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About Washington, D.C. Area Code 202

The 202 area code is used in every Washington, D.C. city.

Nearby area codes are 240, 301, 571 and 703.
Search for a phone number:
Example: 202-555-5555

Extended information

North American telephone area code 202 is the area code for Washington, D.C. It was one of the area codes originally assigned in October, 1947. The map to the right is clickable, click on either of the two neighboring states on the map to go to the area code for that region.

As of 2006, there are no plans to split or overlay the area code, as the North American Numbering Plan Administration estimates the current supply of 202 numbers sufficient at least to the year 2020. For a local call between two telephones in the District, 7-digit dialing is permitted, although the call will be connected if the area code is dialed. There is, of course, no provision for long-distance calls within the area code.

Originally, area code 202 was an unpublished alternate area code for the nearby suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, which were officially in area codes 301 and 703, respectively. That arrangement allowed local calls throughout the metropolitan area to be dialed using only seven digits. For example, a telephone number in Kensington, Maryland, that was officially 301-949-xxxx could be dialed as 202-949-xxxx as well. However, on October 1, 1990, due to pending number exhaustion, the ability to dial the suburbs using area code 202 ended, and local calls between area codes required 10-digit dialing (area code + number, leading "1" is not required and is usually not allowed).

202 Area Code Exchanges 100-153:

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