North Carolina has 10 active area codes serving its major cities and communities across the Eastern Time Zone. The entire state follows Eastern Time (EST/EDT), making scheduling straightforward for business communications and personal calls.
Whether you need to identify an unknown caller, plan your business expansion, or coordinate calls across regions, this guide provides complete and current information about every North Carolina area code. The most recent addition was area code 472 in October 2022 as an overlay to the southeastern 910 region.
Key Takeaways:
- North Carolina uses 10 area codes: 252, 336, 472, 704, 743, 828, 910, 919, 980, and 984
- The entire state operates in the Eastern Time Zone (UTC-5 standard, UTC-4 daylight)
- Four overlay pairs exist: 336/743 (Piedmont Triad), 704/980 (Charlotte metro), 910/472 (Southeast), and 919/984 (Research Triangle)
- 10-digit dialing is required for all local calls throughout North Carolina
- Area code 704 was the original code covering the entire state when it was introduced in 1947
- The newest code is 472, activated in October 2022 for the Wilmington and Fayetteville region
North Carolina Area Codes
| Area Code | Primary Cities/Regions | Time Zone | Type | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 252 | Greenville, Rocky Mount, Wilson | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Split | 1998 |
| 336 | Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Split | 1997 |
| 472 | Wilmington, Fayetteville (overlay) | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Overlay | 2022 |
| 704 | Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Original | 1947 |
| 743 | Greensboro, Winston-Salem (overlay) | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Overlay | 2016 |
| 828 | Asheville, Hickory, Boone | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Split | 1998 |
| 910 | Fayetteville, Wilmington, Jacksonville | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Split | 1993 |
| 919 | Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Split | 1954 |
| 980 | Charlotte metro (overlay) | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Overlay | 2001 |
| 984 | Raleigh, Durham (overlay) | Eastern (EST/EDT) | Overlay | 2012 |
Area Code 252
Area code 252 serves the northeastern corner of the state, including coastal communities and inland cities. This region covers counties such as Pitt, Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Wayne, Craven, and Dare, among others, along the Atlantic coast and Albemarle Sound.
Major Cities and Communities
The 252 includes Greenville (home to East Carolina University), Rocky Mount, Wilson, New Bern, Kitty Hawk, Elizabeth City, Henderson, Kinston, and Morehead City. These communities range from historic coastal towns to growing inland cities with diverse economies based on agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism.
Historical Background
Created in March 1998, area code 252 was split from the 919 numbering plan area to address number exhaustion caused by the rapid growth of mobile phones and pagers. This split allowed the Research Triangle region to retain 919 while giving northeastern North Carolina its own distinct identity.
Area Code 336
Area code 336 serves North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region, including Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, and surrounding communities. This economically diverse region is known for furniture manufacturing, textiles, tobacco, healthcare, and education, with major institutions like Wake Forest University and UNC Greensboro.
History and Implementation
The 336 area code was created on December 15, 1997, when it split from area code 910. This split was necessary due to rapid growth in the Triad region, particularly with the proliferation of cell phones and pagers. Interestingly, the more populated Triad area received the new code rather than keeping the old 910, which remained with the southeastern portion of the state.
Current Usage
Since October 2016, area code 336 has been paired with overlay code 743. Residents and businesses in this region must use 10-digit dialing for all calls, even local ones. The 336/743 combination is projected to serve the Triad region’s needs well into the coming decades.
Area Code 472
NEW: Activated October 2022
472 is the newest addition to North Carolina’s numbering plan. It functions as an overlay to area code 910, meaning both codes serve the same geographic region. The state Utilities Commission approved this overlay to address number exhaustion in the rapidly growing southeastern part of the state.
Coverage and Purpose
The 472 overlay covers the same territory as 910, including Wilmington, Fayetteville, Jacksonville, and Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg). An overlay was chosen over a geographic split to avoid the disruption of dividing communities and to allow existing customers to keep their current 910 numbers. All new phone numbers in this region may be assigned either 910 or 472.
Area Code 704
Area code 704 holds special significance as North Carolina’s original area code, assigned in 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan was first implemented. For seven years, this single code served the entire state, reflecting a simpler time when phone ownership was far less common than today.
