab28..8514ad0e 100644
--- a/tests/RME/config.ini
+++ b/tests/RME/config.ini
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ filename:                      ./topo/topo.nc
 time_step:                     60
 start_date:                    1998-01-14 15:00:00
 end_date:                      1998-01-14 19:00:00
-time_zone:                     UTC
+time_zone:                     utc
 
 
 ################################################################################
diff --git a/tests/test_data_gridded.py b/tests/test_data_gridded.py
index 0951a829..b5af6cec 100644
--- a/tests/test_data_gridded.py
+++ b/tests/test_data_gridded.py
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ def test_grid_hrrr_local(self):
             },
             'time': {
                 'start_date': '2018-07-22 16:00',
-                'end_date': '2018-07-22 20:00'
+                'end_date': '2018-07-22 20:00',
+                'time_zone': 'utc'
             },
             'system': {
                 'threading': False,
diff --git a/tests/test_model_framework.py b/tests/test_model_framework.py
index a6fa5d5a..f0b16662 100644
--- a/tests/test_model_framework.py
+++ b/tests/test_model_framework.py
@@ -53,15 +53,21 @@ class TestModelFrameworkMST(SMRFTestCase):
     """
     Test timezone handling for MST.
     """
-    TIMEZONE = pytz.timezone('US/Mountain')
+    TIMEZONE = pytz.timezone('MST')
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         super().setUpClass()
         base_config = copy.deepcopy(cls.base_config)
-        base_config.cfg['time']['time_zone'] = str(cls.TIMEZONE)
+        base_config.cfg['time']['time_zone'] = 'MST'
         cls.smrf = SMRF(base_config)
 
+    def test_timezone_error(self):
+        base_config = copy.deepcopy(self.base_config)
+        base_config.cfg['time']['time_zone'] = 'mst'
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception):
+            SMRF(base_config)
+
     def test_start_date(self):
         self.assertEqual(
             self.smrf.start_date,