Fort Lauderdale, Florida, uses two area codes: 954 and 754. Both codes serve the exact same geographic region in Broward County, covering Fort Lauderdale and its surrounding communities. Whether you’re calling locally, planning to get a Fort Lauderdale phone number for your business, or simply trying to identify where a call is coming from, this guide provides everything you need to know about the Fort Lauderdale area codes.
What Are Fort Lauderdale’s Area Codes?
Fort Lauderdale is served by both 954 and 754. These two codes cover identical geographic territory in what’s known as an overlay configuration. Code 954 was established on September 11, 1995, when it split from the original 305 area code. By the early 2000s, the explosive growth in South Florida and the proliferation of cell phones, fax machines, and pagers caused 954 to approach exhaustion. To solve this problem without forcing residents and businesses to change their numbers, Code 754 was introduced as an overlay on August 1, 2001, and began active use on April 1, 2002.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Feature | Area Code 954 | Area Code 754 |
|---|---|---|
| Established | September 11, 1995 | April 1, 2002 |
| Type | Original | Overlay |
| Coverage Area | Broward County | Broward County |
| Time Zone | Eastern | Eastern |
The overlay system means new phone numbers are assigned 754, while existing 954 numbers remain unchanged. You cannot choose between the two codes when getting a new number, as your service provider assigns them based on availability.
Geographic Coverage: Where Are 954 and 754 Located?
Area codes 954 and 754 serve Broward County in southeastern Florida. This region sits between Palm Beach County to the north and Miami-Dade County to the south, along Florida’s Atlantic coast.
Major cities using the 954 and 754 area codes include Fort Lauderdale, which serves as the county seat and largest city, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Plantation, and Davie. Additional communities include Deerfield Beach, Weston, Sunrise, Tamarac, Lauderhill, Oakland Park, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Margate, Coconut Creek, Parkland, and Wilton Manors.
The area code region does not extend into Miami or Miami Beach, which use area codes 305 and 786. It also does not cover West Palm Beach or Boca Raton, which use area code 561. The 954 and 754 codes are exclusive to Broward County.
Time Zone Information
Both the 954 and 754 area codes operate in the Eastern Time Zone. During standard time, this is EST (Eastern Standard Time), which is UTC/GMT minus 5 hours. When Daylight Saving Time is observed from early March through early November, the region switches to EDT (Eastern Daylight Time), UTC/GMT minus 4 hours. Fort Lauderdale shares the same time zone as Miami, West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, and other major cities along Florida’s east coast.
History of Fort Lauderdale Area Codes
Area code 954 went into service on September 11, 1995, when Broward County split from area code 305. The 305 code was Florida’s original area code when the North American Numbering Plan was created in 1947. Over the decades, Florida’s rapid population growth required multiple area code splits, and by 1995, the 305 code had been reduced to cover primarily the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area.
The 954 split was intended as a long-term solution, but South Florida’s explosive growth throughout the late 1990s meant the new code was approaching exhaustion within just five years. Cell phones, pagers, fax machines, and internet dial-up connections all required separate phone numbers, accelerating the depletion of available numbers.
In November 2000, the Florida Public Service Commission approved an overlay solution rather than another geographic split. The North American Numbering Plan Administration announced area code 754 would be overlaid onto the same Broward County territory. The code was activated on August 1, 2001, and began assignment on April 1, 2002. This overlay implementation required all residents and businesses to begin using 10-digit dialing for all calls, even local ones.
Common Misconceptions Clarified
Several common misconceptions exist about Fort Lauderdale area codes. Understanding these helps avoid confusion.
Is 954 a zip code? No, 954 is an area code, not a zip code. Area codes identify telephone service regions, while zip codes identify postal delivery areas. Fort Lauderdale has multiple zip codes ranging from 33301 to 33399, separate from its area codes.
Is 954 a country code? No, 954 is not a country code. The United States country code is +1. When dialing Fort Lauderdale from international locations, you would dial +1-954 followed by the seven-digit phone number.
When do I use 954 versus 754? You cannot choose which area code you receive. Your phone service provider assigns available numbers, and all new numbers now typically receive the 754 code since 954 exchanges are mostly exhausted. Both codes work identically for all purposes.
Do I need to dial the area code? Yes, 10-digit dialing is mandatory throughout Broward County. You must dial the area code even for local calls within the same neighborhood. This requirement has been in place since the 754 overlay was implemented in 2002.
How to Get a 954 or 754 Phone Number
Obtaining a Fort Lauderdale area code phone number is straightforward through multiple channels. Traditional phone carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer local numbers with their service plans. Voice over IP providers such as RingCentral, Dialpad, Vonage, and Grasshopper provide virtual numbers that work through internet connections. Specialized virtual number services like NumberBarn and Phone.com allow you to purchase and forward local numbers.
Having a local Fort Lauderdale area code offers significant benefits for businesses. It establishes local presence and credibility in the Fort Lauderdale market, particularly valuable for service-based businesses, real estate agencies, hospitality companies, and retailers targeting Broward County customers. South Florida’s tourism industry makes local numbers especially important as visitors and cruise passengers are more likely to call local numbers than out-of-state ones.
Phone number portability regulations allow you to keep your 954 or 754 number when switching service providers. This means your business can maintain its established number even when changing carriers or moving to VoIP systems.
Neighboring Area Codes
Understanding neighboring area codes helps clarify regional boundaries. To the north, area code 561 serves Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach. Further north, area code 772 covers the Treasure Coast region, including Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach. To the south, area codes 305 and 786 serve Miami-Dade County in an overlay configuration, covering Miami, Miami Beach, and Hialeah. Southwest Florida uses area code 239, serving Fort Myers, Naples, and Cape Coral.
All these neighboring codes share the Eastern Time Zone with Fort Lauderdale.
Quick Facts About 954/754
- Population served: Approximately 2 million residents
- County coverage: Broward County exclusively
- Largest city: Fort Lauderdale
- Time zone: Eastern Time (EST/EDT)
- Dialing requirement: 10 digits mandatory for all calls
- International format: +1-954-XXX-XXXX or +1-754-XXX-XXXX
- Number type: Geographic area codes (not toll-free)
- Overlay status: Active overlay since April 2002
- Original source: Split from the 305 area code in 1995
- Regulatory authority: North American Numbering Plan Administration
Frequently Asked Questions
What area code is Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
Fort Lauderdale uses both area code 954 and area code 754. These two codes cover the exact same geographic area in Broward County.
Where is area code 954 in Florida?
Area code 954 is located in Broward County in southeastern Florida. It covers Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, and surrounding communities.
Is 754 the same as 954?
Yes, area codes 754 and 954 cover identical geographic territory. The 754 code was added as an overlay when 954 numbers became scarce, so both serve the same Broward County region.
Do I have to dial 10 digits in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes, 10-digit dialing is required for all calls in the 954/754 area code region, including local calls within the same neighborhood.
Conclusion
Fort Lauderdale and the broader Broward County region are served by two area codes, 954 and 754, which cover identical geographic territory. The 954 code has been in use since 1995, while 754 was added as an overlay in 2002 to meet growing demand. Both operate in the Eastern Time Zone and require 10-digit dialing for all calls. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or visitor, understanding these codes helps you navigate telecommunications in South Florida’s Gold Coast region.
