Area codes 256 and 938

Area codes 256 and 938 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for North Alabama, as well as some eastern portions of the state.

[1] A permissive dialing period, that permitted time to reprogram computers, cell phones, pagers and fax machines, allowed the use of 205 through September 28, 1998.

[2][3] As a result, ten-digit dialing was implemented for all numbers in the area with voluntary compliance beginning on November 7, 2009, and mandatory use by June 5, 2010, instead of dialing 7 digits.

[4] This timing roughly coincided with the end of the originally projected 12-year "life span" of the original 256 area code.

[2] The numbering plan area comprises north and northeast Alabama and includes the following metropolitan areas:

Region covered by area code 256/938 in Alabama