COLUMBUS, Ohio – Beginning on Saturday, people who live in the large area of central and southeastern Ohio covered by the 740 area code will have to start dialing 10 digits to place a call, even if it’s down the street.
The 220 area code has been added to overlay the area also served by 740 because the supply of seven-digit phone numbers in 740 is dwindling.
To make a call, anyone living in the 740 area – which includes Delaware, Lancaster, Newark, Athens, Marion and Zanesville (see map) – will have to dial 10 digits (area code+telephone number) even if they making a call to another number in the 740 area, under a plan approved by the Ohio Public Utilities Commission.
The change is effective March 21 for existing numbers and April 22for new lines.
It will also require dialing systems – from automatic dialing equipment to Internet dial-up numbers to voicemail – to be updated to reflect the new requirement.
A similar change is coming to residents of the 614 area code in a few years.