Area Code for Washington DC

Washington DC proper has two area codes: 202 and 771. The 202 prefix dates to October 1947 — one of the original 86 North American area codes — and it has never been geographically split, a distinction no other major US city holds.

The 771 overlay arrived on November 9, 2021, when the 202 number pool ran low. Both codes cover the same 68 square miles of the District of Columbia.

Step outside the District and the area code map expands: 703 and 571 serve Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax), while 301, 240, and 227 cover the Maryland suburbs (Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Prince George’s County).

For businesses establishing a Washington presence, picking the right code matters. A 202 number signals you are inside the Beltway.

What’s the area code for Washington DC?

Washington DC uses two area codes. Here is the complete picture for DC proper and the immediate metro:

Code	Established	Coverage	Notes
202	October 1947	All of Washington DC	Original; never split; highest prestige
771	November 2021	All of Washington DC	Overlay; same geography as 202
703	October 1947	Northern Virginia	Original Virginia code, now NoVA only
571	March 2000	Northern Virginia	703 overlay (Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria)
301	October 1947	MD suburbs (west)	Original Maryland code, now western MD
240	1997	MD suburbs (west)	301 overlay (Montgomery, Prince George’s)
227	June 2023	MD suburbs (west)	Third overlay for 301/240 territory

10-digit dialing is mandatory for all local calls within each overlay complex.

DC metro area codes by jurisdiction

Understanding which codes serve which jurisdiction helps businesses choose the right local number for their target market.

Washington DC proper (202 and 771)

Both 202 and 771 cover the entire District of Columbia — all 68 square miles. There is no geographic distinction between the two codes within DC. A 202 number signals institutional longevity; a 771 number indicates a newer assignment. Federal agencies, embassies, think tanks, and legacy DC businesses typically hold 202 numbers.

Northern Virginia suburbs (703 and 571)

The 703 area code serves Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun County, and Prince William County. The 571 overlay, introduced March 1, 2000, covers the same geography. Major employers in this zone include Capital One (McLean), Booz Allen Hamilton (McLean), Leidos, and SAIC. The Pentagon’s published mailing address falls in Arlington — 703 territory.

Maryland suburbs (301, 240, and 227)

The 301 area code anchors Montgomery County and Prince George’s County — the two largest Maryland counties bordering DC. Major cities include Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Bowie, Greenbelt, and Laurel. The 240 overlay was added in 1997; the newer 227 overlay launched June 14, 2023. Notable 301-territory employers include Marriott International (Bethesda) and Lockheed Martin (Bethesda).

History of DC area codes

The North American Numbering Plan launched in October 1947 with 86 area codes. Washington DC was assigned 202 — the second numbering plan area created, after New Jersey’s 201.

The assignment was not random. On the rotary phones of the era, short-arc digits dialed faster. High-call-volume cities got low-rotation codes: New York received 212, Los Angeles 213, Chicago 312. DC’s 202 followed the same logic.

What makes 202 historically unique is what did not happen: it was never split. Every other major American metro — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia — eventually split its original area code as subscriber demand outgrew the number pool. DC did not. The city’s fixed 68-square-mile boundary, set by the Constitution, meant population growth was capped. The 202 pool stretched across more than seven decades without a geographic division.

By the late 2010s, 202 numbers were finally running short. In April 2021, the DC Public Service Commission launched a permissive dialing period — residents could dial either 7 or 10 digits through October 9, 2021. On November 8–9, 2021, NANPA assigned the first central office codes under 771, beginning with exchange 777. The 771 overlay formally opened.

Today both 202 and 771 numbers are issued for new DC lines. The 202 pool remains available from carriers that hold pre-purchased inventory.

202 as Washington political identity

In most cities, an area code is a geographic marker. In Washington, 202 is a credential.

The White House switchboard, the Capitol’s main line, every federal department headquarters, and 177 foreign embassies all carry 202 numbers. K Street lobbying firms, think tanks lining Massachusetts Avenue, and media organizations like the Washington Post and Politico list 202 as their main contact codes. The phrase “inside the Beltway” has a phone-number equivalent: the 202 prefix.

For businesses that operate in the government, legal, or policy space, a 202 number signals membership in that ecosystem. A policy consultant calling a Hill staffer from a 202 number faces no geographic friction — the prefix matches the context. The same call from a 214 (Dallas) or 415 (San Francisco) code introduces an implicit outsider signal.

The World Bank and International Monetary Fund, both headquartered blocks from the White House, maintain 202 numbers as primary contact identifiers. This concentration of institutional authority in a single area code is unique among American cities.

DC area code spam and scams

The same authority that makes 202 valuable for legitimate callers makes it a prime target for fraud.

The FBI logged 39,949 government impersonation complaints with losses exceeding $833 million in 2025. The IRS, Social Security Administration, and Medicare — all federal agencies headquartered in or near DC — top the list of impersonated institutions. A spoofed 202 number carries an implicit authority signal no other area code can replicate.

Common 202 spoofing patterns include fake IRS audit notices, SSA suspension-of-benefits calls, Medicare enrollment fraud, and political donation solicitations timed to election cycles. The DC Metropolitan Police Department has issued specific advisories on IRS telephone scams originating from spoofed 202 numbers.

The industry framework addressing this is STIR/SHAKEN — a cryptographic protocol that assigns attestation levels to calls. An A-attestation rating means the carrier has verified the calling party is authorized to use the originating number.

The FCC’s spoofing guide notes that caller ID is not authentication: a 202 number on your screen does not confirm the call is from DC. STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation is the only carrier-level signal that does.

DialPhone 202 and 771 numbers carry STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation, reducing the likelihood that legitimate outbound calls from DC numbers are flagged as Spam Likely on recipient devices.

