Area Code 253

Washington

Area code 253 serves Washington, primarily Tacoma, in the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It was created from a split of area code 206.

Published: February 17, 2026Last reviewed: July 7, 2026Verified against NANPA and FCC records

Split Area Code

This area code exists because its parent region ran low on available numbers: the parent territory was divided geographically, this code took over one part of it, and the parent kept serving the rest. Existing customers generally keep their numbers — only the code changes for the newly drawn region.

This area code was split from area code 206 (Seattle).

In service since: 27-Apr-1997

Learn more about overlay and split area codes →

Demographics & Economics

Total Population: 1,373,809
Population Density: 660 people/sq mi
above U.S. average (U.S.: 95 people/sq mi)
Median Household Income: $99,564
above U.S. median (U.S.: $80,734)
Poverty Rate: 8.7%
below U.S. average (U.S.: 12.5%)
Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
near U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
Education Attainment: Bachelor's Degree+
39.1%
near U.S. average (U.S.: 35.7%)
High School or Lower
25.2%

Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates. Population figures are approximate — see Sources & Methodology for details on how area code populations are derived.

See how this area code compares to all US area codes in the income ranking and density ranking.

Time Zone

Pacific Time (PT)

NANPA Relief Status

According to the latest NANPA analysis (July 2026), this area code is not currently listed as exhausting within the next 36 months. No relief planning is in progress for this NPA.

Source: NANPA NPA Relief Planning Reports · See all relief planning statuses

Current Time

Pacific Time (PT)

Prefix Utilization

Geographic Coverage

State

Major Cities

Tacoma
Kent
Federal Way
Auburn
South Hill
Lakewood
Puyallup
Parkland
Graham
University Place
Spanaway
Des Moines
Frederickson
Bonney Lake
Tukwila
Covington
Lakeland North
Artondale
Fort Lewis
Elk Plain
Lakeland South
Edgewood
Lake Tapps
Gig Harbor

and 47 more cities

Area Code 253 geographic coverage map (light mode)

Historical Timeline of Area Code 253

Area code 253 was created on April 27, 1997, as part of a rare three-way split of area code 206 into three NPAs: 206 (Seattle core), 253 (Tacoma and south Puget Sound), and 425 (east side and north). The 253 NPA serves Tacoma, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Lakewood, and Puyallup in Washington state. It is projected to receive the 564 overlay when its number supply exhausts around Q3 2053. Source: NANPA

Key milestones:

1947: Area code 206 created as one of the original 77 US NANP area codes, serving all of Washington state Source: NANPA
1957: 206 split into 206 and 509, with 509 assigned to eastern Washington Source: NANPA
1995: 206 split into 206 and 360, with 360 assigned to western Washington outside the Seattle metro Source: NANPA
1997: 253 created via three-way split of 206 on April 27, 1997. Assigned to Tacoma and the south Puget Sound region. Permissive dialing period ended November 16, 1997 Source: NANPA
2000: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) approved the 564 all-services overlay for 206, 253, 425, and 360 under Docket UT-991535. Permissive 10-digit dialing began September 1, 2000 Source: UTC Docket UT-991535
2001: UTC suspended 564 overlay implementation on August 28, 2001, due to successful number conservation efforts Source: UTC Docket UT-991535
2016: UTC approved a phased 564 overlay for western Washington under Docket UT-143787 on May 19, 2016 Source: UTC Docket UT-143787
2017: 564 overlay activated for the 360 NPA. Mandatory 10-digit local dialing implemented throughout western Washington Source: UTC 564 Overlay
2023: UTC approved expansion of the 564 overlay to the 206 NPA under Docket UT-230108 on June 15, 2023 Source: UTC Docket UT-230108
2025: 564 overlay placed in service for the 206 NPA on June 10, 2025. The 253 NPA is projected to exhaust in Q3 2053 Source: UTC Docket UT-230108

The creation of 253 reflected rapid population growth in the Puget Sound region during the 1990s. Washington state's numbering plan has been managed by the UTC, which has overseen multiple overlay and split events to address number exhaustion across western Washington. The 564 overlay follows a phased activation approach, activating for each NPA as it exhausts rather than simultaneously across all regions.

Regulatory History

Area code 253 has been the subject of three major UTC regulatory dockets and two NANPA planning letters. The regulatory history follows an approve-suspend-re-approve arc spanning 25 years, reflecting the tension between number conservation and overlay planning. Source: UTC Washington State Area Codes

Year	Event	Docket	Regulatory Action & Impact
1996	Three-way split documented	PL-19	NANPA Planning Letter PL-19 documented the three-way split of 206 into 206, 253, and 425, effective April 27, 1997 Source: NANPA Planning Letters
1999-2001	564 overlay approved then suspended	UT-991535	UTC approved a 564 all-services overlay for 206, 253, 360, and 425 on May 10, 2000. Suspended on August 28, 2001, due to successful number conservation Source: UTC Docket UT-991535
2000	564 overlay plan implemented	PL-239	NANPA Planning Letter PL-239 implemented the 564 overlay plan. Permissive 10-digit dialing began September 1, 2000 Source: NANPA PL-239
2001	564 overlay suspended	PL-298	NANPA Planning Letter PL-298 documented the suspension of the 564 overlay and mandatory 10-digit dialing per UTC decision
2014-2016	Phased 564 overlay approved	UT-143787	UTC unanimously approved a phased all-services overlay of 564 for western Washington on May 19, 2016. Mandatory 10-digit dialing required by September 30, 2017 Source: UTC Docket UT-143787
2023	564 expanded to 206 NPA	UT-230108	UTC approved expansion of the 564 overlay to the 206 NPA on June 15, 2023, with 564 numbers available starting June 10, 2025 Source: UTC Docket UT-230108