Area codes 256 and 938 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for North Alabama and an eastern part of the state. The two area codes form an overlay complex for the same numbering plan area. Area code 256 was created in 1998, and 938 was added in 2010.
Area code 256 was created on March 23, 1998, in an area code split of area code 205. [1] A permissive dialing period, that permitted time to reprogram computers, cell phones, pagers and fax machines, allowed the use of 205 through September 28, 1998. [1]
In March 2009, the Alabama Public Service Commission announced the state's first all-services overlay complex with new area code 938 for "sometime in 2011". [2] [3] As a result, ten-digit dialing was implemented in the area with voluntary compliance beginning on November 7, 2009, and mandatory use by June 5, 2010, instead of dialing only the 7-digit local telephone number. [4] [5] Area code 938 took effect on July 10, 2010. [4] This timing roughly coincided with the end of the originally projected 12-year "life span" of the parent area code. [2]
The numbering plan area comprises north and northeast Alabama and includes the following metropolitan areas:
| North: 931 | ||
| West: 662, 205/659 | 256/938 | East: 678/470/943, 706/762, 770 |
| South: 205/659, 334 | ||
| Tennessee area codes: 423, 615/629, 731, 865, 901, 931 | ||
| Mississippi area codes: 228, 601/769, 662 | ||
| Georgia area codes: 229, 404, 478, 678/470/943, 706/762, 770, 912 | ||