Area Code 267
Pennsylvania
Area code 267 serves Pennsylvania, primarily Philadelphia, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 215.
Overlay Area Codes
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 215 (Philadelphia), area code 445 (Philadelphia).
In service since: 01-Jul-1999
Historical Timeline of Area Code 267
Area code 267 was approved by the Pennsylvania PUC on May 21, 1998 (Docket P-00961061) and activated in June 1999 as an all-services distributed overlay of area code 215, one of the original 86 North American area codes from 1947. It was one of the first two overlays implemented in Pennsylvania, alongside area code 484 over 610. Source: PA PUC
Key milestones:
- 1947: 215 created as one of Pennsylvania's four original area codes (215, 412, 717, 814) in the North American Numbering Plan.
- 1994: 215 was geographically split on January 8, 1994. Western and northern portions became 610, while Philadelphia and northern suburbs retained 215. (Source: Wikipedia)
- 1997 (PA PUC): PA PUC entered an order on July 15, 1997 addressing NXX code depletion in 412, 215, 610, and 717, ordering "transparent overlays" for 215, 610, and 717. The FCC later ruled this approach unlawful.
- 1998: FCC 98-224 (September 28, 1998) declared the PA PUC's transparent overlay order unlawful. PA PUC then approved an all-services distributed overlay for 215 (receiving 267) and 610 (receiving 484) on May 21, 1998. NANPA issued PL-134 on July 31, 1998. (Federal Register)
- 1998: Permissive 10-digit dialing began December 5, 1998 in the 215/610 overlay area.
- 1999: Area code 267 activated in June 1999 as an all-services distributed overlay of 215. Mandatory 10-digit dialing began June 5, 1999.
- 2003: PA PUC rescinded the 445 overlay plan for 215/267 on September 18, 2003 (Docket P-00961061F0002). The 267 overlay remained active.
- 2010: FCC delegated additional authority to PA PUC for mandatory 1K number pooling in 215/267 and other NPAs (May 18, 2010).
- 2016: PA PUC approved 445 as a new overlay for the 215/267 NPA on November 9, 2016. NANPA issued PL-499 on December 27, 2016. (PA Bulletin)
- 2018: Area code 445 activated on March 3, 2018, creating the 215/267/445 overlay complex. 23 million telephone numbers assigned to approximately 4 million people. (Source: PA PUC)
Unique Facts About Area Code 267
Area code 267 was one of the first two area code overlays implemented in Pennsylvania, approved alongside area code 484 over 610 on May 21, 1998. The 215/267/445 overlay complex serves the Philadelphia metropolitan area with 23 million telephone numbers assigned to approximately 4 million residents. Source: PA PUC
- First overlay in Pennsylvania: 267 was one of the first two overlays implemented in Pennsylvania, approved alongside 484 (overlay of 610) on May 21, 1998, and activated in 1999. Both were Pennsylvania's first area code overlays. (PA PUC Docket P-00961061)
- Three-code overlay complex: The 215/267/445 complex is a three-code overlay. 267 overlaid 215 in 1999, then 445 overlaid both in 2018, creating the Philadelphia metro's three-code overlay complex. (Source: PA PUC)
- Rescinded and re-approved overlay: The 445 overlay was first proposed in 2000 (NANPA PL-237), rescinded by the PA PUC in 2003 (Docket P-00961061F0002) due to delayed numbering exhaust from conservation measures, then re-proposed and approved in 2016 (Docket P-2016-2560129). The 267 overlay itself was never affected by this rescission. (PA PUC)
- Permissive vs. mandatory dialing timeline: The 215/610 overlay area transitioned to permissive 10-digit dialing on December 5, 1998, with mandatory 10-digit dialing following on June 5, 1999. This six-month permissive period is a standard feature of overlay implementations. These specific permissive and mandatory dialing dates are documented in PA PUC records.
