---
title: "Area code 551: New Jersey, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/551.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/551"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 551 serves New Jersey, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New Jersey."
---

# Area code 551: New Jersey, United States

Area code 551 serves New Jersey, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New Jersey.

NANPA lists 294 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 551, held by 29 holders across 23 rate centers.
Omnipoint Communications holds the most prefixes, 67 (23%). 98% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 1,366 complaints on file for 997 numbers in 551, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 2001-12-29
- Time zone: Eastern (E)
- Assigned overlays: 201 (1947-01-01)
- Prefixes in use: 294
- Pooled prefixes: 289 (98%)
- Rate centers: 23
- Companies holding prefixes: 29
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-10-17 to 2026-03-16 (282 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 33

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JERSEYCITY | 53 | 18% |
| HACKENSACK | 44 | 15% |
| BAYONNE | 31 | 11% |
| UNION CITY | 23 | 8% |
| RAMSEY | 20 | 7% |
| FAIR LAWN | 17 | 6% |
| CLIFFSIDE | 14 | 5% |
| KEARNY | 11 | 4% |
| 15 other rate centers | 81 | 28% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Omnipoint Communications | 67 | 23% |
| Onvoy | 67 | 23% |
| Verizon Wireless | 44 | 15% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 25 | 9% |
| Fractel | 16 | 5% |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC | 15 | 5% |
| 23 other carriers | 60 | 20% |

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 201, named as the parent of 551 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2001-12-29: Area code 551 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 551, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 862 (about 13 miles), 973 (about 13 miles), 908 (about 31 miles), 914 (about 34 miles) and 732 (about 38 miles).

## ZIP codes

33 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Jersey City, NJ (12 ZIP codes), Hackensack, NJ (2 ZIP codes) and Kearny, NJ (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

1,366 complaints for 997 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 81
- 2024: 85
- 2025: 78

## Questions

### Where is area code 551?

NANPA assigns area code 551 to New Jersey, United States.

### In which state does area code 551 sit?

New Jersey. 551 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 551 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 551 are Jersey City, NJ, Hackensack, NJ and Kearny, NJ. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 551?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 551, Omnipoint Communications holds the most prefixes, 67 prefixes or 23%.

### Which time zone does 551 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 551 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 551 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2001-12-29, so 551 has been in use since 2001.

### Does area code 551 have an overlay?

Yes. 201 (in service 1947-01-01) shares the same area with 551, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### Which area codes are nearest to 551?

The area codes closest to 551, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 862 (about 13 miles), 973 (about 13 miles), 908 (about 31 miles), 914 (about 34 miles) and 732 (about 38 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 551 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 294 prefixes in service in 551, spread over 23 rate centers and 29 holders.

### Are there complaints about 551 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 1,366 complaints for 997 numbers in 551. 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).