What is area code in phone number

The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) is the telephone numbering system within which the Public Switched Telephone Network is managed in the United States, Canada, and some Caribbean countries by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). The NANP is divided into smaller Numbering Plan Areas that are each identified by a three-digit code, commonly known as an area code. Telephone numbers in the NANP are structured in the format NPA-NXX-XXXX, in which

NPA is the 3-digit area code that identifies a specific geographic area;

NXX is the 3-digit prefix that identifies a specific central office within an area code; and

XXXX is the 4-digit line number that identifies a specific line within a central office.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has exclusive jurisdiction over telephone numbering in the United States but has delegated specific authority to state regulatory agencies. Tasked with the authority granted by the FCC, the CPUC conducts area code relief and enforces number conservation in California in accordance with Public Utilities Code Section 7930-7943.

California currently has 38 area codes. A new area code is added to a geographic area when there are no more three-digit prefixes available in the existing area code.  Area codes are added in the form of a geographic split or an overlay. California has added twelve area codes using the overlay method since 2006.

California Area Codes

*Overlay

N11 Codes

211 - Community information and referral services. 211 service is provided by local community-based or government organizations that are authorized by the CPUC to use the 211 code to provide information and referrals to health and human services.

311 - Non-emergency governmental services. 311 service is administered by municipal governments.

411 - Local Directory Assistance. 411 directory assistance is provided by individual telecommunications service providers or independent providers.

511 - Traffic and Transportation information. The California Highway Patrol, California Department of Transportation, and local transportation agencies oversee 511 operations.

611 - General Customer Service. 611 service is provided by individual telecommunications service providers.

711 - Telecommunications Relay Service for the speech and hearing impaired.  In California, 711 Relay service is provided through Hamilton Relay.

811 - Call-before-you-dig phone number for access to location of buried utilities. Underground Service Alert, a nonprofit organization, manages 811 calls and operates two call centers:  USA North 811 for northern California and Dig Alert for southern California.

911 - Emergency services. The California Office of Emergency Services and local public safety agencies oversee 911 emergency service operations.

988 - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  The United States Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, administers the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is a national network of approximately 170 local and state funded crisis centers.

Information for Consumers

• On July 16, 2020, the FCC designated 988 as the 3-digit code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (FCC 20-100), and ordered all area codes that have the 988 prefix in use and 7-digit dialing to change to 1+10-digit dialing to avoid problems routing calls dialed with the 9-8-8 3-digit code. In California, the 209, 530, 562, 626, 650, 707, 925, 949, and 951 area codes are impacted by this FCC order.

• The CPUC will begin the process to introduce a new area code to the 213/323 area codes, as the supply of available prefixes in the 213/323 area code region is expected to be depleted by June 2025. Pending approval by the CPUC, the new area code will be introduced on top of the 213/323 area code region. On August 25, 2022, NANPA filed Application (A.) 22-08-009 with the CPUC on behalf of the telecommunications industry, requesting that the CPUC approve an overlay in the 213/323 area code region to provide additional numbering resource in the region.

• The 530 area code is expected to be depleted of available prefixes by September 2025. Thus, the CPUC will begin the process to add a new area code to the area currently served by the 530 area code. Pending approval by the CPUC, the new area code will be added on top of the 530 area code as an overlay. NANPA will file an application with the CPUC on behalf of the telecommunications industry to request an overlay area code for the 530 area code to provide additional numbering resources in the region.

• The 209 area code is projected to exhaust all available prefixes by December 2022. On May 19, 2022, the CPUC issued Decision 22-05-018 and approved an overlay to provide additional numbering resources in the geographic region served by the 209 area code. The new area code to overlay the 209 area code is the 350 area code. The overlay will become effective in November 2022.

• Decision 22-05-018 

• 209 area code webcast

• 209 area code presentation

• The 707 area code is projected to exhaust all available prefixes by December 2023. On June 23, 2022, the CPUC issued Decision 22-06-031 and approved an overlay to provide additional numbering resources in the geographic region served by the 707 area code. The new area code to overlay the 707 area code is the 369 area code. The overlay will become effective in February 2023..

• Decision 22-06-031 

• 707 area code webcast

• 707 area code presentation

Information for Carriers

• Interconnected voice over internet providers obtaining numbering resources in California must collect and remit surcharges in support of California universal service programs

• Process for carriers requesting safety valve relief

Contact

Please direct questions concerning telephone numbering and area codes to staff at .

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