California Area Code 279

Published: March 23, 2017

Sacramento, CA and surrounding cities and towns will have a new area code starting March 10, 2018. The new area code 279 was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on February 9, 2017 as the relief method for the 916 NPA (Numbering Plan Area), covering, among other cities: Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, West Sacramento. The new 916/279 all-services overlay will serve the exact same geographic area currently served by area code 916. 1+10 digit dialing will be implemented as a result and the permissive 7/1+10 digit dialing will last longer than usual in this case.

Key dates

• August 12, 2017 - permissive 7/1+10 digit dialing begins (calls within NPA 916 may be dialed using either 7 or 1+10 digits, the latter being encouraged)
• February 10, 2018 - mandatory 1+10 digit dialing begins
• March 10, 2018 - area code 279 enters service

See official NANPA announcement and map of the new overlay complex (PDF document).

Visit area code 279 page for a list of cities served, map and other info.