Area Code 279
California
Area code 279 serves California, primarily Sacramento, in the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 916.
Published: Last reviewed: Verified against NANPA and FCC records
Overlay Area Code
This area code shares its geographic footprint with an overlay code, so the same cities are served by two area codes. Because overlays leave existing numbers untouched, this region's relief planning favors adding codes over redrawing boundaries.
The codes serving this same region: area code 916 (Sacramento).
In service since: 10-Mar-2018
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 1,632,822
- Population Density
- 36 people/sq mibelow U.S. average (U.S.: 95 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $76,373near U.S. median (U.S.: $80,734)
- Poverty Rate
- 13.7%near U.S. average (U.S.: 12.5%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 6.5%above U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+30.1%below U.S. average (U.S.: 35.7%)High School or Lower28.6%
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
Prefix Utilization
Geographic Coverage
State
CA
Major Cities
- Sacramento
- Elk Grove
- Roseville
- Arden-Arcade
- Citrus Heights
- Folsom
- Rancho Cordova
- Carmichael
- Rocklin
- West Sacramento
- Lincoln
- El Dorado Hills
- Florin
- Antelope
- North Highlands
- Vineyard
- Foothill Farms
- Orangevale
- Fair Oaks
- Rosemont
- Granite Bay
- Rio Linda
- Parkway
- Lemon Hill
and 19 more cities
Historical Timeline of Area Code 279
Area code 916 was created in 1947 as one of California's original three area codes, alongside 213 and 415. It was split twice, creating area code 707 in 1959 and area code 530 in 1997, before receiving overlay relief with area code 279 on March 10, 2018. The overlay was approved by the CPUC on February 9, 2017, following a 13-month implementation schedule that included mandatory 1+10-digit dialing from February 10, 2018. Source: CPUC Consumer Information
Key milestones:
- 1947: Area code 916 created as one of the original 77 US NANP area codes, originally covering the far northern portion of California Source: NANPA
- 1950: 916 realigned to cover northeastern California when Sacramento was reassigned from 415 to 916 Source: NANPA
- 1959: 916 split to create area code 707 for northwestern California Source: CPUC
- 1997: 916 split again to create area code 530 for northeastern California, reducing 916 to the greater Sacramento area Source: CPUC
- October 2015: Industry consensus reached to recommend all-services overlay for the 916 NPA Source: CPUC Decision D.17-02-010
- November 2016: NANPA filed Application A.16-11-007 requesting all-services overlay relief for 916 Source: CPUC Decision D.17-02-010
- February 2017: CPUC approved all-services overlay via Decision D.17-02-010, rejecting the split alternative Source: CPUC Decision D.17-02-010
- March 2017: NANPA Planning Letter PL-502 issued confirming the overlay implementation timeline Source: NANPA PL-502
- August 12, 2017: Permissive 1+10-digit dialing period began across the 916 NPA Source: NANPA PL-502
- February 10, 2018: Mandatory 1+10-digit dialing became effective for all calls within and between 916 and 279 Source: CPUC Press Release
- March 10, 2018: Area code 279 officially entered service as an all-services overlay of 916, covering El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, and Yolo counties Source: CPUC
Area code 916 is one of the original 77 US NANP area codes from 1947 and is the only one of California's original three that no longer contains any part of its original geographic area. The 1997 split reduced 916 to the greater Sacramento metropolitan region, and the 2018 overlay with 279 provides additional numbering resources for the same five-county area. Source: CPUC
FCC Regulatory History
Area code 279 was authorized through CPUC Decision D.17-02-010 on February 9, 2017, approving NANPA Application A.16-11-007 filed November 17, 2016. The CPUC, acting under delegated authority from the FCC, chose an all-services overlay over a split and mandated a 13-month implementation with a Public Education Program requiring 70% customer awareness. Permissive dialing began August 12, 2017, mandatory dialing on February 10, 2018, and new 279 numbers issued March 10, 2018. Source: CPUC Decision D.17-02-010
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANPA Application A.16-11-007 | Nov 17, 2016 | Filed by NANPA requesting all-services area code overlay for the 916 NPA due to projected exhaustion in Q1 2018 Source: CPUC Decision | Initiated CPUC review process (A.16-11-007) |
| CPUC Decision D.17-02-010 | Feb 9, 2017 | Approved all-services overlay; rejected split due to 32-year lifespan imbalance (55 vs. 23 years); mandated 13-month implementation; required PEP achieving 70% awareness Source: CPUC Decision | Overlay authorized with 36-year projected life |
| NANPA Planning Letter PL-502 | Mar 8, 2017 | Confirmed CPUC approval; set implementation timeline: permissive dialing Aug 12, 2017; mandatory dialing Feb 10, 2018; new codes Mar 10, 2018; test number 279-279-1279 Source: NANPA PL-502 | Implementation schedule published to industry |
| CPUC Press Release | Jan 8, 2018 | Consumer education reminder for mandatory 1+10-digit dialing change effective February 10, 2018; noted 916 was one of original three California area codes Source: CPUC Press Release | Final consumer awareness push before mandatory dialing |
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 279).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA | 1,597,344 | 75.1% |
| Placer, CA | 336,725 | 15.8% |
| El Dorado, CA | 126,475 | 5.9% |
| Yolo, CA | 56,124 | 2.6% |
| Sutter, CA | 5,777 | 0.3% |
| Solano, CA | 3,312 | 0.2% |
| San Joaquin, CA | 2,086 | 0.1% |
Area Code 279 Family Tree
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Area code 279 was originally assigned in 10-Mar-2018 to serve CA.
Call Context
This area code covers a metropolitan region in CA with moderate to high population density, centered on Sacramento and surrounding communities.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 279.
Other Area Codes in California
Area codes that also serve California, linked for easy comparison.