---
title: "Area code 626: California, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/626.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/626"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 626 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California."
---

# Area code 626: California, United States

Area code 626 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California.

NANPA lists 732 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 626, held by 37 holders across 10 rate centers.
Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 115 (16%). 70% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,850 complaints on file for 2,252 numbers in 626, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1997-06-14
- Time zone: Pacific (P)
- Prefixes in use: 732
- Pooled prefixes: 511 (70%)
- Rate centers: 10
- Companies holding prefixes: 37
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-04-17 to 2026-04-28 (249 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 24

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ALHAMBRA | 169 | 23% |
| PSDN PSDN | 128 | 17% |
| COVINA | 126 | 17% |
| EL MONTE | 88 | 12% |
| LA PUENTE | 63 | 9% |
| AZUSA | 48 | 7% |
| ARCADIA | 47 | 6% |
| MONROVIA | 34 | 5% |
| 2 other rate centers | 29 | 4% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pacific Bell | 115 | 16% |
| T-Mobile USA | 106 | 14% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 82 | 11% |
| Frontier California | 75 | 10% |
| Onvoy | 42 | 6% |
| TPX Communications | 39 | 5% |
| 31 other carriers | 273 | 37% |

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

- 1984-01-07: Area code 818, named as the parent of 626 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1997-06-14: Area code 626 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 626, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 562 (about 17 miles), 657 (about 20 miles), 714 (about 20 miles), 840 (about 21 miles) and 310 (about 24 miles).

## ZIP codes

24 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Alhambra, CA (6 ZIP codes), Arcadia, CA (4 ZIP codes) and El Monte, CA (4 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

2,850 complaints for 2,252 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 215
- 2024: 204
- 2025: 97

## Questions

### Where is area code 626?

NANPA assigns area code 626 to California, United States.

### In which state does area code 626 sit?

California. 626 is one of 41 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 626 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 626 are Alhambra, CA, Arcadia, CA and El Monte, CA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 626?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 626, Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 115 prefixes or 16%.

### Which time zone does 626 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 626 as Pacific (P).

### What year did 626 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1997-06-14, so 626 has been in use since 1997.

### Does area code 626 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 626.

### Which area codes are nearest to 626?

The area codes closest to 626, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 562 (about 17 miles), 657 (about 20 miles), 714 (about 20 miles), 840 (about 21 miles) and 310 (about 24 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 626 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 732 prefixes in service in 626, spread over 10 rate centers and 37 holders.

### Are there complaints about 626 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 2,850 complaints for 2,252 numbers in 626. 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).