Area code 483 to begin next year as 334 overlay for central/southeast Alabama

MONTGOMERY — Residents of the 334 area code will be joining the rest of the state in dialing 10 numbers to make phone calls when the new 483 area code overlay is implemented next year.

To get in practice, customers in the 334 area code region are encouraged to begin 10-digit dialing before the new area code overlay starts Feb. 23, 2026, the Alabama Public Service Commission announced today.  

The permissive 10-digit dialing window will allow customers to become adjusted prior to  mandatory 10-digit dialing, which will take effect Jan. 23, the PSC said. 

The PSC said implementation of the new 483 area code ensures customers will have enough supply of new telephone numbers to serve the area.

“Numbering resources for the 334 area code are scheduled to exhaust by the third quarter of 2026,” the PSC said in a news release.  

New customers, or customers requesting an additional telephone line, may be assigned the new 483 area code, pending activation.

The implementation will not affect existing service for customers within the 334 area code region. 

The PSC approved the new 483 area code overlay on March 6, 2024, for area code 334, which serves Selma, Montgomery, Prattville, Pike Road,  Tuskegee, Auburn, Opelika, Phenix City, Eufaula, Dothan, Enterprise, Troy, Greenville and a large area of central and southeast Alabama. 

There are currently six area codes in Alabama (483 is the seventh):

• 205 with a 659 overlay covers central and west central Alabama, including Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Northport, Jasper, Oneonta, Clanton and Pell City.
• 256 with a 938 overlay covers northern and east central Alabama, including Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Madison, Athens, Gadsden, Anniston, Alexander City and Sylacauga.
• 334 covers south central and southeastern Alabama, including Montgomery, Auburn, Dothan, Valley, Selma and the southern half of the state before area code 251 was created (2001).
• 251 covers southwestern Alabama, including Mobile, Gulf Shores, Daphne, Foley, Monroeville and Atmore.

No changes will be made when dialing three-digit numbers, such as 911 and others, the PSC said.