How to get a DC business phone number

Getting a Washington DC business number through DialPhone takes under 10 minutes:

1. Sign up at dialphone.com/pricing. Month-to-month plans, no annual contract required.
2. Search DC number inventory. Filter by area code: enter 202 for institutional credibility, 771 for availability, 703 for a Northern Virginia identity, or 301 for Maryland suburbs.
3. Select your number. Choose from available inventory. Search by pattern for memorable sequences.
4. Port your existing DC number (optional). Submit a Letter of Authorization and a recent phone bill. DC-area number porting typically completes in 2–5 business days. See the full number porting guide for step-by-step instructions.
5. Configure your AI receptionist. DialPhone’s AI receptionist handles inbound calls, qualifies leads, and routes to the right contact — useful for policy shops, nonprofits, and federal contractors that need a live DC presence without full-time front-desk coverage.

Your business phone is active as soon as the number is assigned. HIPAA Business Associate Agreements are available for federal-adjacent healthcare and policy organizations. See pricing or start with a free trial.

Famous DC-area institutions and companies

Washington DC’s 202 code runs through the identity of its most recognized institutions.

The White House (1600 Pennsylvania Ave), the US Capitol switchboard, the State Department, the Pentagon (Arlington, 703), the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund all list 202 or adjacent-metro numbers as primary contacts.

In the Maryland suburbs, Marriott International is headquartered in Bethesda (301). Lockheed Martin maintains its corporate headquarters in North Bethesda (301). Across the river in McLean, Virginia, Capital One Financial and Booz Allen Hamilton anchor a defense and financial corridor where 703 numbers dominate.

DC’s industry concentration skews heavily toward Government, Legal, and Nonprofit — three sectors where a local area code carries the highest trust signal for inbound and outbound calls. A 202 number on a federal contractor’s outbound dialer is a functionally different asset than a generic 888 toll-free line.

Washington DC area code FAQ

Washington DC area code FAQ

What is the area code for Washington DC? +

Washington DC uses two area codes: 202 and 771. Area code 202 was established in October 1947 as one of the original 86 North American area codes. It has covered the same 68 square miles of the District of Columbia ever since — without a single geographic split.

Area code 771 was introduced as an overlay on November 9, 2021, after 202 numbers began running low. Both codes serve identical geography: the entire District of Columbia. All local calls require 10-digit dialing.

What is the 202 area code? +

202 is Washington DC's original area code, assigned in October 1947 when AT&T launched the North American Numbering Plan. It was the second numbering plan area created, after New Jersey's 201.

Unlike every other large US city, DC's 202 has never been geographically split. More than 8 million 202 numbers have been issued — over ten times the District's population of roughly 690,000 — because businesses, federal agencies, and organizations hold blocks of numbers. The 202 prefix carries strong political and institutional authority associations.

What is the 771 area code? +

771 is the overlay area code for Washington DC, introduced to extend the numbering capacity of the exhausted 202 pool. The overlay transition began with a permissive dialing period from April 10, 2021 through October 9, 2021. The first 771 central office codes were assigned on November 8–9, 2021.

771 numbers are geographically identical to 202 numbers — both serve the entire District of Columbia. If you receive a 771 call, it originates from DC just as a 202 call would.

What area code is 703? +

703 is the primary area code for Northern Virginia — covering Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and Manassas. It was one of the original 1947 area codes and originally covered all of Virginia.

In 1995, western Virginia was split off into area code 540. In 2000, the 571 overlay was added to supplement the exhausted 703 pool. Both 703 and 571 serve the same Northern Virginia geography today.

What area code covers Maryland suburbs near DC? +

The Maryland suburbs closest to Washington DC are served by area codes 301 and 240, with a newer overlay code 227 added in June 2023. These codes cover Montgomery County (Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg), Prince George's County (Bowie, Greenbelt, Laurel), and other western Maryland counties.

301 was one of the original 1947 area codes covering all of Maryland. Baltimore and the Eastern Shore were split to area code 410 in 1991. The 240 overlay was added in 1997, and 227 was added June 14, 2023 as a third overlay for the same geography.

Is 202 a scam area code? +

202 is a legitimate Washington DC area code used by federal agencies, embassies, businesses, and DC residents. However, scammers frequently spoof 202 numbers precisely because the prefix carries government authority — callers are more likely to answer a 202 call believing it may be from a federal agency.

Common 202 spoofing patterns include IRS impersonation, Social Security Administration suspension notices, and Medicare fraud. The FCC's STIR/SHAKEN framework assigns cryptographic attestation to calls — an A-attestation rating means the carrier has verified the caller is authorized to use that number. Legitimate DialPhone 202 numbers carry A-attestation.

How do I get a Washington DC 202 business phone number? +

You can get a 202 business number from DialPhone without a Washington DC address. Sign up at dialphone.com/pricing, search 202 inventory, select your number, and your line is active immediately.

If you already have a 202 or 771 number, you can port it in. DC-area number ports typically complete in 2–5 business days. DialPhone 202 numbers include STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation, an AI receptionist, call recording, and SMS on every plan.

Does Washington DC have only one area code? +

Washington DC proper has two area codes: the original 202 (1947) and the newer 771 overlay (2021). No other area codes serve the District itself.

The broader DC metro area adds several more codes: 703 and 571 for Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax), and 301, 240, and 227 for the Maryland suburbs (Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Prince George's County).

Get a Washington DC business number

Whether you need a 202 area code for institutional credibility, a 771 area code for DC availability, a 703 area code for a Northern Virginia presence, or a 301 area code for the Maryland suburbs, DialPhone has inventory across all active DC-metro codes.

Numbers are provisioned instantly, port from any carrier, and include an AI receptionist, call recording, and SMS on every plan. See all DC area codes or start with a free trial to search available Washington DC numbers today.