Atlanta Area Codes: What They Are and How They Work

If you live in, are moving to, or are visiting Atlanta, Georgia, you’ll quickly notice there isn’t just one “Atlanta area code.” Instead, Atlanta uses several overlapping area codes that all serve different parts of the metro area.

Here’s a clear breakdown of what area code Atlanta is, where each code is commonly used, and what it means for everyday calling and texting in the city.

The Short Answer: Atlanta Has Multiple Area Codes

Atlanta no longer has a single, unique area code. The city and its surrounding metro area are covered mainly by these local area codes:

• 404 – The original Atlanta area code (core city and near intown)
• 770 – Suburban ring around Atlanta
• 678 – Overlay area code serving both city and suburbs
• 470 – Newer overlay code, also covers the same broader metro
• 943 – Newest overlay area code being added to the Atlanta region

All of these area codes are part of the greater Atlanta metro dialing area. You’ll find 404, 770, 678, and 470 in everyday use across the city and suburbs, and 943 is being introduced to meet growing demand.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Area Codes at a Glance

404: The Classic Atlanta Area Code

When people ask, “What area code is Atlanta?” they often mean 404.

What is 404?

• 404 is the original area code for Atlanta.
• It’s strongly associated with the City of Atlanta and many intown neighborhoods.

You’re likely to see 404 numbers tied to:

• Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead
• Neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland, Old Fourth Ward, West End, East Atlanta, Grant Park, and surrounding areas
• Many long-established businesses and residents who have had the same number for years

Because of its history, 404 is often seen as a “classic Atlanta” identifier, even though lots of newer numbers use other codes.

770: The Atlanta Suburban Ring

As Atlanta grew outward, the 770 area code was introduced for suburban areas around the city.

Where is 770 used?

While exact boundaries can shift, 770 is widely used in:

• Cobb County (e.g., Marietta, Smyrna, Vinings outside the city limits)
• Gwinnett County (e.g., Duluth, Lawrenceville, Snellville)
• North Fulton suburbs (e.g., Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek)
• South and west suburbs (e.g., Douglasville, Peachtree City, parts of Henry County)

If you see a 770 number, it usually suggests a metro Atlanta suburb, rather than the core City of Atlanta—though people keep their numbers when they move, so it’s not a perfect location guide.

678 and 470: Overlays Across the Metro Atlanta Area

As both 404 and 770 began to run out of available phone numbers, Atlanta added overlay area codes.

An overlay means:

• New area codes cover the same geographic region as existing ones.
• People keep their current numbers and area codes.
• New phone lines get assigned the newer codes.

678 Area Code

• Introduced as an overlay for 404 and 770.
• You’ll find 678 used throughout the metro region, including:
  • City of Atlanta addresses
  • Inner- and outer-ring suburbs
• Many newer mobile numbers, VoIP lines, and business lines use 678.

470 Area Code

• A newer overlay that works the same way as 678.
• Also used across both Atlanta and its suburbs.
• Common on newer cell phones and business accounts as older codes fill up.

943: The Newest Atlanta Area Code

To handle ongoing growth in metro Atlanta, 943 has been approved as another overlay area code.

What you should know about 943

• It is designed to overlay the existing Atlanta metro region, similar to 404/770/678/470.
• Over time, new phone lines (especially mobile and internet-based services) may start being assigned 943 numbers.
• Existing numbers will not be forced to change; you keep your current area code.

If you see a 943 area code in the future, it can still be considered an Atlanta-area number, even if it’s less familiar at first.

Do Different Atlanta Neighborhoods Have Specific Area Codes?

In everyday life, area codes in Atlanta are not strictly tied to each neighborhood. However, you can notice patterns:

• Intown/central areas (e.g., Downtown, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Grant Park, West Midtown, Buckhead):
  • Commonly use 404, 678, and 470
  • Many older residents and businesses still have 404
• Northern suburbs (e.g., Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Johns Creek):
  • Often show 770, 678, and 470
• Eastern suburbs (e.g., Decatur, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Tucker):
  • Mix of 404, 770, 678, and 470, depending on city limits and when numbers were assigned
• Southern & Western suburbs (e.g., College Park, East Point, Union City, Douglasville, Fayetteville, McDonough):
  • Also a mix of 404, 770, 678, and 470

Because most of the area codes overlay, a single apartment building in Atlanta might have residents with all four (and eventually five) different area codes.

Why Metro Atlanta Uses So Many Area Codes

Atlanta’s multiple area codes are mostly explained by:

1. Population growth
   The Atlanta metro region has expanded significantly, bringing in more residents, businesses, and devices.