- Numbering capacity: The 215/267/445 complex has 23 million telephone numbers assigned to a service territory of approximately 4 million people, with no projected exhaust until beyond 2050. (Source: Wikipedia)
FCC Regulatory History
Area code 267 has been subject to several significant regulatory actions at the federal and state level over the past three decades. The most notable was the FCC's 1998 ruling in CC Docket 96-98 (FCC 98-224), which declared Pennsylvania's "transparent overlay" approach unlawful and established precedent limiting state commission authority over numbering resources. Source: Federal Register
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 (Wikipedia) | PA PUC Transparent Overlay Order | P-00961061 | PA PUC ordered "transparent overlays" for area codes 412, 215, 610, and 717 on July 15, 1997. This approach was later ruled unlawful by the FCC. |
| 1998 | FCC Preemption Order | CC Docket No. 96-98 | FCC 98-224 declared the PA PUC's transparent overlay order unlawful and required traditional area code relief for 215, 610, and 717. Delegated limited authority to states for NXX code rationing. (Federal Register) |
| 1998 | PA PUC Overlay Approval | P-00961061 | PA PUC approved all-services distributed overlays for 215 (receiving 267) and 610 (receiving 484). Permissive 10-digit dialing began December 5, 1998; mandatory 10-digit dialing began June 5, 1999. (PA PUC) |
| 2003 (PA PUC) | 445 Overlay Rescission | P-00961061F0002 | PA PUC rescinded the previously approved 445 overlay plan for the 215/267 NPAs due to delayed numbering exhaust from successful conservation measures. The 267 overlay remained active. |
| 2010 | FCC Number Pooling Delegation | FCC Order | FCC delegated additional authority to PA PUC for mandatory 1K number pooling in 215/267, 570, 610/484, 717, and 814 NPAs. |
| 2016 | 445 Overlay Re-approval | P-2016-2560129 | PA PUC approved 445 as an all-services distributed overlay for the 215/267 NPA, projected to last approximately 24 years. 445 activated March 3, 2018. (PA Bulletin) |
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 267).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 1,582,836 | 53.8% |
| Bucks, PA | 766,634 | 26.1% |
| Montgomery, PA | 527,743 | 18.0% |
| Lehigh, PA | 42,221 | 1.4% |
| Delaware, PA | 12,396 | 0.4% |
| Berks, PA | 7,574 | 0.3% |
Call Context
This area code serves the same metropolitan region as area code 215, including Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania. It was introduced as an overlay of area code 215, meaning both codes serve the same geographic territory.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 267.
Other Area Codes in Pennsylvania
Area codes that also serve Pennsylvania, linked for easy comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 267 and how phone numbering works.
Phone numbers are assigned based on where the number was originally provisioned, not the caller's current location. Mobile phones retain their number when users move, and businesses may use numbers from regions where they don't have a physical presence. VoIP services can also provision numbers from virtually any area code.
Yes, mobile phones can have numbers from any area code in the region they were activated. Wireless carriers assign numbers from available pools regardless of phone type. When users change carriers or move to new areas, they typically keep their original number, which may have a different area code than their current location.
Start by looking up the area code on this site to understand its general geographic region. For the specific number, options include using your carrier's caller ID features or checking 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 your number with the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce unwanted calls. Keep in mind that caller ID can display any name the caller chooses to set.
When an area's pool of available phone numbers runs low, regulators may introduce an "overlay" area code that covers the same geographic territory as the original. Both codes coexist, and new numbers are assigned from whichever code has availability. This area code shares its region with area code 215, area code 215, area code 445. Learn more in our overlay vs split guide.
While Philadelphia is a prominent city in this area code's coverage, the code serves the broader surrounding region as well. Area codes are assigned geographically and typically cover multiple cities, towns, and communities beyond any single anchor city.
This area code covers a metropolitan region with high population density. Dense urban areas typically have higher call volumes and may have multiple overlapping area codes to meet demand for phone numbers. Businesses and residents in these areas are more likely to need additional numbering resources.