The Public Utility Commission of Texas has approved the addition of a new area code for the Houston area because of ongoing population growth in the region, according to a news release.
The new area code of 621 will be added to current area codes that include 281, 346, 713 and 832. According to the state, those four existing area codes will exhaust their current supply of available phone numbers by 2025.
The new 621 area code, which goes into effect on Jan. 23, 2025, is expected to satisfy that region’s phone number needs for an additional nine years, according to state officials.
“Houston — and all of Texas — continues to grow because our state offers freedom and opportunity that cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. “This new phone area code is a testament to the economic strength and quality of life in the greater Houston area. I thank the Public Utility Commission for taking this critical step to improve telephone infrastructure to meet the demands of our growing state.”
Texas utility commissioners approved the new area code and tasked the North American Numbering Plan Administrator with managing its implementation over nine months.
The introduction of the 621 area code will not impact current phone numbers, state officials say.
Houston already operates with multiple area codes, requiring its residents to dial 10 digits to make local calls. So state officials suggest the addition of a fifth area code will be a smooth transition, according to the release.
Houston’s first area code, 713, was established in 1947 as one of Texas’ original four area codes.
In 1996, the 713 area was divided, assigning most suburbs in the region to the 281 area code.
Rapid growth soon prompted the state to remove the boundary between the 713 and 281 codes and to add the 832 code. That’s when area residents began using 10-digit dialing for local calls.
In 2013, the 346 area code was added by the state.