2. More devices per person
   Many people now have:

   • Multiple cell phones
   • Work and personal numbers
   • Tablets, smart devices, and VoIP lines

3. Overlays instead of splits
   Instead of forcing people to change their numbers when area codes fill up, regulators increasingly use overlays, which:

   • Keep existing numbers intact
   • Add new area codes on top of the same geographic region

For Atlanta, this process has led from 404, to 770, then 678, 470, and now 943.

How to Dial Within Atlanta: 10-Digit Dialing

Because of all the overlapping area codes, 10-digit dialing is the norm in Atlanta.

When you place a local call in the Atlanta area, you generally need to dial:

• Area code + 7-digit phone number
  Example: 404-555-1234 or 770-555-1234

Even if you’re just calling a neighbor:

• You usually must include the area code, even for “local” calls across the metro.

Many residents and visitors find it easiest to always save numbers in their phone as full 10-digit numbers (or with the +1 country code if needed).

Getting a New Local Atlanta Number

If you’re moving to Atlanta or setting up a local line (for example, for a business near Peachtree Center, in Midtown, or in Buckhead), you may wonder which area code you’ll receive.

A few important points:

• You generally can’t choose your area code from scratch through major carriers; it’s assigned from whatever pool is available in your area at the time.
• New numbers in the Atlanta area are commonly 678, 470, or 770, and increasingly 943 as it comes online.
• 404 numbers are harder to come by, as they’re mostly already in use, though occasionally carriers may still have some available.

If you truly need a specific area code (for example, a small business that wants a “404” presence), you may need to:

• Work through a telecom provider offering local number options.
• Be prepared that choices may be limited as older area codes fill up.

How Area Codes Affect Visitors to Atlanta

If you’re visiting Atlanta and using an out-of-area cell phone:

• You can call Atlanta numbers directly using the full 10-digit format, just as locals do.
• Your carrier will handle the call as local or long-distance based on your plan, not the city’s dialing rules.
• Ride-share drivers, restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions around Downtown, Midtown, the BeltLine, and the airport area may have any of the local area codes: 404, 770, 678, 470, or eventually 943.

The area code alone doesn’t change how you dial—just make sure to include it whenever you enter or save a local number.

Area Codes and Emergency / City Services in Atlanta

For emergencies, you always dial:

• 911 – regardless of area code, carrier, or neighborhood.

For non-emergency city services in Atlanta (for example, reporting potholes, trash issues, or code enforcement within the City of Atlanta):

• Atlanta City Hall (general information):
  Often reached through main city numbers that may use 404 or other local codes, depending on department.
• City of Atlanta non-emergency service lines may carry various local codes, but they will always be clearly listed on official city resources and directories.

If you’re calling county-level offices (such as Fulton County, DeKalb County, Cobb County, or Gwinnett County agencies), expect to see a mix of 404, 770, 678, and 470.

Common Questions About Atlanta Area Codes

Is 404 still considered “Atlanta”?

Yes. 404 is strongly tied to Atlanta’s identity, especially the historic city core. But it’s not the only Atlanta area code. Many people who live and work entirely in Atlanta have 770, 678, or 470 numbers.

Can you tell exactly where someone lives by their area code?

Not reliably. With overlays and mobile phones:

• A 404 number might now belong to someone living in Decatur or even outside Georgia.
• A 770 number might be used by someone who lives in Downtown Atlanta but never changed numbers after moving.
• People keep their numbers when they change neighborhoods, cities, and carriers.

Area codes in Atlanta are more about history and availability than a guaranteed location marker.

Are all these Atlanta area codes local to each other?

Within the metro Atlanta region, calls between 404, 770, 678, 470, and 943 are generally treated as local calls by carriers serving the area, but your own phone plan determines what counts as local or long-distance. From a city perspective, they’re all considered part of the wider Atlanta calling area.

Practical Tips for Managing Atlanta Area Codes

• Always include the area code when giving out or saving a number.
• If you’re new in town, don’t worry if your number isn’t 404—678, 470, and 770 are just as “Atlanta” in daily life.
• When listing a business phone on menus, flyers, or signs around the city, use the full 10-digit number so visitors and out-of-towners can dial it easily.
• If you’re unsure whether a number is local, look for these Atlanta metro codes: 404, 770, 678, 470, and 943 (as it appears more often over time).

Once you know that Atlanta isn’t tied to just one area code, but instead uses a family of overlapping codes, navigating phone numbers in the city becomes straightforward.