Area code
949
949 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to California, which has 41 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 949
Paste a full number and the tool checks it against the numbering plan. It returns the standard formats, the line type the plan assigns and the area code region.
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Area code 949 at a glance
NANPA lists 740 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 949, held by 36 holders across 7 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1998-04-18 |
| Time zone | Pacific (P) |
| Prefixes in use | 740 |
| Pooled prefixes | 529 (71%) |
| Rate centers | 7 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 36 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-02-22 to 2026-07-24 (332 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 13 |
Rate centers in area code 949
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| IRVINE | 283 | 38% |
| SADLBK VLY | 147 | 20% |
| NEWPORTBCH | 100 | 14% |
| CAPITRNVLY | 92 | 12% |
| LAGUNA BCH | 67 | 9% |
| TRABUCO | 32 | 4% |
| RNCHOVIEJO | 19 | 3% |
Who holds the prefixes in 949
Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 184 (25%). 71% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Bell | 184 | 25% |
| Verizon Wireless | 87 | 12% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 72 | 10% |
| T-Mobile USA | 68 | 9% |
| Onvoy | 43 | 6% |
| Fractel | 36 | 5% |
| 30 other carriers | 250 | 34% |
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. Find which carrier a number is on, or browse the prefix holders.
History of area code 949
- 1951-01-01 Area code 714, named as the parent of 949 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1998-04-18 Area code 949 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 949
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
ZIP codes in area code 949
13 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | 13 |
A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems. A ZIP code can sit in more than one area code, and an area code spans many ZIP codes.
Complaints on file for 949 numbers
4,233 FCC complaints are on file for 3,166 numbers in 949, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 195 |
| 2024 | 211 |
| 2025 | 161 |
Other area codes in California
California is one state with 41 area codes in the NANPA table. 949 is one of them.
- 209
- 213
- 279
- 310
- 323
- 341
- 350
- 357
- 369
- 408
- 415
- 424
- 442
- 510
- 530
- 559
- 562
- 619
- 626
- 628
- 650
- 657
- 661
- 669
- 707
- 714
- 738
- 747
- 760
- 805
- 818
- 820
- 831
- 837
- 840
- 858
- 909
- 916
- 925
- 951
Next to 949 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 949 when all are sorted by number. They are neighbours on the list, not necessarily on the map.
What the area code does and does not tell you
A number that starts with 949 was first assigned in California. That is a fact about where the number began, and it is a useful hint when you check a form entry, for example a billing address in California next to a 949 phone number.
It does not show where the person is today. A number stays with its owner after a move or a change of provider (number portability), and mobile numbers travel with the handset. The area code also cannot tell you whether the line is active, who the carrier is, or whether the number is mobile or fixed: the plan shares those ranges. Read more about the area code, the numbering plan and line type.
Check numbers in bulk with the API
| Product | Credits | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Numbering-Plan Validation | 1 credit per valid number | API docs |
| Phone Intelligence (carrier and line status) | 1 credit per check (invalid numbers outside the US and Canada are free) | Product page |
Questions about area code 949
Where is area code 949?
NANPA assigns area code 949 to California, United States.
In which state does area code 949 sit?
California. 949 is one of 41 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 949 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 949 are Irvine, CA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 949?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 949, Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 184 prefixes or 25%.
Which time zone does 949 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 949 as Pacific (P).
What year did 949 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1998-04-18, so 949 has been in use since 1998.
Does area code 949 have an overlay?
The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 949.
Which area codes are nearest to 949?
The area codes closest to 949, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 657 (about 11 miles), 714 (about 11 miles), 562 (about 23 miles), 951 (about 29 miles) and 626 (about 31 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 949 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 740 prefixes in service in 949, spread over 7 rate centers and 36 holders.
Are there complaints about 949 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 4,233 complaints for 3,166 numbers in 949. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.
Area code assignments: North American Numbering Plan Administrator NPA report, file dated 10/17/2026, retrieved 2026-10-17. Source file. New codes are assigned several times a year. Prefixes, rate centers, holders, time zone, in-service date and overlays: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17 and NPA report dated 2026-10-18. Complaints: FCC consumer complaints open data, fetched 2026-10-17. ZIP code places: Postal code places and coordinates: GeoNames (geonames.org), licensed CC BY 4.0.