New Jersey · Eastern Time
551 Area Code
Area code 551 is in New Jersey, serving northeastern New Jersey: Hudson County and most of Bergen County. It is in the Eastern Time zone. It shares its territory with overlay code 201, so 10-digit dialing is required.
Last updated October 1, 2026 · Source: NANPA
Where is the 551 area code?
551 is a New Jersey area code covering northeastern New Jersey: Hudson County and most of Bergen County. In the wider directory it sits in the Northeast region.
Cities in the 551 area code
- Jersey City
- Bayonne
- Union City
- Hoboken
- West New York
- Hackensack
- North Bergen
- Fort Lee
- Fair Lawn
- Teaneck
- Englewood
- Paramus
- Bergenfield
- Ridgewood
Counties served by 551
Hudson County and Bergen County.
551 overlay codes and dialing
The 551 territory is covered by an overlay of 2 area codes: 201, 551. All of them serve the same geographic area, and the original code is 201. 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 551 area code
551 went into service on December 29, 2001 as an overlay of 201, relieving number exhaustion in the Jersey City 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 551 a scam or spam risk?
551 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 551 number on your screen is no guarantee the caller is in Jersey City, NJ or trustworthy. See spam & scam-risk area codes for how spoofing works and how to respond.
Other New Jersey area codes
Explore more
See every code in New Jersey, compare codes across the Northeast region, or view all Eastern Time codes. You can also browse the 5XX 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
551 area code FAQ
Where is the 551 area code?
The 551 area code is in New Jersey, covering northeastern New Jersey: Hudson County and most of Bergen County, in the Northeast region.
What cities are in the 551 area code?
Cities in the 551 area code include Jersey City, Bayonne, Union City, Hoboken, West New York, Hackensack, North Bergen, Fort Lee, Fair Lawn and Teaneck.
What time zone is 551 in?
551 is in the Eastern Time zone.
What is the overlay for the 551 area code?
551 shares its territory with 201. Both codes (201, 551) serve the same area, so 10-digit dialing is required for every call.
When did the 551 area code start?
551 went into service on December 29, 2001 as an overlay of 201.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 551?
Yes. Because 551 is an overlay area, you must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + 7 digits) for every call.
Is 551 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 551 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.