Geographic Coverage
Today, 704 serves the Charlotte metropolitan area, including Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Matthews, Huntersville, Cornelius, and surrounding communities in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, and Union counties. This region is North Carolina’s largest metropolitan area and a major financial center, second only to New York City in banking assets.
Evolution Over Time
In 1954, the eastern portion of North Carolina split off as area code 919, leaving 704 for the western part of the state. Further splits occurred in 1993 and 1998 as population growth continued. By 2001, even the Charlotte metro area alone required an overlay code (980) to meet demand. Despite continued growth, the 704/980 combination is projected to serve the region until at least 2047.
Area Code 743
Area code 743 serves as an overlay to 336 in the Piedmont Triad region. Both codes cover identical geographic areas, including Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, and Burlington. This was North Carolina’s second overlay implementation, following the Charlotte metro area’s 980 overlay in 2001.
Implementation Timeline
The 743 overlay was announced in August 2014 and officially activated in October 2015. A permissive dialing period allowed residents to use either seven or ten digits for local calls until April 23, 2016, when 10-digit dialing became mandatory throughout the 336/743 region.
Area Code 828
Area code 828 serves the mountainous western region of North Carolina, covering the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. This scenic area includes counties such as Buncombe, Catawba, Burke, McDowell, and Cherokee, stretching from the foothills to the Tennessee border.
Major Cities Served
The 828 region includes Asheville (known for arts, culture, and the historic Biltmore Estate), Hickory (furniture and fiber optics manufacturing), Boone (home to Appalachian State University), Morganton, Lenoir, Marion, Hendersonville, and Murphy. The economy here blends tourism, education, manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture.
Area Code 910
910 covers southeastern North Carolina, including the coastal plain, sandhills region, and Atlantic coastline. Major counties include Cumberland, New Hanover, Onslow, Robeson, Scotland, and Bladen. This diverse region encompasses military installations, beach communities, and agricultural areas.
Historical Context
Created in 1993, area code 910 was North Carolina’s first new code in 39 years, splitting from 919. Initially, it covered both the southeastern region and the Piedmont Triad in a fan-shaped territory. However, rapid growth led to another split in 1997 when the Triad became 336, leaving 910 with the southeastern portion.
Current Status
Since October 2022, 910 has been paired with overlay code 472. The region includes significant military presence at Fort Liberty (one of the largest Army installations in the world), the port city of Wilmington, and the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville. Population growth and mobile phone proliferation necessitated the overlay to ensure an adequate number supply.
Area Code 919
The 919 serves North Carolina’s Research Triangle region, including Raleigh (the state capital), Durham, Chapel Hill, and Cary. This area also extends to surrounding communities in Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham, Johnston, and Franklin counties.
Academic and Research Significance
The 919 region is known worldwide for its concentration of universities (Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State) and research institutions. Research Triangle Park, one of the largest research parks in the world, drives innovation in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and environmental sciences. This has made the area one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States.
Overlay Addition
Originally assigned in 1954 as a split from 704, area code 919 served eastern North Carolina for decades. After the 252 split in 1998 reduced its territory, continued growth in the Triangle required an overlay. Area code 984 was activated in September 2012, and 10-digit dialing became mandatory by March 2012. Despite continued growth, the 919/984 combination is projected to meet the region’s needs for at least 30 years.
Area Code 980
980 became North Carolina’s first overlay code when it was activated in 2001 to serve the Charlotte metropolitan area. This marked a shift from geographic splits to overlays as the preferred method for adding numbering capacity in growing regions.
Coverage Details
The 980 overlay covers the exact same geographic area as 704, including all of Charlotte and surrounding communities in the metro area. A brief permissive dialing period ended on January 10, 2001, when 10-digit dialing became mandatory. Interestingly, some Charlotte residents who live in South Carolina may still have 704 or 980 numbers due to mobile number portability, which allows people to keep their numbers when moving.
