Area Code 346

Texas

Area code 346 serves Texas, primarily Houston, in the Central Time (CT) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 713.

Published: Updated:

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 621 (Houston).

In service since: 01-Jul-2014

Learn more about overlay and split area codes →

Demographics & Economics

Demographic Data Unavailable for Area Code 346

County-level demographic data is not available for this area code because NPA boundary polygons are not publicly distributed by NANPA. We use geographic boundary data from the Colorado Open Data Portal to map area codes to counties, which currently covers 194 of 376 geographic area codes.

Demographic statistics (population, income, education, poverty) require county-level aggregations from Census ACS data. Without a county mapping, these aggregations cannot be computed. We are actively seeking additional data sources to improve coverage.

Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates where county boundary data is available.See Sources for details.

Time Zone

  • Central Time (CT)

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

Central Time (CT)
 
 

Prefix Utilization

Geographic Coverage

State

TX

Major Cities

  • Houston
  • Pasadena
  • Pearland
  • The Woodlands
  • League City
  • Sugar Land
  • Atascocita
  • Baytown
  • Missouri City
  • Spring
  • Channelview
  • Friendswood
  • Rosenberg
  • Mission Bend
  • La Porte
  • Deer Park
  • Alvin
  • Fulshear
  • Sienna
  • Pecan Grove
  • Cloverleaf
  • Fresno
  • Katy
  • Dickinson

and 76 more cities

Area Code 346 geographic coverage map (light mode)

Historical Timeline of Area Code 346

Area code 346 entered service on July 1, 2014 as the fourth overlay for the Houston metropolitan area, joining area code 713 (1947), area code 281 (1996), and area code 832 (1999). The Public Utility Commission of Texas announced 346 on May 9, 2013, after NANPA projected the three existing codes would exhaust by September 30, 2014. A fifth overlay, area code 621, was added on January 23, 2025. Source: Wikipedia

Key milestones:

  • 1947: Area code 713 established as one of the original four Texas area codes, covering southeastern Texas from the Sabine River to the Brazos Valley. Source: Wikipedia
  • 1983: Area code 409 split from 832 on March 19, reducing 713 to the immediate Houston area. Source: Wikipedia
  • 1996: Area code 281 created from 832 on November 2, serving Houston suburbs outside Beltway 8. Source: Wikipedia
  • 1999: Area code 832 added as an all-services overlay on January 16, erasing the 713/281 boundary and making 10-digit dialing mandatory. Source: Wikipedia
  • 2013: PUC announces area code 346 on May 9 after NANPA projects the three existing codes will exhaust by September 30, 2014. About 100 prefixes remained available in 832 at the time. Source: PUC Texas
  • 2014: Area code 346 enters service on July 1 as an all-services distributed overlay on 281/713/832, allocating over 31 million potential telephone numbers for a service territory of 8+ million people. Source: AT&T
  • 2023: PUCT approves area code 621 as the fifth overlay under Project No. 54986 on October 12. NANPA issues PL-623 on December 6. Source: PUCT
  • 2025: Area code 621 enters service on January 23, making the Houston complex a five-code overlay (713/281/832/346/621). Source: PUCT

The 15-year gap between area code 832 (1999) and 346 (2014) was the longest interval between overlay additions in the Houston complex, reflecting improvements in number conservation and the shift to distributed overlays.

Regulatory History

Area code 346 has been affected by five key regulatory actions spanning from the original 281 split in 1996 to the 621 overlay approval in 2023, tracking the evolution of the Houston overlay complex through NANPA planning letters and PUCT decisions. Source: NANPA

YearEventDocketRegulatory Action & Impact
1996281 Split ApprovalPL-006NANPA approved the split of 713 NPA creating area code 281 for Houston suburbs outside Beltway 8. This established the initial Houston overlay complex that 346 later joined. Source: NANPA
1999832 Overlay ApprovalPL-143NANPA approved the all-services overlay of 832 on 713/281, erasing the geographic boundary and introducing mandatory 10-digit dialing across the Houston area. Source: NANPA
2013346 Overlay ApprovalPL-453NANPA issued PL-453 for the all-services distributed overlay of 346 on 281/713/832, the fourth area code for the Houston metropolitan area. PUC announced the decision on May 9, 2013. Source: PUC Texas
2014346 Enters ServicePL-453Area code 346 enters service on July 1 as an all-services distributed overlay, allocating over 31 million potential telephone numbers. Source: AT&T
2023621 Overlay ApprovalPUCT Project No. 54986PUCT approved 621 as the fifth overlay for the 281/346/713/832 complex on October 12, 2023. NANPA issued PL-623 on December 6, 2023, confirming 621 CO codes available only when all assignable codes in 281/346/713/832 are assigned. Source: PUCT

County Coverage

Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 346).

CountyPopulationShare
Harris, TX5,201,14664.2%
Fort Bend, TX1,310,16516.2%
Montgomery, TX473,2825.8%
Brazoria, TX349,2774.3%
Galveston, TX267,6193.3%
Waller, TX248,1513.1%
Chambers, TX130,0551.6%
Liberty, TX104,2481.3%
San Jacinto, TX17,8160.2%
Polk, TX2400.0%

Area Code 346 Family Tree

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713281409832936979346621
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Total Codes
0
Splits
1
Overlays
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Max Depth

All Descendants

Code ▲StateType In Service Parent
621TXoverlay23-Jan-2025346

Area code 346 was originally assigned in 01-Jul-2014 to serve TX. Over the years, it has generated 1 descendant area code through a combination of geographic splits and overlays as demand for telephone numbers grew.

Call Context

Regional geographic area

This area code covers a geographic region across TX, including Houston and surrounding communities.

Nearby Area Codes

Area codes geographically closest to 346.

Area code 979 map card showing College Station (light mode)
979TXCollege StationCentral Time (CT)Split
Area code 409 map card showing Beaumont (light mode)
409TXBeaumontCentral Time (CT)Split
Area code 936 map card showing The Woodlands (light mode)
936TXThe WoodlandsCentral Time (CT)Split
Area code 512 map card showing Austin (light mode)
512TXAustinCentral Time (CT)Geographic

Other Area Codes in Texas

Area codes that also serve Texas, linked for easy comparison.