Area code 202 is one of the original area codes, assigned in 1947. It serves all of the District of Columbia. Since November 2021, a second code, 771, has served the same territory as an overlay, and local calls within the District have required all 10 digits since October 9, 2021.
Quick answer
- 202 is Washington, D.C.'s area code, one of the original codes assigned in 1947.
- It covers all of the District of Columbia. The suburbs in Maryland and Virginia use other codes.
- The 771 overlay shares the same territory. New 771 numbers could be assigned from November 9, 2021.
- Local calls within the District require 10 digits.
The essentials
202 area code: quick facts
| Area code | 202 |
| Coverage | All of the District of Columbia |
| Region | District of Columbia |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (ET), with daylight time |
| Assigned | 1947, one of the original area codes |
| Overlay on the same territory | 771 (new numbers assignable from November 9, 2021) |
| Code type | Geographic, not toll-free |
| Country code | +1 (United States) |
How 202 became the District's code
- 1947: AT&T describes 202 as one of the original 1947 area codes, covering the District.
- June 23, 2020: The DC Public Service Commission issues a public notice on 202 area code relief.
- September 22, 2020: The DC Public Service Commission announces that NANPA has assigned 771 as an overlay over the entire 202 area, and approves a 13-month implementation plan (Formal Case No. 1165).
- 2021: NANPA introduced the 771 area code, according to the DC Public Service Commission.
- October 9, 2021: Ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory for local calls within the District.
- November 9, 2021: New phone numbers may be assigned from the 771 code.
- Later: The sources reviewed do not give a current NANPA relief status for 202. See the overlay section below.
Where area code 202 is and is not used
202 covers all of the District of Columbia. The suburbs use other codes. Maryland suburbs such as Gaithersburg and Bethesda use 301, 240, and 227. Northern Virginia uses 703 and 571.
Customers keep their numbers when an overlay is added. The 771 overlay changes which code new lines receive, not the area served (DC PSC).
The District is on Eastern Time. Under the rule that took effect in 2007, daylight time begins at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November.
Permissive dialing: when the old rules still worked
When a code or dialing rule changes, the old pattern usually keeps working for a while. This is called permissive dialing. It gives callers time to learn the new rule before it is required.
- The September 2020 plan allowed seven-digit and ten-digit dialing within 202 during a six-month customer education stage.
- Ten-digit dialing became mandatory for local calls within the District on October 9, 2021. Calls placed with seven digits are not completed on or after that date (DC PSC).
- Existing 202 customers kept their numbers. New lines could be given 771 numbers from November 9, 2021 (DC PSC).
- The mandatory date was October 9, 2021. After that, ten-digit dialing applies to local calls within the District (DC PSC).
The lesson for businesses is the same at each change: old dialing habits can linger, so test how your phone system handles calls dialed both ways.
Neighboring area codes around the District
The table shows which codes serve the District and its nearby suburbs, based on the DC PSC, Maryland PSC, and Virginia SCC.
| Code | Where it applies | Relation to 202 |
|---|---|---|
| 202 | All of the District of Columbia | Original code for the District |
| 771 | All of the District of Columbia | Overlay on 202; new numbers from November 9, 2021 |
| 301 | Maryland suburbs, such as Bethesda, Bowie, and Silver Spring | Shares its territory with 240 and 227 |
| 240 | The 240/301 region | Shares the 301 territory |
| 227 | The 240/301 region | Assignable from June 14, 2023, once 240 and 301 are exhausted |
| 703 | Northern Virginia | Northern Virginia code; 571 overlays it |
| 571 | The 703 territory | Overlay on 703, approved by the Virginia SCC in 1998 |
Overlay code 771: the same District, a second code
An overlay adds a second code to the same geographic area. The District now has two codes: 202 and 771. AT&T describes 771 as an overlay that covers the same territory as 202, and the DC PSC says it is superimposed over the entire geographic area of the 202 code.
The DC PSC said the overlay would relieve the future exhaustion of phone numbers in the 202 area code (September 22, 2020). The sources reviewed do not give a date for that exhaustion.
| Code | Added | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| 202 | 1947 | All of the District of Columbia |
| 771 | Introduced 2021; new numbers from November 9, 2021 | All of the District of Columbia, same as 202 |
This page does not state a current NANPA exhaustion or relief status for 202. Check NANPA for the latest relief position.
How to dial a 202 number
Within the United States you dial the area code and number. From outside the country, dial the country code first.
- Within the District: dial 202 or 771 plus the seven-digit number, 10 digits in all. Ten-digit dialing has been mandatory for local calls within the District since October 9, 2021 (DC PSC).
- Long distance within the United States: dial 1, then 202, then the seven-digit number.
