District of Columbia Area Codes
Complete directory of all 2 active area codes serving District of Columbia. The The Nation's Capital has a population of 678,972 (2023 estimate) and uses 2 area codes.
About Area Codes in District of Columbia
District of Columbia (DC) is the The Nation's Capital, located in the South region of the United States. With a 2023 population of 678,972 residents, District of Columbia is served by 2 active area codes. The state capital is Washington and the largest city is Washington.District of Columbia's official motto is "Justitia Omnibus."
Area code assignments in District of Columbia follow the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), which has been in effect since 1947. As the state's population and demand for phone numbers grew — driven by the rise of cell phones, fax machines, pagers, and VoIP lines — regulators either split existing area codes geographically or added overlay codes that share the same territory. That's why District of Columbia now has 2 codes: 202, 771.
When you receive a call from a District of Columbia number, the area code tells you only where the number was originally assigned. Because of Local Number Portability (LNP), which took effect in 2003, callers can keep their phone numbers even when moving across state lines. So while a 202 number was once assigned in District of Columbia, the person calling you could be anywhere in the US today.
Time zones in District of Columbia
District of Columbia observes the Eastern time zone. Daylight Saving Time is observed from the second Sunday in March through the first Sunday in November, when clocks shift forward by one hour. When you call a District of Columbia number from outside the state, double-check the local time above each area code detail page to avoid calling at unreasonable hours.
Phone number format in District of Columbia
All District of Columbia phone numbers follow the standard 10-digit NANP format: (NPA) NXX-XXXX. For local calls within District of Columbia, you typically need to dial the full 10-digit number — even for calls within the same area code — because of mandatory 10-digit dialing imposed by the FCC for areas with overlay codes (most of District of Columbia's territory). For long-distance calls within the NANP, dial 1 + area code + 7-digit number.
Frequently asked questions about District of Columbia area codes
How many area codes does District of Columbia have?
District of Columbia currently has 2 active area codes: 202, 771.
What is District of Columbia's original area code?
The oldest area code(s) in District of Columbia were assigned in 1947 as part of the original 86 NANP codes. These legacy codes typically covered the entire state at first, then were split as demand grew.
What time zone is District of Columbia in?
District of Columbia is in the Eastern time zone.
Will District of Columbia get more area codes?
As District of Columbia's population and number demand grow, NANPA may assign additional overlay codes. When the current codes run out of available prefixes, regulators announce public hearings and propose new codes. The AreaCodeCentral team tracks these announcements and updates the directory within 24 hours of any new code activation.