804 Area CodeRichmond, VA
Area code 804 covers Richmond and nearby communities in Virginia, in the Eastern Time (ET) zone, home to about 715,000 people across 68 cities. It overlays 434 and 686, so the region uses several codes and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Richmond
- State
- Virginia (VA)
- Timezone
- Eastern Time (ET)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 434, 686
Overview of the 804 Area Code
What is the 804 area code?
The 804 area code serves Richmond, Virginia, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 804 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 804 created?
The 804 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Richmond once the existing area codes 434 and 686 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 804 Area Code
The 804 area code serves Richmond and surrounding areas in Virginia. It operates within the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It complements the coverage of area codes 434 and 686. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Richmond
- Tuckahoe
- Mechanicsville
- Petersburg
- Short Pump
- Hopewell
Got a call from an 804 number? It came from Richmond, VA. Since 804 overlays with 434 and 686, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 804, Richmond holds about 33% of the population; the rest is split across 67 smaller cities.
Richmond Area Codes Overview
Richmond is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 804 area code operates alongside 434, 686. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 804 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 804 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | VA | 233,655 | 1% | 100% |
| Tuckahoe | VA | 44,990 | 0% | 100% |
| Mechanicsville | VA | 36,348 | 0% | 100% |
| Petersburg | VA | 34,058 | 0% | 100% |
| Short Pump | VA | 24,729 | 0% | 100% |
| Hopewell | VA | 22,970 | 0% | 100% |
| Chester | VA | 20,987 | 0% | 100% |
| Colonial Heights | VA | 18,674 | 0% | 100% |
| Meadowbrook | VA | 18,312 | 0% | 100% |
| Laurel | VA | 16,713 | 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 804 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 1,643 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 804 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 75% robocalls
- ↑ 4% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other35%572
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)32%523
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends12%199
* 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 804?
73% assigned to a telco
- 75% Landline
- 25% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (804)200- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (804)201- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (804)203- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (804)204- | Landline | Verizon Virginia |
| (804)205- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (804)206- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (804)207- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (804)208- | Landline | Teleport Communications America |
| (804)209- | Landline | Verizon Virginia |
| (804)210- | Landline | Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 804 Area Code
Who called me from a 804 number?
A 804 number is assigned to Richmond, Virginia, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 804 code to look nearby, so a 804 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 1,643 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 804 code (75% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 804 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 804 is a normal, officially assigned code for Richmond, Virginia. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 804 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 1,643 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 804 code (75% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 804 area code?
Repeated calls from different 804 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 804 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 1,643 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 804 code (75% 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 804 number?
If you aren't expecting a 804 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 804 area code?
Block a single 804 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 804 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 804?
Area code 804 covers Richmond and the surrounding area in Virginia, spanning 68 cities with about 715,437 residents. It shares its area with overlay codes 434, 686.
Is 804 a real area code?
Yes. 804 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Richmond, Virginia. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 804 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 804 area code in?
The 804 area code is in the Eastern Time (ET). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 804 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 804 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 804 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 804 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.