Area Code 984
984 was originally planned for implementation in 2001 to overlay 919 in the Research Triangle. However, a technique called number pooling, which makes more efficient use of available numbers, provided temporary relief and delayed the need for an overlay by a full decade.
Implementation Details
By 2011, the Triangle’s booming population and the explosive growth of cell phones and other devices made the overlay necessary. Area code 984 went live in September 2011, with a permissive dialing period allowing residents to choose between seven-digit or ten-digit local dialing. By March 2012, ten-digit dialing became mandatory throughout the 919/984 region. The transition caused some confusion, with reports of people accidentally dialing 911 instead of 919.
Understanding Time Zones in North Carolina
The entire state of North Carolina operates within the Eastern Time Zone, which simplifies scheduling for businesses and residents. Unlike some states that span multiple time zones, North Carolina maintains consistent time throughout all regions, from the mountains in the west to the coast in the east.
UTC Offset and Daylight Saving
This state observes Eastern Standard Time (EST) during the winter months, which is UTC-5. During Daylight Saving Time, observed from the second Sunday in March through the first Sunday in November, the state follows Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), which is UTC-4. This means North Carolina is typically 5 hours behind London and 3 hours ahead of Los Angeles during standard time.
Major Cities and Their Area Codes
Here are the major cities in North Carolina and their corresponding area codes:
- Charlotte – 704/980 (largest city, financial hub)
- Raleigh – 919/984 (state capital, tech center)
- Greensboro – 336/743 (Triad region, central location)
- Durham – 919/984 (Research Triangle, universities)
- Winston-Salem – 336/743 (Triad region, arts and culture)
- Fayetteville – 910/472 (military presence, Fort Liberty)
- Cary – 919/984 (rapidly growing, technology)
- Wilmington – 910/472 (coastal, port city)
- High Point – 336/743 (furniture capital)
- Concord – 704/980 (Charlotte metro, motorsports)
- Asheville – 828 (mountain tourism, arts)
- Greenville – 252 (eastern NC, East Carolina University)
How to Use Area Codes in North Carolina
All local calls in North Carolina require 10-digit dialing. This means you must dial the area code plus the seven-digit phone number, even when calling someone in the same area code. You do not need to dial 1 before the area code for local calls. This requirement was implemented gradually across the state as overlay codes were introduced and is now mandatory statewide.
Calling from Outside the State
When calling North Carolina from elsewhere in the United States, dial 1 followed by the area code and seven-digit number (1-XXX-XXX-XXXX). For international calls to North Carolina, dial your country’s exit code, then 1 (the country code for the United States), followed by the area code and phone number (+1-XXX-XXX-XXXX).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many area codes does North Carolina have?
This state currently has 10 active area codes: 252, 336, 472, 704, 743, 828, 910, 919, 980, and 984. The state started with just one area code (704) in 1947 and has expanded over the decades due to population growth and the proliferation of mobile devices. The most recent addition was 472 in October 2022.
What is the area code for Charlotte, NC?
Charlotte uses two area codes: 704 and 980. These codes overlay each other, meaning they serve the same geographic area. 704 is the original code dating back to 1947, while 980 was added as an overlay in 2001. When calling Charlotte, you may reach numbers with either code, and all local calls require 10-digit dialing.
Do I need to dial 10 digits for local calls in North Carolina?
Yes, 10-digit dialing is now required for all local calls throughout North Carolina. You must dial the area code plus the seven-digit phone number, even when calling someone in your same area code. This requirement was implemented gradually as overlay codes were introduced and is now mandatory statewide. You do not need to dial 1 before the area code for local calls within North Carolina.
What is the newest area code in North Carolina?
The newest area code in North Carolina is 472, which was activated in October 2022. It serves as an overlay to area code 910 in the southeastern part of the state, covering Wilmington, Fayetteville, Jacksonville, and surrounding communities. This overlay was implemented by the North Carolina Utilities Commission to address number exhaustion in the rapidly growing region.
What time zone is North Carolina in?
North Carolina is entirely within the Eastern Time Zone. The state observes Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) during the winter months and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) during the warmer months when Daylight Saving Time is in effect. This applies uniformly across all regions of the state, from the mountains to the coast.