- From abroad: dial +1, then 202, then the seven-digit number.
Why 771 was added to the District
The overlay was added to relieve the future exhaustion of phone numbers in the 202 area code. The DC PSC announced it on September 22, 2020, after NANPA assigned the new code. The Commission's June 23, 2020 public notice covered 202 area code relief.
AT&T describes new 202 numbers as scarce today, and says most new Washington lines get 771 numbers instead. 202 numbers still surface as they recycle back into the pool.
The sources reviewed do not give a date for exhaustion, and this page does not treat any date as a current NANPA status.
Using a 202 number for business
A District business can hold a 202 number, a 771 number, or both. The two codes cover the same territory, so the code does not show which team or office a caller is reaching. Route both codes to the same team when they serve the same customers.
Suburban customers use other codes. Maryland suburbs use 301, 240, and 227, and Northern Virginia uses 703 and 571. A District business with suburban customers may receive calls on those codes, so its routing rules should not assume every caller uses 202 or 771.
AT&T describes new 202 numbers as scarce, so your provider may not have one available and may assign a 771 number instead. Whether a number can be assigned to your business depends on your provider and its current inventory.
Important: Confirm availability with your provider before you plan a campaign or print a number on materials.
Before you use a 202 number
- Confirm whether your provider can assign a 202 number, or will give you a 771 number instead, and get the terms in writing.
- Ask who owns the number and whether it can be moved to another provider if you switch.
- Route 202 and 771 calls to the same team, since both codes serve all of the District.
- Check auto-dialers and call scripts for 10-digit dialing on District calls. Ten-digit dialing has been mandatory for local calls since October 9, 2021.
- If you serve Maryland or Northern Virginia customers, test calls to 301, 240, 227, 703, and 571 numbers, since those codes serve nearby suburbs.
- Plan for caller ID. A local number does not prove who is calling, and the FTC advises not to rely on caller ID to verify a caller.
- Set your phone system to Eastern Time. Daylight time starts at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November.
Frequently asked questions
Which area does area code 202 serve?
Area code 202 serves all of the District of Columbia. The suburbs in Maryland and Virginia use other codes, such as 301, 240, 703, and 571.
Is area code 202 being split or replaced?
The District has not been split into separate codes. The 771 overlay covers the same territory as 202, and existing 202 numbers keep their code. AT&T says most new Washington lines now get 771 numbers. In September 2020, the DC Public Service Commission said the overlay would relieve the future exhaustion of numbers in the 202 area code. The sources reviewed do not give a current NANPA relief status, so check NANPA for that.
Does a 202 number prove the caller is in Washington, D.C.?
No. Caller ID can be spoofed, and the FTC advises people not to rely on caller ID to verify who is calling.
Is 771 a different area from 202?
No. 771 is an overlay on the same territory. It covers the District of Columbia, the same area as 202.
When did the 771 overlay start?
The DC Public Service Commission announced the 771 overlay on September 22, 2020. Ten-digit dialing for local calls became mandatory in the District on October 9, 2021, and new phone numbers could be assigned from the 771 code starting November 9, 2021.
Sources | reviewed October 2026
DCPSC press release, September 22, 2020 (Formal Case No. 1165)
Used for the September 22, 2020 announcement, the assignment of 771 as an overlay over the entire 202 area, the 13-month plan, and the statement that the overlay relieves future exhaustion of 202 numbers.
New Dialing Procedure for Customers with the 202 Area Code, DCPSC, October 5, 2021
Used for the October 9, 2021 mandatory ten-digit dialing date, the November 9, 2021 date for new 771 numbers, and the rule that local calls require the area code plus the seven-digit number.
771 Area Code, DC Public Service Commission
Used for the June 23, 2020 public notice on 202 area code relief and the statement that NANPA introduced 771 in 2021. The page gives no in-service or mandatory dialing date. Neighbor codes: Maryland PSC, June 5, 2023 (227 assignable from June 14, 2023, in the 240/301 region), and the Virginia SCC area code overlay page for the 1998 approval of the 571 overlay. NANPA could not be reached, so no current NANPA relief status is stated.
202 Area Code: Washington, DC, AT&T
Marked updated August 2026. Used for the 1947 origin, the District-only coverage, the 771 overlay, the ten-digit and long-distance formats, the Eastern Time zone, and the statement that 202 numbers are scarce.
Used for the daylight time start and end rule and the 2007 effective date, citing the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Eastern Time zone name comes from AT&T.
Scammers can fake caller ID info, FTC Consumer Alert (May 4, 2016)
Used for the spoofing warning and the advice not to rely on caller ID to verify a caller. The legal rule comes from 47 U.S.C. 227(e), which prohibits caller ID spoofing with intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value.