---
title: "Area code 856: New Jersey, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/856.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/856"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 856 serves New Jersey, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New Jersey."
---

# Area code 856: New Jersey, United States

Area code 856 serves New Jersey, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in New Jersey.

NANPA lists 666 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 856, held by 44 holders across 32 rate centers.
Verizon New Jersey holds the most prefixes, 174 (26%). 78% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,839 complaints on file for 2,139 numbers in 856, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1999-06-12
- Time zone: Eastern (E)
- Prefixes in use: 666
- Pooled prefixes: 520 (78%)
- Rate centers: 32
- Companies holding prefixes: 44
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-04 to 2026-03-20 (261 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 29

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CAMDEN | 80 | 12% |
| HADDONFLD | 64 | 10% |
| MOORESTOWN | 53 | 8% |
| VINELAND | 43 | 6% |
| MERCHANTVL | 30 | 5% |
| WOODBURY | 30 | 5% |
| HADDON HTS | 28 | 4% |
| LAUREL SPG | 24 | 4% |
| 24 other rate centers | 314 | 47% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Verizon New Jersey | 174 | 26% |
| Paetec Itel | 90 | 14% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 44 | 7% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 42 | 6% |
| Omnipoint Communications Enterprises | 41 | 6% |
| Level 3 Communications | 35 | 5% |
| 38 other carriers | 240 | 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

- 1957-01-01: Area code 609, named as the parent of 856 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1999-06-12: Area code 856 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 856, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 609 (about 27 miles), 302 (about 33 miles), 640 (about 33 miles), 215 (about 42 miles) and 267 (about 42 miles).

## ZIP codes

29 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Camden, NJ (5 ZIP codes), Vineland, NJ (3 ZIP codes) and Riverton, 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

2,839 complaints for 2,139 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 69
- 2024: 106
- 2025: 106

## Questions

### Where is area code 856?

NANPA assigns area code 856 to New Jersey, United States.

### In which state does area code 856 sit?

New Jersey. 856 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 856 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 856 are Camden, NJ, Vineland, NJ and Riverton, NJ. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 856?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 856, Verizon New Jersey holds the most prefixes, 174 prefixes or 26%.

### Which time zone does 856 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 856 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 856 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1999-06-12, so 856 has been in use since 1999.

### Does area code 856 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 856.

### Which area codes are nearest to 856?

The area codes closest to 856, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 609 (about 27 miles), 302 (about 33 miles), 640 (about 33 miles), 215 (about 42 miles) and 267 (about 42 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 856 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 666 prefixes in service in 856, spread over 32 rate centers and 44 holders.

### Are there complaints about 856 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 2,839 complaints for 2,139 numbers in 856. 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).