New 227 area code coming to the 240/301 area code region in Maryland

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – All customers with a 240 or 301 area code should be aware of the introduction of the new 227 area code. Beginning June 14, 2023, customers ordering new telephone lines or services in Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Bowie, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Hagerstown, Potomac, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Wheaton, and some other smaller communities in Maryland may be assigned numbers using the new 227 area code.

To ensure a continuing supply of new telephone numbers, the 227 area code will be added as an overlay to the 240/301 region. An overlay is the addition of another area code (227) to the same geographic region served by an existing area code (240 and 301). The 227 area code will co-exist everywhere in this region with the 240 and 301 area codes. An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code, but requires customers to continue to dial the area code to complete local calls.

The key facts for consumers to know about the upcoming MD 240/301/227 area code overlay are:

• Your current telephone number, including current area code, will not change.
• If you seek new phone service on and after June 14, 2023, you may be assigned a phone number with the 227 area code.
• You will continue to dial the area code + telephone number for all local calls, including calls within the same area code.
• You will continue to dial 1 + area code + telephone number for all long-distance calls.
• What is a local call now will remain a local call.
• The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
• You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, and 811 if those are currently available in your community.

Please remember to identify your telephone number as a 10-digit number and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates and customers, etc. You should also ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment recognize the new 227 area code as a valid area code, and continue to store or program telephone numbers as 10-digit numbers.

For additional information, please visit us at verizon.com/areacodes or the Maryland Public Service Commission website at https://www.psc.state.md.us/telecommunications/new-227-area-code-coming-to-maryland-june-2023/.