Area Code Atlas

NPA 659 overlay on 205 announced

New NPA 659 to Overlay NPA 205 (Alabama)

Suspension of 205/659 NPA Relief (Alabama)

659 overlay approved for 205 area

On August 7, 2018, the Alabama Public Service Commission approved an all-services distributed overlay for the 205 area code. The new 659 area code would serve the same geographic region as 205, providing relief for number exhaustion.

NPA 659 overlay on 205 announced

NPA 659 to Overlay NPA 205 (Alabama)

Permissive 10-digit dialing begins for 205/659

Permissive 10-digit dialing began on April 13, 2019, for the 205 and new 659 overlay area. During this period, callers could use either 7 or 10 digits for local calls as part of the transition to the overlay.

NPA 659 overlay in service

On September 7, 2019, area code 659 was placed in service as an overlay for the 205 region, providing additional numbering resources for western and central Alabama.

NPA 659 overlaid NPA 205

In October 2019, area code 659 was added as a second area code to the 205 numbering plan area, creating an overlay plan for the region.

Ten-digit dialing became mandatory in the 205/659 area

The addition of area code 659 as an overlay to 205 mandated ten-digit dialing for all calls in the affected region.

Mandatory 10-digit dialing for 205/659

Mandatory 10-digit dialing began on October 12, 2019, for all calls in the 205 and 659 area codes, following the introduction of the 659 overlay to ensure sufficient numbering resources. This completed the transition to the overlay complex.

NPA 659 overlays 205

Area code 659 was added as an overlay to the 205 region in October 2019, creating an overlay plan for western and central Alabama. This change required ten-digit dialing for all calls in the region.

659 overlay activated for 205 area

The 659 area code was activated as an overlay for the 205 region on November 12, 2019. New telephone numbers in the area could be assigned either the 205 or 659 code.