Area code 713 serves the Houston area in Texas. Overlays 832, 346, and 621 now share its territory, so several codes serve the same Houston complex.
Quick answer
- 713 serves the Houston area in Texas.
- Area codes 409 and 281 were split from 713. Their dates are not confirmed here (see History).
- Overlays 832, 346, and 621 share its territory. The 621 overlay took effect January 23, 2025.
- The code uses Central Time, with daylight time in summer.
The essentials
713 area code: quick facts
| Area code | 713 |
| Coverage | Houston area, shared with 281, 832, 346, and 621 |
| State | Texas |
| Time zone | Central Time (CT) |
| Relief status | Not stated; sources disagree |
| Codes in the same overlay complex | 281, 832, 346, 621 |
| Dialing | 10 digits for local calls in the overlay complex (PUC) |
How 713 became the Houston code
The 621 in-service date is confirmed against text from a Public Utility Commission of Texas release. The other dates come from Wikipedia and are marked unconfirmed, because the NANPA and PUC pages could not be reached.
- 1947 (unconfirmed): Texas is divided into numbering areas under the original North American plan, with 713 in the southeastern part.
- 1983 (unconfirmed): Area code 409 is split from 713 for the northern, eastern, and western parts of its territory. AT&T gives 1982 instead.
- November 2, 1996 (unconfirmed): Area code 281 is split from 713 for most suburbs outside a line that roughly follows Beltway 8.
- January 16, 1999 (unconfirmed): Area code 832 is added as an overlay for the Houston region.
- July 1, 2014 (unconfirmed): Area code 346 goes into service as an overlay for the Houston complex.
- January 23, 2025: Area code 621 goes into service as the fifth code in the overlay complex. The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved it.
Where area code 713 is used
713 serves the Houston area in Texas. The PUC describes the 281, 346, 713, and 832 codes as an overlay region, and 621 was added to the same Houston-area complex.
Published county lists for 713 do not agree, and this page does not confirm a county list. Check the current assignment with your carrier or NANPA before you rely on county names.
Neighboring area codes in the Houston region
713 is one of five codes in the Houston overlay complex. The table shows how each code relates to 713, so you can see which codes share its territory.
| Code | Where it applies | Relation to 713 |
|---|---|---|
| 713 | Houston area | Houston area code; the 1947 date is unconfirmed |
| 281 | Houston area, in the overlay complex | Split from 713 in 1996 (unconfirmed) |
| 832 | Houston area, in the overlay complex | Overlay added in 1999 (unconfirmed) |
| 346 | Houston area, in the overlay complex | Overlay added July 1, 2014 (unconfirmed) |
| 621 | Houston area, in the overlay complex | Overlay added January 23, 2025 |
| 409 | Area split from parts of the former 713 territory | Split from 713 in 1983 (unconfirmed) |
Overlay codes 832, 346, and 621 share 713's territory
An overlay adds a new area code to the same geographic area, and existing numbers do not change. Three overlays now share the Houston complex with 713 and 281:
- 832 (1999, unconfirmed): an overlay for the Houston complex.
- 346 (2014, unconfirmed): an overlay for the Houston complex.
- 621 (January 23, 2025): the fifth code in the complex, approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Because the codes overlap, two numbers in the same area can have different area codes.
| Code | Added | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 713 | Not confirmed | Houston area code; 409 and 281 were split from it |
| 281 | 1996 (unconfirmed) | Split from 713 (unconfirmed) |
| 832 | 1999 (unconfirmed) | Overlay |
| 346 | 2014 (unconfirmed) | Overlay |
| 621 | 2025 | Overlay, January 23, 2025 |
Time zone and daylight time
Area code 713 uses Central Time. Houston is on UTC-6 in standard time and UTC-5 during daylight time.
- Daylight time starts at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March.
- It ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in November.
These dates come from the U.S. daylight rule in the IANA time zone database, which the Central Time entries use. Check the date when you schedule calls across time zones.
