North American Numbers Source-cited · ownership disclosed
Area code
686
In service
United States · since 2024

Richmond (overlay)

Area code 686 is a 2024 all-services overlay of 804 serving east-central Virginia around Richmond. It was added to relieve number exhaustion in the 804 region.

The essentials Numbering data · NumberResearch · as of 2026-09-18
Place
Richmond (overlay)
Type
geographic
Status
in service
In service since
2024
Projected exhaust
2055 Q4

Status, dates and counts are read from NumberResearch (NANPA / CNAC / FCC records). Assignment records show initial assignees, not the carrier serving a number today.

A · Where it is

Where 686 is

East-central Virginia including Henrico, Chesterfield, and Powhatan counties, plus the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula..

Communities served wholly or partly by 686:

RichmondPetersburgHopewellColonial HeightsMechanicsville

Coextensive with 804.

B · Relationships

How it relates to other codes

The codes 686 was split from, spawned, or shares its area with. A split divides the map and changes some numbers; an overlay shares the same ground and changes none — what's the difference?

Overlay · 2024 804 Richmond 686 is the overlay added over the existing 804 territory; both serve identical geography.
What's changing. Overlay of 804 (effective 2024-02-01). 10-digit dialing mandatory. Re-check NANPA.
C · History

How 686 got here

2022-11
Virginia SCC approved area code 686 as an overlay of 804 to address projected exhaustion.
Source: Wikipedia
2024-02-01
Overlay 686 took effect. (Newest VA code — re-check NANPA for current assignment status.)
Source: Wikipedia
D · Capacity

How full it is

Prefixes assigned
45
Prefixes available
755
Thousands-blocks assigned
216

Prefix-assignment counts describe allocation to carriers, not how many individual numbers are in use. Full technical records: NumberResearch ↗.

Compare 686 with another code →
Sources
Wikipedia ↗
Area codes 804 and 686
NumberResearch.org ↗
Live status, dates, assignment counts and exhaust forecast — data as of 2026-09-18 (CC BY 4.0).

Place, relationships and history above are compiled by North American Numbers from the sources listed and last checked 2026-09-18. A check date is not an expert review — see how this is made. Flag an error.