The wide ranging 870 area code serving southern, eastern, and parts of northern Arkansas now shares its territory with 327. The overlay secures a long term supply of phone numbers, but it also makes ten digit (or 1 + ten digit) dialing mandatory for every local call. Here’s the concise rundown.
New 327 Area Code Overlay
Regulators opted to layer 327 on top of 870 rather than split the region. Your current 870 number stays exactly the same; only new lines may receive 327. Because two codes now serve the same geography, every local call must include the area code plus the seven digit number.
870 / 327 Area Code Region
The overlay spans nearly all of southern, eastern, and northern Arkansas outside the Little Rock metro, including:
- Jonesboro, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, El Dorado, Hot Springs, West Memphis
- Paragould, Batesville, Searcy, Monticello, Magnolia, Camden
- Rural communities across Craighead, Garland, Jefferson, Miller, Baxter, Ashley, and neighboring counties
Dialing Rules
Landlines: Dial 1 + area code + phone number (11 digits total).
Mobile phones: Dial area code + phone number (10 digits) or 1 + area code + number either works.
Seven digit dialing no longer completes a call.
Ten digit dialing has been mandatory since January 19 2024.
Key Dates for the 327 Roll Out
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| July 21 2023 | Permissive 7 /10 digit dialing period starts |
| January 19 2024 | Mandatory 10 /11 digit dialing for all local calls |
| February 20 2024 | First 327 numbers become available for new service |
What Stays the Same
- Your existing 870 number does not change.
- Local calling areas and pricing remain identical 327 carries no extra fees.
- Three digit services (911, 211, 311, etc.) still dial with three digits.
- Long distance rules and toll rates are unaffected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why add 327 instead of carving out a new map?
Overlays prevent the cost and disruption of forcing residents and businesses to change long standing numbers.
Will caller ID look strange with 327?
No 327 simply signals a newer assignment within the same Arkansas footprint.
Do mobile users have to dial “1”?
Most carriers complete calls with either ten or eleven digits; landlines generally require the leading “1.”
Does the overlay raise call charges?
No. Rate center boundaries and tariffs stay exactly the same.
