Area Code 248
Michigan
Area code 248 serves Michigan, primarily Livonia, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It has served the region since 10-May-1997.
Overlay Area Code
This area code is part of an overlay region, meaning the same geographic area is served by multiple area codes. Overlay codes were introduced to meet growing demand for phone numbers without requiring existing customers to change their numbers.
This area code shares its geographic region with: area code 947 (Livonia).
In service since: 10-May-1997
Historical Timeline of Area Code 248
Area code 248 was created on May 10, 1997, in a split from area code 810, serving Oakland County and portions of Wayne County in southeastern Michigan. It was overlaid by area code 947 on June 8, 2002, after number exhaustion was projected for June 2002. The code traces back to the original 1947 assignment of area code 313, which covered southeastern Michigan. Source: Wikipedia
Key milestones:
- 1997: Area code 248 created (May 10, 1997) in a split from area code 810, serving Oakland County and portions of Wayne County including Livonia and Northville.
- 1999: Jeopardy declared for 248 NPA (May 17, 1999) due to projected NXX code exhaustion, with only 83 available CO codes remaining and a rationing rate of 6 CO codes per month. (MPSC Ex Parte Presentation)
- 2000: Governor Engler signed Public Act 295 of 2000 (July 17, 2000), granting the Michigan Public Service Commission authority over area code changes in the state.
- 2001: MPSC approved all-services distributed overlay for 248 NPA via Case No. U-12721 (April 17, 2001), introducing the 947 overlay NPA.
- 2002: Permissive 10-digit dialing began January 26, 2002. Mandatory 10-digit dialing commenced June 8, 2002, when the 947 overlay was fully implemented. (Wikipedia)
The 248 NPA went from creation to jeopardy in under two years, reflecting rapid growth in the Detroit metropolitan area's northern suburbs. The overlay model chosen for relief allowed existing 248 subscribers to keep their numbers while new assignments used the 947 NPA.
Unique Facts About Area Code 248
Area code 248 has several notable regulatory and administrative characteristics that distinguish it within Michigan's numbering plan. Source: Wikipedia
- Explicitly excluded from the 313/734 overlay: MPSC Case No. U-12880 (September 7, 2001) removed the 248 area code from the region covered by the 313/734 multiple-area overlay, noting that 248 was already addressed separately in Case No. U-12721. (MPSC Order U-12880)
- Jeopardy declared within two years of creation: Number jeopardy was declared for the 248 NPA on May 17, 1999, only two years after its 1997 creation, with 83 available CO codes and a rationing rate of 6 CO codes per month. (MPSC Ex Parte Presentation)
- Projected exhaust by June 2002: At the rationing rate of 6 CO codes per month with 83 available, the 248 NPA was projected to exhaust all available numbers by June 2002. (MPSC Petition for Delegated Numbering Authority)
- Public Act 295 of 2000: Governor Engler signed legislation on July 17, 2000, granting the MPSC direct authority over area code relief decisions in Michigan, overriding NANPA's default process. This legislation resolved the jurisdiction questions that had suspended relief efforts. (MPSC Order U-12880)
- NANPA relief suspension: NANPA suspended relief in the 248, 313, and 734 NPAs in April 2000 due to FCC jurisdiction questions regarding NANPA's authority to implement relief without state commission approval. Relief resumed after Michigan enacted Public Act 295.
The 248 NPA serves 21 rate centers approximating Oakland County, Michigan, within the Detroit metropolitan area. The county's affluent suburbs, including Troy, Farmington Hills, and Rochester Hills, drove rapid number consumption that outpaced the original 1997 split's projections.
