---
title: "Area code 916: California, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/916.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/916"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 916 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California."
---

# Area code 916: California, United States

Area code 916 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California.

NANPA lists 785 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 916, held by 41 holders across 17 rate centers.
The largest rate center is SCRM MAIN, with 361 prefixes (46%).
Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 236 (30%). 63% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 4,854 complaints on file for 3,393 numbers in 916, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Pacific (P)
- Assigned overlays: 279 (2018-03-10)
- Prefixes in use: 785
- Pooled prefixes: 491 (63%)
- Rate centers: 17
- Companies holding prefixes: 41
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-03-01 to 2024-02-06 (218 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 17

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SCRM MAIN | 361 | 46% |
| SCRM NORTH | 109 | 14% |
| RSVL MAIN | 66 | 8% |
| FOLSOM | 57 | 7% |
| ELK GROVE | 44 | 6% |
| FAIR OAKS | 43 | 5% |
| SO PLACER | 25 | 3% |
| RSVL CTHT | 18 | 2% |
| 9 other rate centers | 62 | 8% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pacific Bell | 236 | 30% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 77 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | 60 | 8% |
| Metropcs | 49 | 6% |
| T-Mobile USA | 40 | 5% |
| Consolidated Communications Of California Company | 34 | 4% |
| 35 other carriers | 289 | 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

- 1947-01-01: Area code 916 went into service.
- 1997-11-01: Area code 530 went into service and names 916 as its parent.
- 2018-03-10: Area code 279 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 916.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 916, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 530 (about 67 miles), 369 (about 77 miles), 925 (about 78 miles), 341 (about 86 miles) and 415 (about 86 miles).

## ZIP codes

17 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Chico, CA (6 ZIP codes), Elk Grove, CA (4 ZIP codes) and Folsom, CA (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

4,854 complaints for 3,393 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 173
- 2024: 193
- 2025: 248

## Questions

### Where is area code 916?

NANPA assigns area code 916 to California, United States.

### In which state does area code 916 sit?

California. 916 is one of 41 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 916 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 916 are Chico, CA, Elk Grove, CA and Folsom, CA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 916?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 916, Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 236 prefixes or 30%.

### Which time zone does 916 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 916 as Pacific (P).

### What year did 916 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 916 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 916 have an overlay?

Yes. 279 (in service 2018-03-10) shares the same area with 916, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### Which area codes are nearest to 916?

The area codes closest to 916, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 530 (about 67 miles), 369 (about 77 miles), 925 (about 78 miles), 341 (about 86 miles) and 415 (about 86 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 916 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 785 prefixes in service in 916, spread over 17 rate centers and 41 holders.

### Are there complaints about 916 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 4,854 complaints for 3,393 numbers in 916. 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).