---
title: "Area code 202: District of Columbia"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/202.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/202"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 202 serves District of Columbia, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in District of Columbia."
---

# Area code 202: District of Columbia

Area code 202 serves District of Columbia, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in District of Columbia.

NANPA lists 784 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 202, held by 37 holders across 1 rate center.
The largest rate center is WSHNGTNZN1, with 784 prefixes (100%).
Verizon Washington DC holds the most prefixes, 327 (42%). 56% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 17,361 complaints on file for 10,699 numbers in 202, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Eastern (E)
- Assigned overlays: 771 (2021-11-09)
- Prefixes in use: 784
- Pooled prefixes: 442 (56%)
- Rate centers: 1
- Companies holding prefixes: 37
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-23 to 2026-06-26 (304 prefixes)

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WSHNGTNZN1 | 784 | 100% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Verizon Washington DC | 327 | 42% |
| Verizon Wireless | 88 | 11% |
| Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations | 55 | 7% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 53 | 7% |
| Metropcs | 42 | 5% |
| Onvoy | 34 | 4% |
| 31 other carriers | 185 | 24% |

A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company.

## History

- 1947-01-01: Area code 202 went into service.
- 2021-11-09: Area code 771 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 202.

## Complaints on file

17,361 complaints for 10,699 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 212
- 2024: 631
- 2025: 505

## Questions

### Where is area code 202?

NANPA assigns area code 202 to District of Columbia, United States.

### In which state does area code 202 sit?

District of Columbia. 202 is one of 2 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Who owns area code 202?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 202, Verizon Washington DC holds the most prefixes, 327 prefixes or 42%.

### Which time zone does 202 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 202 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 202 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 202 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 202 have an overlay?

Yes. 771 (in service 2021-11-09) shares the same area with 202, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### How many prefixes does area code 202 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 784 prefixes in service in 202, spread over 1 rate center and 37 holders.

### Are there complaints about 202 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 17,361 complaints for 10,699 numbers in 202. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.

Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).