California · Pacific Time
279 Area Code
Area code 279 is in California, serving Sacramento and its suburbs in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties. It is in the Pacific Time zone. It shares its territory with overlay code 916, so 10-digit dialing is required.
Last updated October 1, 2026 · Source: NANPA
Where is the 279 area code?
279 is a California area code covering Sacramento and its suburbs in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties. In the wider directory it sits in the West region.
Cities in the 279 area code
- Sacramento
- Elk Grove
- Roseville
- Citrus Heights
- Folsom
- Rancho Cordova
- Rocklin
- Lincoln
- West Sacramento
- Arden-Arcade
- Carmichael
- El Dorado Hills
Counties served by 279
Sacramento County, Placer County, Yolo County and El Dorado County.
279 overlay codes and dialing
The 279 territory is covered by an overlay of 2 area codes: 279, 916. All of them serve the same geographic area, and the original code is 916. Because more than one code covers the same ground, 10-digit dialing is mandatory — you must dial the area code for every local call. New phone lines may be assigned any of these codes.
History of the 279 area code
279 went into service on March 10, 2018 as an overlay of 916, relieving number exhaustion in the Sacramento area. Rather than splitting the region, the overlay lets existing customers keep their numbers while new lines draw from the added code. Learn more in our overlay guide.
Is 279 a scam or spam risk?
279 is a legitimate geographic area code, not a premium or toll line, so a call from it costs you nothing extra. That said, scammers frequently spoof real local area codes to look familiar on caller ID. A genuine 279 number on your screen is no guarantee the caller is in Sacramento, CA or trustworthy. See spam & scam-risk area codes for how spoofing works and how to respond.
Other California area codes
Explore more
See every code in California, compare codes across the West region, or view all Pacific Time codes. You can also browse the 2XX block or the complete numeric list of US area codes.
New to how this all works? Start with how area codes work, then read up on overlays, 10-digit dialing, and spam & scam-risk codes. To check another number, use the area code lookup tool.
Quick answers
279 area code FAQ
Where is the 279 area code?
The 279 area code is in California, covering Sacramento and its suburbs in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties, in the West region.
What cities are in the 279 area code?
Cities in the 279 area code include Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Rocklin, Lincoln, West Sacramento and Arden-Arcade.
What time zone is 279 in?
279 is in the Pacific Time zone.
What is the overlay for the 279 area code?
279 shares its territory with 916. Both codes (279, 916) serve the same area, so 10-digit dialing is required for every call.
When did the 279 area code start?
279 went into service on March 10, 2018 as an overlay of 916.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 279?
Yes. Because 279 is an overlay area, you must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + 7 digits) for every call.
Is 279 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 279 is a standard geographic area code, so calling it costs the same as any local or long-distance call on your plan. Toll-free calls use 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 or 833.