---
title: "Area code 502: Kentucky, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/502.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/502"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 502 serves Kentucky, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Kentucky."
---

# Area code 502: Kentucky, United States

Area code 502 serves Kentucky, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Kentucky.

NANPA lists 731 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 502, held by 49 holders across 36 rate centers.
The largest rate center is LOUISVILLE, with 398 prefixes (54%).
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 191 (26%). 69% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 5,756 complaints on file for 4,478 numbers in 502, 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: 761
- Prefixes in use: 731
- Pooled prefixes: 504 (69%)
- Rate centers: 36
- Companies holding prefixes: 49
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-02-06 to 2026-07-30 (358 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 97

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LOUISVILLE | 398 | 54% |
| FRANKFORT | 41 | 6% |
| BARDSTOWN | 28 | 4% |
| LA GRANGE | 23 | 3% |
| ROSETRRACE | 22 | 3% |
| GEORGETOWN | 18 | 2% |
| SHELBYVL | 18 | 2% |
| LAWRENCEBG | 16 | 2% |
| 28 other rate centers | 167 | 23% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| South Central Bell Tel | 191 | 26% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 87 | 12% |
| Powertel Kentucky Licenses | 55 | 8% |
| Verizon Wireless | 53 | 7% |
| Onvoy | 49 | 7% |
| Level 3 Communications | 36 | 5% |
| 43 other carriers | 260 | 36% |

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 502 went into service.
- 1999-04-19: Area code 270 went into service and names 502 as its parent.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 502, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 859 (about 55 miles), 930 (about 73 miles), 812 (about 76 miles), 283 (about 87 miles) and 513 (about 87 miles).

## ZIP codes

97 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Louisville, KY (66 ZIP codes), Frankfort, KY (9 ZIP codes) and La Grange, KY (2 ZIP codes). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes.

## Complaints on file

5,756 complaints for 4,478 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 306
- 2024: 189
- 2025: 332

## Questions

### Where is area code 502?

NANPA assigns area code 502 to Kentucky, United States.

### In which state does area code 502 sit?

Kentucky. 502 is one of 5 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 502 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 502 are Louisville, KY, Frankfort, KY and La Grange, KY. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 502?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 502, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 191 prefixes or 26%.

### Which time zone does 502 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 502 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 502 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 502 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 502 have an overlay?

Yes. 761 shares the same area with 502, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### Which area codes are nearest to 502?

The area codes closest to 502, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 859 (about 55 miles), 930 (about 73 miles), 812 (about 76 miles), 283 (about 87 miles) and 513 (about 87 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 502 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 731 prefixes in service in 502, spread over 36 rate centers and 49 holders.

### Are there complaints about 502 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 5,756 complaints for 4,478 numbers in 502. 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).