916 Area CodeSacramento, CA
Area code 916 covers Sacramento and nearby communities in California, in the Pacific Time (PT) zone, home to about 2 million people across 46 cities. It overlays 279, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Sacramento
- State
- California (CA)
- Timezone
- Pacific Time (PT)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 279
Where is area code 916?
Area code 916 serves part of Sacramento, CA and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (279) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 916 Area Code
What is the 916 area code?
The 916 area code serves Sacramento, California, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 916 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 916 created?
The 916 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Sacramento once the existing area code 279 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 916 Area Code
The 916 area code serves Sacramento and surrounding areas in California. It operates within the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 279. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Sacramento
- Elk Grove
- Roseville
- Arden-Arcade
- Folsom
- Citrus Heights
Got a call from a 916 number? It came from Sacramento, CA. Since 916 overlays with 279, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 916, Sacramento holds about 27% of the population; the rest is split across 45 smaller cities.
Sacramento Area Codes Overview
Sacramento is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 916 area code operates alongside 279. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 916 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 916 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | CA | 535,798 | 7% | 100% |
| Elk Grove | CA | 182,797 | 3% | 100% |
| Roseville | CA | 163,304 | 2% | 100% |
| Arden-Arcade | CA | 92,186 | 1% | 100% |
| Folsom | CA | 88,091 | 2% | 100% |
| Citrus Heights | CA | 86,909 | 1% | 100% |
| Rancho Cordova | CA | 84,113 | 2% | 100% |
| Rocklin | CA | 75,129 | 1% | 100% |
| Carmichael | CA | 61,762 | 1% | 100% |
| Lincoln | CA | 56,268 | 1% | 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 916 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 727 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 916 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 50% robocalls
- ↓ 7% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other47%345
- Dropped call or no message21%151
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends7%51
* 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 916?
78% assigned to a telco
- 72% Landline
- 28% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (916)200- | Landline | Mcimetro Access Transmission Services |
| (916)201- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (916)202- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (916)203- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (916)204- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (916)205- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (916)206- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (916)207- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (916)208- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (916)209- | Landline | Bandwidth.Com Clec |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 916 Area Code
Who called me from a 916 number?
A 916 number is assigned to Sacramento, California, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 916 code to look nearby, so a 916 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 727 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 916 code (50% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 916 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 916 is a normal, officially assigned code for Sacramento, California. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 916 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 727 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 916 code (50% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 916 area code?
Repeated calls from different 916 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 916 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 727 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 916 code (50% 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 916 number?
If you aren't expecting a 916 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 916 area code?
Block a single 916 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 916 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 916?
Area code 916 covers Sacramento and the surrounding area in California, spanning 46 cities with about 1,953,215 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 279.
Is 916 a real area code?
Yes. 916 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Sacramento, California. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 916 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 916 area code in?
The 916 area code is in the Pacific Time (PT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 916 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 916 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 916 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 916 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.