FCC Regulatory History
Area code 248's regulatory history involves multiple NANPA planning letters, Michigan Public Service Commission cases, and FCC proceedings that governed the 947 overlay implementation from initial proposal through mandatory 10-digit dialing. Source: MPSC Ex Parte Presentation
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Initial overlay proposal | NANPA PL-209 | Proposed 947 overlay for 248 NPA with planned introduction May 5, 2001. Later suspended by PL-227. |
| 2000 | Relief suspension | NANPA PL-227 | Suspended relief in 248, 313, and 734 NPAs due to FCC jurisdiction questions regarding NANPA authority. |
| 2001 | Overlay approval | MPSC U-12721 | Approved all-services distributed overlay for 248 NPA, introducing 947 NPA. 2001 Mich. PSC LEXIS 196. |
| 2001 | Delegated numbering authority | CC Docket 99-200 | MPSC petition confirmed 248 NPA jeopardy with 83 available CO codes, projected exhaust June 2002. (MPSC Filing) |
| 2001 | 313/734 overlay (248 excluded) | MPSC U-12880 | Approved 313/734 overlay; explicitly excluded 248 NPA from multiple-area overlay region. (MPSC Order) |
| 2001 | Overlay implementation confirmed | NANPA PL-283 | Confirmed 947 overlay implementation following MPSC approval. Permissive 10-digit dialing began January 26, 2002; mandatory June 8, 2002. |
| 2001 | Pooling rollout scheduling | CC Docket 99-200 | MPSC requested 248/947 NPAs be moved to 2nd Quarter of pooling rollout to allow relief completion before number pooling. (MPSC Filing) |
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 1,634,744
- Population Density
- 1,003 people/sq miabove U.S. average (U.S.: 94 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $95,296above U.S. median (U.S.: $78,538)
- Poverty Rate
- 8.8%below U.S. average (U.S.: 12.4%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 5.0%near U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+47.3%above U.S. average (U.S.: 35.0%)High School or Lower21.4%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates.See Sources for details.
Geographic Coverage
State
MI
Major Cities
- Livonia
- Troy
- Farmington Hills
- Rochester Hills
- Southfield
- Novi
- Pontiac
- Royal Oak
- Oak Park
- Madison Heights
- Auburn Hills
- Birmingham
- Ferndale
- Wixom
- Berkley
- Hazel Park
- Rochester
- South Lyon
- Farmington
- Clawson
- Beverly Hills
- Walled Lake
- Milford
- Huntington Woods
and 19 more cities
Time Zone
- Eastern Time (ET)
Current Time
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 248).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Oakland, MI | 1,300,192 | 79.5% |
| Washtenaw, MI | 85,623 | 5.2% |
| Wayne, MI | 78,714 | 4.8% |
| Livingston, MI | 67,524 | 4.1% |
| Lapeer, MI | 39,130 | 2.4% |
| Genesee, MI | 35,730 | 2.2% |
| Macomb, MI | 27,831 | 1.7% |
Call Context
This area code serves a major metropolitan region with high population density in MI. The primary city is Livonia.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 248.
Other Area Codes in Michigan
Area codes that also serve Michigan, linked for easy comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 248 and how phone numbering works.
Wikipedia: Area code 248 was created in 1997 in a split of area code 810. NANPA PL-209 confirms 248 NPA serves 21 rate centers approximating Oakland County.
MPSC Case No. U-12721, 2001 Mich. PSC LEXIS 196 (April 17, 2001). Primary regulatory document for 248 overlay relief.
Phone numbers assigned to area code 248 are tied to where they were originally provisioned — not the caller's current location. This code serving roughly 1635k people covers Livonia in MI, so a number originally set up there will retain the 248 prefix even if the owner moves or uses VoIP. As a densely populated metro area, Livonia sees high call volume from both local and redirected numbers. Mobile phones keep their original number when users relocate, and businesses often adopt local area codes to establish a regional presence.
Start by looking up the area code on this site to understand its geographic context — area code 248 is associated with Livonia in MI. For caller-specific details, use your carrier's caller ID features or check public directories. If you suspect fraud, you can report it to the FTC. To file a complaint about robocalls or spoofed numbers, visit the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. You can also register with the National Do Not Call Registry.
When an area's available number pool runs low, regulators introduce an "overlay" code covering the same territory. Both codes coexist, and new numbers are assigned from whichever has availability. Area code 248 serves the Livonia region in MI, where growing demand for phone numbers necessitated an additional code. This area code shares its region with area code 947. Learn more in our overlay vs split guide.