The new 686 area code is coming to the 804 area code region in Virginia
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BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - All customers with an 804 area code should be aware of the introduction of the new 686 area code. Beginning Feb. 1, 2024, customers ordering new telephone lines or services in the central portion of eastern Virginia – including Richmond, Ashland, Charles City, Chesterfield, Columbia, Hague, Henrico, New Kent, Petersburg, Reedville, and Water View – may be assigned numbers using the new 686 area code.
To ensure a continuing supply of new telephone numbers, the 686 area code will be added as an overlay to the 804 region. An overlay is the addition of another area code (686) to the same geographic region served by an existing area code (804). The 686 area code will co-exist everywhere in this region with the 804 area code. An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code, but requires customers to continue to dial the area code to complete local calls.
The key facts for consumers to know about the upcoming VA 804/686 area code overlay are:
Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
If you seek new phone service on and after Feb. 1, 2024, you may be assigned a new phone number with the 686 area code.
You will continue to dial the area code + telephone number for all local calls, including calls within the same area code.
You will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long-distance calls.
What is a local call now will remain a local call.
The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, and 811 if those are currently available in your community.
Please remember to identify your telephone number as a 10-digit number and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates and customers, etc. You should also ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment recognize the new 686 area code as a valid area code, and continue to store or program telephone numbers as 10-digit numbers.
For more info, visit verizon.com/areacodes or the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s website at https://www.scc.virginia.gov/pages/Area-Code-Overlays.
