---
title: "Area code 212: New York, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/212.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/212"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 212 serves New York, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New York."
---

# Area code 212: New York, United States

Area code 212 serves New York, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New York.

NANPA lists 784 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 212, held by 19 holders across 1 rate center.
The largest rate center is NWYRCYZN01, with 784 prefixes (100%).
Verizon New York holds the most prefixes, 630 (80%). 18% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 3,985 complaints on file for 2,219 numbers in 212, 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: 917 (1992-01-01), 646 (1999-07-01), 332 (2017-06-10)
- Prefixes in use: 784
- Pooled prefixes: 141 (18%)
- Rate centers: 1
- Companies holding prefixes: 19
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-03-12 to 2023-06-26 (15 prefixes)

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NWYRCYZN01 | 784 | 100% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Verizon New York | 630 | 80% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 50 | 6% |
| TC Systems | 50 | 6% |
| Paetec Itel | 11 | 1% |
| Level 3 Communications | 9 | 1% |
| Level 3 Telecom Of New York | 8 | 1% |
| 13 other carriers | 26 | 3% |

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 212 went into service.
- 1984-09-01: Area code 718 went into service and names 212 as its parent.
- 1992-01-01: Area code 917 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 212.
- 1999-07-01: Area code 646 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 212.
- 2017-06-10: Area code 332 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 212.

## Complaints on file

3,985 complaints for 2,219 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 120
- 2024: 173
- 2025: 104

## Questions

### Where is area code 212?

NANPA assigns area code 212 to New York, United States.

### In which state does area code 212 sit?

New York. 212 is one of 23 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Who owns area code 212?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 212, Verizon New York holds the most prefixes, 630 prefixes or 80%.

### Which time zone does 212 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 212 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 212 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 212 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 212 have an overlay?

Yes. 917 (in service 1992-01-01), 646 (in service 1999-07-01) and 332 (in service 2017-06-10) share the same area with 212, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### How many prefixes does area code 212 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 784 prefixes in service in 212, spread over 1 rate center and 19 holders.

### Are there complaints about 212 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 3,985 complaints for 2,219 numbers in 212. 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).