New Area Code Coming to 816 Region

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The Missouri Public Service Commission continues to work with the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) and the telecommunications industry on implementation of an overlay plan and the introduction of a new area code in the 816 area code region in Missouri.

The new area code will be 975. All existing 816 area code customers will retain their current area code in the overlay area and their telephone numbers will not be changed.The 816 area code serves communities such as, but not limited to, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Savannah, Richmond, Maysville, Odessa, Adrian, Holden, Lawson and Drexel.

NANPA has indicated to the Public Service Commission that telephone numbering in the 816 area code is nearing exhaustion. NANPA projects the 816 area code will exhaust in the second quarter of 2024.

August 8, 2023 is the earliest date companies can request telephone numbers with the 975 area code and October 13, 2023 is the earliest date the 975 area code will be activated. Both of those dates could be pushed back depending on when telephone numbers actually exhaust in the 816 area code.

The 975 area code will co-exist everywhere in this region with the 816 area code. All local calls within this region must be dialed using ten digits rather than seven digits. The 816 area code, along with many other area codes throughout the country, were required to eliminate seven digit local dialing in July of 2022 in order to accommodate the new 988 abbreviated dialing code for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.

Telephone customers should know the following key facts about the 975 area code overlay:

  • Telephone numbers, including current area code, will not change.

  • The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.

  • What is a local call now will remain a local call.

  • Customers in the overlay region must dial 10 digits for local calls.

  • Three digit abbreviated dialing, to the extent currently available, such as 911, as well as 211, 311, 988, 511, 611, 711, or 811 will continue to work and not be affected.

Customers should identify their telephone number as a 10-digit number (3-digit area code + 7-digit telephone number), and include the area code when giving the number to others.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story