Sacramento Area Codes: 916 and 279
Sacramento is served by two area codes that cover the exact same ground. 916 has been here since 1947; 279 was overlaid on top of it in 2018. Here is what that means for how you dial, which cities are included, and where the boundary runs.
279 is an overlay: it covers exactly the same geographic area as 916 rather than a separate region. It was activated in 2018 once 916 numbers began running short, so a 279 number can sit on the same street — even in the same building — as a 916 number.
916 is one of the original North American area codes assigned in 1947 and has served Sacramento ever since. Its territory shrank over the years as 530 (1997) and other codes were split off, leaving today's Sacramento metropolitan footprint.
How to dial in the 916/279 region
Always dial 10 digits for local calls
Because 279 overlays 916, seven-digit dialing no longer works anywhere in the region. Dial the full area code plus the seven-digit number — 916-XXX-XXXX or 279-XXX-XXXX — even when calling a neighbor.
1 + 10 digits still works
Dialing 1 before the area code is accepted and is required from many business phone systems and older PBX equipment. It does not by itself make a call long distance or add charges.
916 and 279 are the same place
An overlay adds numbers, not territory. A 279 number is not a different city, a different rate, or a sign of a call from out of the area — both codes cover the same Sacramento-region boundary.
Your existing number does not change
The overlay only affects newly assigned numbers. Existing 916 numbers keep their area code, and number portability means a number can keep its code when you switch carriers within the region.
Three-digit services are unaffected
911, 988, 811, 211 and similar N11 codes are dialed with three digits as usual, with no area code.
Reprogram anything that stores numbers
Alarm panels, fax machines, speed dials, medical alert devices, gate call boxes and autodialers should store all local numbers in 10-digit form so they keep working.
Dialing plans are administered by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator and the California Public Utilities Commission.
Cities and communities in the 916 and 279 area codes
Both codes serve the same list. Coverage spans four counties, with most of the territory in Sacramento County.
Sacramento County
- Sacramento
State capital; all city ZIP codes
- Elk Grove
Largest suburb south of the city
- Citrus Heights
Northeast suburb
- Rancho Cordova
East along Highway 50
- Folsom
Northeast, along Folsom Lake
- Galt
Southern Sacramento County
- Isleton
Delta community
- Carmichael
Unincorporated, east of the American River
- Arden-Arcade
Unincorporated urban area
- Antelope
Unincorporated, north county
- Fair Oaks
Unincorporated, northeast
- Orangevale
Unincorporated, northeast
- North Highlands
Unincorporated, north county
- Rio Linda
Unincorporated, north county
- Elverta
Unincorporated, north county
- Wilton
Rural southeast county
- Herald
Rural south county
- Courtland
Delta community
- Walnut Grove
Delta community
- Hood
Delta community
- Mather
Former Air Force base area
- McClellan Park
Former Air Force base area
Placer County
- Roseville
Largest Placer County city
- Rocklin
Placer County, north of Roseville
- Loomis
Placer County town
- Granite Bay
Unincorporated Placer County
- Lincoln
Northern Placer County
Yolo County
- West Sacramento
Across the Sacramento River
El Dorado County
- El Dorado Hills
Western El Dorado County
916 / 279 area code map
The shaded areas show the Sacramento-region ZIP codes inside the 916/279 calling area, drawn from official U.S. Census Bureau ZCTA boundaries. Click any area for its neighborhoods and population.
Sacramento area code questions, answered
What area code is Sacramento, California?
Sacramento uses area code 916, plus the 279 overlay that was added in 2018. Both codes serve the same geographic area, so a Sacramento phone number can begin with either 916 or 279.
Where is the 916 area code located?
916 covers the Sacramento metropolitan area: the city of Sacramento and most of Sacramento County, southwestern Placer County (Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay), West Sacramento in Yolo County, and El Dorado Hills in western El Dorado County. It is in the Pacific time zone.
Where is the 279 area code located?
279 is an overlay covering the exact same territory as 916 — the Sacramento region. It is not a separate city or county, and it does not indicate a long-distance or premium-rate call.
Do I have to dial 10 digits in Sacramento?
Yes. Since the 279 overlay took effect, all local calls in the 916/279 region require the area code plus the seven-digit number. Dialing 1 first is also permitted.
Is 916 a toll or long-distance area code?
No. 916 and 279 are ordinary geographic area codes. Whether a call costs anything depends on your calling plan, not on which of the two codes you dial.
What time zone are the 916 and 279 area codes in?
Both are in the Pacific time zone (PST, UTC-8; PDT, UTC-7 during daylight saving time), the same as the rest of California.
More Sacramento references
- All Sacramento ZIP codesThe full directory of Sacramento-area ZIP codes with population and neighborhoods.
- Sacramento ZIP code lookup tableSearch and sort every ZIP by city, neighborhood, type or population.
- Interactive Sacramento ZIP code mapClick any ZIP boundary on the Census-based map to see its stats.
- Find a ZIP code by neighborhoodReverse lookup: type a neighborhood name to get its ZIP codes.
- Sacramento neighborhoods guideDescriptions of 22 Sacramento neighborhoods and the ZIPs they cover.
- What county is Sacramento in?Sacramento County facts, incorporated cities and neighboring counties.