Area Code Atlas

Establishment of area code 604 for British Columbia

In 1947, area code 604 was established as the original area code for the entire province of British Columbia with the creation of the North American Numbering Plan.

NANP-SPLIT OF 604 (BRITISH COLUMBIA) NUMBERING PLAN AREA (NPA)

Area code 250 split from 604

In 1996, area code 250 was created by splitting from area code 604 to serve Vancouver Island and the Interior of British Columbia. Area code 604 was then restricted to the Lower Mainland.

Area code 250 created from split of 604

On October 19, 1996, area code 250 was created as a geographic split from area code 604. The new code covered all of British Columbia outside the Lower Mainland, including Vancouver Island and the Interior. Area code 604 was retained for the Lower Mainland region, including Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, and Whistler.

NPA 250 split from 604

Area code 250 was created in 1997 as a geographic split from 604, assigning 250 to Vancouver Island and the Interior while 604 was restricted to the Lower Mainland including Vancouver.

End of permissive dialing after 604/250 split

Permissive dialing ended on April 6, 1997, after the split of area code 250 from 604, requiring callers to dial the correct area code for calls between the two regions.

NPA 778 overlay on 604 announced

NPA 778 To Overlay NPA 604 (Southwestern British Columbia)

Ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory in 604/778 overlay region

Ten-digit local dialing became mandatory in the area codes 604 and 778 overlay region in November 2001, while seven-digit dialing continued in area code 250.

CRTC announces expansion of area code 778 to overlay entire province

On June 7, 2007, the CRTC announced that area code 778 would be expanded from a concentrated overlay to overlay the entire province of British Columbia, effective July 4, 2007, to provide relief for area code 250 and others.

NPA 778 expanded to overlay entire British Columbia

On July 4, 2007, area code 778 was expanded to overlay the entire province of British Columbia, including both the 604 and 250 numbering plan areas. This expansion was implemented to address the projected exhaustion of central office codes in 250 and to avoid the disruption of a geographic split, providing additional numbering resources as both existing codes neared exhaustion, covering regions from Metro Vancouver to the Fraser Valley and beyond.

NPA 778 expanded to overlay all of British Columbia

Area code 778 was expanded on July 4, 2007, to overlay the entire province of British Columbia, including the area served by 250, due to the impending exhaustion of available numbers.

Permissive ten-digit dialing begins in British Columbia

A permissive dialing period began on July 4, 2007, throughout British Columbia, allowing local calls to be completed using either seven or ten digits. This transition period was introduced to prepare for the province-wide overlay of area code 778.

Start of permissive 10-digit dialing in British Columbia

On June 23, 2008, ten-digit dialing began across British Columbia, allowing both seven- and ten-digit dialing as part of the transition to mandatory ten-digit dialing. This was the start of the permissive dialing period before mandatory enforcement, requiring callers to dial the area code for all local calls.

Mandatory ten-digit dialing implemented in British Columbia

Mandatory ten-digit dialing was implemented across British Columbia on June 23, 2008, following the expansion of overlays. After this date, local calls required the area code, and attempts to use seven-digit dialing triggered an intercept message. Seven-digit dialing was fully discontinued after September 12, 2008.

Mandatory ten-digit dialing enforced across British Columbia

As of September 12, 2008, mandatory 10-digit dialing was enforced across British Columbia, requiring all local calls to use the area code. Seven-digit dialing ceased to function.

NPA 236 overlay on 250/604/778 announced

NPA 236 to Overlay NPA 250/604/778 (British Columbia, Canada)

NPA 236 overlay on 250/604/778 announced

NPA 236 to Overlay NPA 250/604/778 (British Columbia, Canada)

NPA 236 implemented as distributed overlay in British Columbia

Area code 236 was implemented on June 1, 2013, as a distributed overlay covering area codes 604, 250, and 778 throughout British Columbia to provide additional numbering resources.

NPA 672 overlay on 236/250/604/778 announced

NPA 672 to Overlay NPA 236/250/604/778 (British Columbia, Canada)

NPA 672 implemented as an additional overlay in British Columbia

Area code 672 was implemented on May 4, 2019, as an additional distributed overlay for area codes 250, 604, 778, and 236 in British Columbia. This new overlay was introduced to address the continued demand for new telephone numbers and projected number exhaustion, providing further numbering relief across the province.

NPA 257 overlay on 236/250/604/672/778 announced

NPA 257 to Overlay NPA 236/250/604/672/778 (British Columbia)

Area code 257 introduced as a distributed overlay for British Columbia

Area code 257 was introduced on May 24, 2025, as the fourth overlay for the British Columbia numbering plan area, covering area codes 236, 250, 604, 672, and 778. This addition was made to provide further numbering relief for the province, continuing the province-wide overlay relief strategy.