ASHTABULA, Ohio — Northeast Ohio is now home to the brand new 436 area code as of Friday, March 1.
It comes after the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) previously announced that the current 440 area code “is expected to run out of available phone numbers in the third quarter of 2024.” In response, the PUCO approved a plan to overlay the new 436 area code over the existing 440 area code.
"It is literally adding another area code right on top of the existing 440 area code, meaning customers that go to sign up for new phone service come March 1 might be assigned a phone number with that new area code -- which is 436," explains PUCO Public Affairs Director Matt Schilling.
If you already have a 440 area code with your current phone number. Don't worry. That won't be changing.
"The only thing to know is if you get a new phone line, brand new service, you might get a new 436 area code," Schilling says.
Verizon says the impacted areas in the current 440 area code include the following Northeast Ohio communities:
- Ashtabula
- Eastlake
- Elyria
- Lorain
- Mentor
- North Olmsted
- North Ridgeville
- North Royalton
- Parma
- Parma Heights
- Rocky River
- Solon
- Strongsville
- Westlake
- Willoughby