Area code
270
270 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Kentucky, which has 5 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 270
Paste a full number and the tool checks it against the numbering plan. It returns the standard formats, the line type the plan assigns and the area code region.
Digits with or without punctuation work. Numbers outside the US are read with the +country code.
Area code 270 at a glance
NANPA lists 768 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 270, held by 45 holders across 171 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1999-04-19 |
| Time zone | EC |
| Assigned overlays | 364 (2014-03-03) |
| Prefixes in use | 768 |
| Pooled prefixes | 599 (78%) |
| Rate centers | 171 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 45 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-08 to 2026-02-19 (281 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 119 |
Rate centers in area code 270
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| OWENSBORO | 42 | 5% |
| BOWLNGGREN | 41 | 5% |
| PADUCAH | 37 | 5% |
| ELIZABTHTN | 31 | 4% |
| MADISONVL | 25 | 3% |
| HENDERSON | 23 | 3% |
| HOPKINSVL | 21 | 3% |
| MURRAY | 18 | 2% |
| 163 other rate centers | 530 | 69% |
Who holds the prefixes in 270
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 152 (20%). 78% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Central Bell Tel | 152 | 20% |
| Onvoy | 110 | 14% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 98 | 13% |
| Level 3 Communications | 63 | 8% |
| Verizon Wireless | 57 | 7% |
| Windstream Kentucky East, INC. - Lexington | 41 | 5% |
| 39 other carriers | 247 | 32% |
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. Find which carrier a number is on, or browse the prefix holders.
History of area code 270
- 1947-01-01 Area code 502, named as the parent of 270 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1999-04-19 Area code 270 went into service.
- 2014-03-03 Area code 364 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 270.
Area codes nearest to 270
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 270
119 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Owensboro, KY | 4 |
| Paducah, KY | 3 |
| Franklin, KY | 2 |
A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems. A ZIP code can sit in more than one area code, and an area code spans many ZIP codes.
Complaints on file for 270 numbers
2,518 FCC complaints are on file for 1,889 numbers in 270, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 139 |
| 2024 | 68 |
| 2025 | 120 |
Other area codes in Kentucky
Kentucky is one state with 5 area codes in the NANPA table. 270 is one of them.
Next to 270 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 270 when all are sorted by number. They are neighbours on the list, not necessarily on the map.
What the area code does and does not tell you
A number that starts with 270 was first assigned in Kentucky. That is a fact about where the number began, and it is a useful hint when you check a form entry, for example a billing address in Kentucky next to a 270 phone number.
It does not show where the person is today. A number stays with its owner after a move or a change of provider (number portability), and mobile numbers travel with the handset. The area code also cannot tell you whether the line is active, who the carrier is, or whether the number is mobile or fixed: the plan shares those ranges. Read more about the area code, the numbering plan and line type.
Check numbers in bulk with the API
| Product | Credits | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Numbering-Plan Validation | 1 credit per valid number | API docs |
| Phone Intelligence (carrier and line status) | 1 credit per check (invalid numbers outside the US and Canada are free) | Product page |
Questions about area code 270
Where is area code 270?
NANPA assigns area code 270 to Kentucky, United States.
In which state does area code 270 sit?
Kentucky. 270 is one of 5 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 270 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 270 are Owensboro, KY, Paducah, KY and Franklin, KY. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 270?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 270, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 152 prefixes or 20%.
Which time zone does 270 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 270 as EC.
What year did 270 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1999-04-19, so 270 has been in use since 1999.
Does area code 270 have an overlay?
Yes. 364 (in service 2014-03-03) shares the same area with 270, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 270?
The area codes closest to 270, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 615 (about 79 miles), 629 (about 79 miles), 930 (about 97 miles), 812 (about 100 miles) and 931 (about 116 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 270 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 768 prefixes in service in 270, spread over 171 rate centers and 45 holders.
Are there complaints about 270 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 2,518 complaints for 1,889 numbers in 270. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.
Area code assignments: North American Numbering Plan Administrator NPA report, file dated 10/17/2026, retrieved 2026-10-17. Source file. New codes are assigned several times a year. Prefixes, rate centers, holders, time zone, in-service date and overlays: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17 and NPA report dated 2026-10-18. Complaints: FCC consumer complaints open data, fetched 2026-10-17. ZIP code places: Postal code places and coordinates: GeoNames (geonames.org), licensed CC BY 4.0.