--- title: "Area code 656: Florida, United States" url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/656.md" canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/656" last_updated: "2026-10-23" type: "reference" summary: "Area code 656 serves Florida, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Florida." --- # Area code 656: Florida, United States Area code 656 serves Florida, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Florida. NANPA lists 98 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 656, held by 23 holders across 7 rate centers. The largest rate center is TAMPACEN, with 43 prefixes (44%). Onvoy holds the most prefixes, 27 (28%). 98% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies. The FCC unwanted-call data has 122 complaints on file for 102 numbers in 656, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings. ## Facts - In service since: 2022-02-22 - Time zone: Eastern (E) - Assigned overlays: 813 (1953-01-01) - Prefixes in use: 98 - Pooled prefixes: 96 (98%) - Rate centers: 7 - Companies holding prefixes: 23 - Assignment dates on file: 2021-12-22 to 2026-08-24 (95 prefixes) - ZIP codes in its places: 5 ## Rate centers | Rate center | Prefixes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | | TAMPACEN | 43 | 44% | | TAMPANTH | 14 | 14% | | TAMPAEST | 9 | 9% | | ZEPHYRHILS | 9 | 9% | | TAMPASTH | 8 | 8% | | TAMPAWST | 8 | 8% | | PLANT CITY | 7 | 7% | ## Carriers | Holder | Prefixes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | | Onvoy | 27 | 28% | | Fractel | 12 | 12% | | Verizon Wireless | 12 | 12% | | New Cingular Wireless PCS | 11 | 11% | | Aerial Communications | 8 | 8% | | IP Horizon | 4 | 4% | | 17 other carriers | 24 | 24% | 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 - 1953-01-01: Area code 813, named as the parent of 656 in the NANPA report, was in service. - 2022-02-22: Area code 656 went into service. ## Nearest area codes The area codes closest to 656, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 727 (about 36 miles), 863 (about 39 miles), 941 (about 55 miles), 407 (about 60 miles) and 689 (about 60 miles). ## ZIP codes 5 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Plant City, FL (5 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 122 complaints for 102 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year: - 2023: 7 - 2024: 12 - 2025: 25 ## Questions ### Where is area code 656? NANPA assigns area code 656 to Florida, United States. ### In which state does area code 656 sit? Florida. 656 is one of 23 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state. ### Which places does area code 656 cover? The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 656 are Plant City, FL. The rate center list on this page shows all of them. ### Who owns area code 656? NANPA assigns area codes. Within 656, Onvoy holds the most prefixes, 27 prefixes or 28%. ### Which time zone does 656 use? The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 656 as Eastern (E). ### What year did 656 enter service? The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2022-02-22, so 656 has been in use since 2022. ### Does area code 656 have an overlay? Yes. 813 (in service 1953-01-01) shares the same area with 656, so numbers from all of them are local to each other. ### Which area codes are nearest to 656? The area codes closest to 656, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 727 (about 36 miles), 863 (about 39 miles), 941 (about 55 miles), 407 (about 60 miles) and 689 (about 60 miles). ### How many prefixes does area code 656 have? NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 98 prefixes in service in 656, spread over 7 rate centers and 23 holders. ### Are there complaints about 656 numbers? The FCC data on file has 122 complaints for 102 numbers in 656. 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).