What's happening?
The Public Utility Commission of Texas, or PUCT, approved Houston's fifth area code in October 2023 in anticipation of the city's current four area codes—281, 346, 713 and 832—that are expected to run out in early 2025.
The new code will accommodate the Greater Houston region's continued population growth, which grew by over 139,789 residents in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Houston's new 621 area code is expected to meet the needs of the area for another nine years, according to PUCT. The utility company says there could be 7.9 million telephone numbers per area code.
Something to note
The new area code will not affect current numbers and the North American Numbering Plan Administrator is anticipated to oversee a nine-month implementation of the number.
The last code given to the area was 346 in 2013, according to the 2023 news release. The first Houston area code, 713, was handed out in 1947.
