---
title: "Area code 949: California, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/949.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/949"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 949 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California."
---

# Area code 949: California, United States

Area code 949 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California.

NANPA lists 740 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 949, held by 36 holders across 7 rate centers.
Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 184 (25%). 71% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 4,233 complaints on file for 3,166 numbers in 949, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- 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

| 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% |

## Carriers

| 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.

## History

- 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.

## Nearest area codes

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).

## ZIP codes

13 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Irvine, CA (13 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

4,233 complaints for 3,166 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 195
- 2024: 211
- 2025: 161

## Questions

### 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.

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).