Number format
In the Houston overlay complex, a local call is dialed as ten digits: the area code plus the seven-digit number. The Public Utility Commission of Texas says customers keep dialing 10 digits for local calls within and between these codes, and 1+10 digits for long distance.
AT&T's 713 page describes local calls differently, which conflicts with the PUC statement. Before you change a phone system or auto-dialer, confirm the rule with your carrier.
Caller ID scams and 713 numbers
A 713 number tells you where the number was assigned. It does not prove who is calling. The FTC says scammers can make any name or number show up on caller ID. That is called spoofing.
Federal law, 47 U.S.C. 227(e), prohibits knowingly transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. The civil forfeiture is up to $10,000 per violation, and a willful violation can also carry a criminal fine of up to $10,000 per violation.
- If you get a robocall, do not press any number. The FTC advises against it.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Using a 713 number for business
A 713 number signals a Houston-area assignment. It does not show where your team sits. Your phone system can route 713 calls to staff in any location.
A Houston business may hold numbers from any code in the complex: 713, 281, 832, 346, or 621. An overlay does not change existing numbers. Whether a new number is available in a given code depends on your phone 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 713 number
- Confirm the number is available from your provider, and get its terms in writing.
- Ask who owns the number and whether it can be moved to another provider if you switch.
- Make sure your phone system sends calls from 713, 281, 832, 346, and 621 to the same team, since all five codes serve the Houston complex.
- Set local dialing to 10 digits for the overlay complex, as the PUC describes, and confirm with your carrier before you go live.
- Plan for caller ID. A 713 number does not prove who is calling, and caller ID can be spoofed.
Frequently asked questions
Which area is the 713 area code for?
Area code 713 serves the Houston area in Texas. It is one of five codes in the Houston overlay complex. Published county lists for 713 differ between sources, so check the current assignment before relying on a county list.
Has area code 713 been split or overlaid?
Both. Overlays 832, 346, and 621 share its territory. The 621 overlay took effect January 23, 2025, per the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The splits that created 409 (1983) and 281 (1996) come from Wikipedia and are not confirmed against an authority source. The sources checked do not agree on whether 713 is in relief planning, so this page does not state a relief status.
What time zone is area code 713 in?
Central Time. Houston is on UTC-6 in standard time and UTC-5 during daylight time. Under the U.S. daylight rule in the IANA time zone database, daylight time starts at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in November.
Does a 713 number mean the caller is in Houston?
Not necessarily. The FTC says scammers can make any name or number show up on caller ID, which is called spoofing. A local-looking number is not proof of who is calling.
Can a business use a 713 number with VoIP?
Whether a specific 713 number is available depends on your provider and its current inventory, so confirm availability before you plan around one.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for local calls to 713?
Yes, within the Houston overlay complex. The Public Utility Commission of Texas says customers keep dialing 10 digits for local calls within and between the overlay codes, and 1+10 digits for long distance. AT&T describes local calls differently, so confirm the rule with your carrier before you change a phone system or auto-dialer.
Sources · reviewed October 2026
Area codes 713, 281, 832, 346, and 621, Wikipedia
Used only for the history dates marked unconfirmed (1947, 1983, 1996, 1999, and 2014) and for the county-list conflict. The NANPA and PUC pages were not reachable, so those dates have no authority source yet.
Phone Scams, Federal Trade Commission
Used for the definition of spoofing, the advice not to press any number on a robocall, and the report address ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
47 U.S.C. 227, Restrictions on use of telephone equipment
Used for subsection (e), which prohibits misleading or inaccurate caller ID with intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value, and the penalty of up to $10,000 per violation.
IANA time zone database, northamerica file
Used for the U.S. daylight rule: daylight time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, at 2:00 a.m. local time.
New 621 Houston Area Code to Take Effect This Month, Public Utility Commission of Texas
Used for the 621 in-service date (January 23, 2025), the 281/346/713/832 overlay region, existing numbers not changing, and the 10-digit local dialing rule. The full PDF could not be retrieved (HTTP 403); the wording is from the release as quoted in a search result.