Area Code Atlas

NPA 403 established as original Alberta area code

Area code 403 was established in 1947 as one of the original North American area codes, covering all of Alberta as well as the Yukon and the western Northwest Territories.

Area code 403 expanded to service Northwest Territories and Yukon

Beginning in 1960, area code 403 was expanded to service the Northwest Territories and Yukon, in addition to Alberta.

Majority of the territories listed with NPA 403

By 1993, the vast majority of the Canadian territories were listed under area code 403, consolidating numbering assignments for the region prior to the creation of 867.

NPA 403 restricted to Alberta

Use of area code 403 was restricted to Alberta in 1997, with the Yukon and Northwest Territories receiving new area code 867.

Portions of NPA 819 transferred to NPA 867 in 1997

Portions of area code 819 in the Northwest Territories and Yukon were transferred to the newly created area code 867 during 1997 and 1998. This change reduced 819 to serve only western Quebec, while 867 unified the Canadian territories under a single code.

NPA 867 created for Yukon and territories, splitting from 403

Area code 867 was created in 1997 to serve Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, splitting these regions from area code 403 which was then restricted to Alberta.

Creation of area code 867 consolidating Canadian territories

Area code 867 was created in 1997 to serve all Canadian territories including Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Portions of area codes 819 and 403 in the Northwest Territories and Yukon were transferred to 867, reducing the geographic extent of 819.

Declaration of Jeopardy Situation in NPA 403 (Alberta)

NANP-Split of 403 (Alberta) Numbering Plan Area (NPA)

NPA 403 reduced to Alberta only

Area code 403 was reduced to serve only the province of Alberta on October 3, 1997, when the Canadian territories were split off with the creation of area code 867.

NPA 867 split from 403 for Canadian territories

Area code 867 was created on October 3, 1997, splitting off the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut from area code 403, which was then reduced to serve only Alberta.

NPA 867 created from 403 and 819

Area code 867 was created on October 21, 1997, for the three Canadian territories, combining regions previously served by area codes 403 and 819. This split reduced 403 to serve only Alberta and reassigned the northern portions of 819 and 403 to the new code.

Area code 867 introduced

Area code 867 was created on October 21, 1997, as a new numbering plan area for the three Canadian territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. It was formed by combining regions previously served by area codes 403 and 819. This creation made 867 the geographically largest area code in the NANP, serving a sparsely populated northern region.

Extraordinary NPA-Specific Conservation Procedures for 403 NPA in Alberta

NPA 780 split from 403 in Alberta

In January 1999, Alberta was divided into two numbering plan areas. Area code 780 was created by splitting the northern two-thirds of Alberta, including Edmonton, from area code 403, which continued to serve southern Alberta. The original 403 area code covered Alberta, Yukon, and parts of the Northwest Territories.

Reissue of the 403 NPA Split in Alberta, Canada, to add new Test Numbers, NXX listing, and Permissive Dialing Dates (first issued in PL-084 on September 2, 1998.)

Area code 780 created from split of 403

Area code 780 was created on January 25, 1999, in a geographic split from 403, serving the northern two-thirds of Alberta including Edmonton. Area code 403 continued to serve southern Alberta. The split was implemented to address number exhaustion in the province.

Urgent reminderto Industry to update networks for the 403 NPA Split in Alberta, Canada with new 780 NPA

Permissive dialing period ends for 403/780 split

Permissive dialing for area code 403 continued throughout Alberta until May 18, 1999, after which mandatory dialing of the new area codes was required.

Permissive dialing period ends for 403/780 split

On July 12, 1999, the permissive dialing period for calls between area codes 403 and 780 ended. After this date, callers were required to use the correct area code for calls between the two regions.

Permissive dialing period ends for 403/780 split

Permissive dialing of area code 403 for calls terminating in the new 780 area continued until July 12, 1999, after which mandatory dialing was enforced.

NPA 587 to Overlay NPAs 403 and 780 (Alberta, Canada)

Overlay planned for Alberta with NPA 587

Area code 587 was reserved and planned as an overlay for the entire province of Alberta, covering both 403 and 780, to provide relief for projected exhaust of these codes.

NPA 587 to Overlay NPAs 403 and 780 (Alberta, Canada)

NPA 587 overlay on 403 announced

NPA 587 to Overlay NPA 403 and NPA 780 (Alberta, Canada)

Permissive ten-digit dialing introduced in Alberta

Permissive 10-digit dialing was introduced across Alberta on June 23, 2008, as a preparatory step for the upcoming overlay of area code 587 on the entire province. Callers could use either 7 or 10 digits for local calls during this period.

Overlay planned for Alberta with new area code 587

Area code 587 was planned as an overlay for the entire province of Alberta, covering both 403 and 780, to mitigate number exhaustion. Optional ten-digit dialing began on June 23, 2008.

Mandatory ten-digit dialing implemented in Alberta

Mandatory 10-digit local dialing was implemented on September 12, 2008, throughout Alberta, requiring callers to dial the area code for all local calls as part of the overlay of area code 587, which was introduced to provide additional numbering resources.

NPA 587 overlay introduced for Alberta

On September 19, 2008, area code 587 was introduced as an overlay for the entire province of Alberta, covering the existing 403 and 780 regions to provide additional numbering resources.

NPA 825 to Overlay NPAs 403/587/780 (Alberta Canada)

NPA 825 to Overlay NPAs 403/587/780 (Alberta Canada)

NPA 825 to Overlay NPAs 403/587/780 (Alberta Canada)

NPA 825 overlay introduced for Alberta

On April 9, 2016, area code 825 was introduced as an additional overlay for the entire province of Alberta, joining the existing overlay complex of 403, 780, and 587.

NPA 368 to Overlay NPAs 403/587/780/825 (Alberta, Canada)

NPA 368 to Overlay NPAs 403/587/780/825 (Alberta, Canada) Deferred – supersedes PL-531

NPA 368 overlay introduced for Alberta

On January 21, 2022, area code 368 was introduced as an overlay for all of Alberta, joining the existing overlay complex of 403, 780, 587, and 825, providing additional numbering resources.

Area code 568 reserved for Alberta

Area code 568 was reserved in November 2022 as the sixth area code for Alberta, set aside for future relief of the province-wide overlay complex.