The well known 540 area code serving Roanoke, Harrisonburg, the Shenandoah Valley, and much of Virginia’s Blue Ridge now shares its territory with 826. The overlay keeps phone numbers plentiful but also locks in ten digit (or 1 + ten digit) dialing for every local call. Here’s the streamlined rundown.
New 826 Area Code Overlay
Instead of carving the region into smaller zones, state regulators layered 826 on top of 540. Your existing 540 number stays exactly the same; only new lines may receive 826. Because two area codes now cover the same geography, every local call must include the area code plus the seven digit number.
540 / 826 Area Code Region
The overlay spans most of western and central Virginia, including
- Roanoke, Salem, Blacksburg, Christiansburg
- Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Winchester, Front Royal
- Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Warrenton, Lexington, Covington
- Rural communities across Roanoke, Augusta, Rockingham, Frederick, Montgomery, Franklin, Botetourt, Shenandoah, Rockbridge, Alleghany, Page, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, and Spotsylvania 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 May 14 2022.
Key Dates for the 826 Roll Out
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| November 13 2021 | Permissive 7 /10 digit dialing period begins |
| May 14 2022 | Mandatory 10 /11 digit dialing for all local calls |
| June 14 2022 | First 826 numbers become available |
What Stays the Same
- Your current 540 number does not change.
- Local calling areas and pricing remain identical 826 carries no extra fees.
- Three digit services (911, 211, 311, etc.) still dial with three digits.
- Long distance rules and toll rates remain unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why add 826 instead of splitting the map?
Overlays spare residents and businesses the hassle of changing long standing numbers while still expanding numbering capacity.
Will caller ID look odd with 826?
No 826 simply signals a newer assignment within the same western and central Virginia 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.
