California · Pacific Time
916 Area Code
Area code 916 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 279, so 10-digit dialing is required.
Last updated October 1, 2026 · Source: NANPA
Where is the 916 area code?
916 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 916 area code
- Sacramento
- Elk Grove
- Roseville
- Citrus Heights
- Folsom
- Rancho Cordova
- Rocklin
- Lincoln
- West Sacramento
- Arden-Arcade
- Carmichael
- El Dorado Hills
Counties served by 916
Sacramento County, Placer County, Yolo County and El Dorado County.
916 overlay codes and dialing
The 916 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 916 area code
916 is one of the original area codes assigned in 1947, when AT&T and Bell Laboratories created the North American Numbering Plan and divided the country into the first 86 numbering plan areas. It has served the Sacramento area ever since, with 279 later added as an overlay to supply more numbers.
Is 916 a scam or spam risk?
916 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 916 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 9XX 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
916 area code FAQ
Where is the 916 area code?
The 916 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 916 area code?
Cities in the 916 area code include Sacramento, Elk Grove, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Rocklin, Lincoln, West Sacramento and Arden-Arcade.
What time zone is 916 in?
916 is in the Pacific Time zone.
What is the overlay for the 916 area code?
916 shares its territory with 279. Both codes (279, 916) serve the same area, so 10-digit dialing is required for every call.
When did the 916 area code start?
916 went into service on January 1, 1947 as one of the original 1947 North American area codes.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 916?
Yes. Because 916 is an overlay area, you must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + 7 digits) for every call.
Is 916 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 916 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.