The 440 area code is expected to exhaust its available numbers in the third quarter of 2024.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new phone area code “overlay” has been approved for the 440 zone, with officials saying the current code soon will run out of available numbers.
The 440 code includes all of Lake, Lorain, Geauga and Ashtabula counties and parts of Cuyahoga, Erie, Huron and Trumbull counties. It was created in August 1997 as a breakaway from the 216 area code because of the increasing use of cellphones and growing population. The change will mean all subscribers in the 440 area code eventually must use 10-digit dialing. The PUCO says the transition to 10-digit dialing already was underway as part of the implementation of the 988 National Suicide Prevention Line.
The telecommunications industry has been asked to file implementation and communications plans with the PUCO. The plans should indicate when the overlay should take effect and how companies will notify customers.