520 Area CodeTucson, AZ
Area code 520 covers Tucson and nearby communities in Arizona, home to about 1.4 million people across 130 cities. It overlays 353, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Where is area code 520?
Area code 520 serves part of Tucson, AZ and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (353) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 520 Area Code
What is the 520 area code?
The 520 area code serves Tucson, Arizona, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 520 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 520 created?
The 520 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Tucson once the existing area code 353 began to run out of available prefixes. It added a new supply of numbers without requiring current residents to change their existing digits.
Geographic Coverage of the 520 Area Code
The 520 area code serves Tucson and surrounding areas in Arizona. It operates within the (UTC-7) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 353. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Tucson
- Maricopa
- Casa Grande
- Casas Adobes
- Marana
- Catalina Foothills
Got a call from a 520 number? It came from Tucson, AZ. Since 520 overlays with 353, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 520, Tucson holds about 39% of the population; the rest is split across 129 smaller cities.
Tucson Area Codes Overview
Tucson is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 520 area code operates alongside 353. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 520 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 520 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | AZ | 554,013 | 1% | 100% |
| Maricopa | AZ | 76,654 | 0% | 100% |
| Casa Grande | AZ | 68,927 | 1% | 100% |
| Casas Adobes | AZ | 66,795 | 0% | 100% |
| Marana | AZ | 62,380 | 1% | 100% |
| Catalina Foothills | AZ | 50,796 | 0% | 100% |
| Oro Valley | AZ | 48,855 | 0% | 100% |
| Sierra Vista | AZ | 44,710 | 1% | 100% |
| Sahuarita | AZ | 37,448 | 0% | 100% |
| Drexel Heights | AZ | 27,749 | 0% | 100% |
* Sources: Population – U.S. Census Bureau PEP, Vintage 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP). Area code assignments – NANPA CO Code data. See our data methodology.
Has area code 520 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 1,528 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 520 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 71% robocalls
- ↓ 3% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other41%619
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)30%455
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends7%104
* Caller ID is easily spoofed, so these figures reflect the number shown on caller ID, not the caller's true location – an area code alone never identifies a caller. The FTC does not verify the facts in these complaints. Source: FTC Do Not Call (DNC) Reported Calls Data, retrieved 2026-07-05.
Which prefixes and exchanges belong to area code 520?
64% assigned to a telco
- 65% Landline
- 35% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (520)200- | Landline | Allstream |
| (520)201- | Landline | Allstream |
| (520)202- | Landline | Level 3 Telecom Of Arizona |
| (520)203- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (520)204- | Landline | Mcleodusa Telecommunication Services |
| (520)205- | Landline | Qwest |
| (520)206- | Landline | Qwest |
| (520)207- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (520)208- | Landline | Global Crossing Local Services |
| (520)209- | Landline | Qwest |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 520 Area Code
Who called me from a 520 number?
A 520 number is assigned to Tucson, Arizona, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 520 code to look nearby, so a 520 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 1,528 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 520 code (71% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 520 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 520 is a normal, officially assigned code for Tucson, Arizona. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 520 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 1,528 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 520 code (71% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 520 area code?
Repeated calls from different 520 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 520 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 1,528 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 520 code (71% flagged as robocalls). Blocking one number rarely helps; voicemail screening, your carrier spam filter, and the Do Not Call Registry work better.
Should I answer an unknown 520 number?
If you aren't expecting a 520 call, let it ring to voicemail. Legitimate callers leave a message, most robocallers hang up when no one picks up, and answering can mark your number as active and bring more calls.
How do I block calls from the 520 area code?
Block a single 520 number from your recent-calls list (iPhone: tap the number, then Block this Caller; Android: tap the number, then Block or report spam). To cut the volume, turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone or spam protection on Android, enable spam filtering from your carrier, and register at DoNotCall.gov. Blocking the entire 520 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 520?
Area code 520 covers Tucson and the surrounding area in Arizona, spanning 130 cities with about 1,408,230 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 353.
Is 520 a real area code?
Yes. 520 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Tucson, Arizona. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 520 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 520 area code in?
The 520 area code is in the (UTC-7). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 520 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 520 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 520 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 520 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.