Numbers

916 Area Code: Sacramento, CA

Area code 916 covers the Greater Sacramento area, including Sacramento, Roseville, Elk Grove, and Folsom. Learn about coverage, time zone, and how to get a local 916 number.

By Michael Bratschi

Area code 916 serves the Greater Sacramento region, covering California state capital and surrounding communities across six counties. If you need a local presence in Sacramento, you can get a 916 phone number through Telnyx.

What area does 916 cover?

The 916 area code covers the Sacramento metropolitan area and nearby communities in Northern California.

CityCountyPopulationNotes
SacramentoSacramento~525,000State capital, largest city
Elk GroveSacramento~175,000South of Sacramento
RosevillePlacer~150,000Major suburb, retail hub
FolsomSacramento~82,000Folsom Lake, tech employers
Citrus HeightsSacramento~87,000Northeast suburb
Rancho CordovaSacramento~79,000Business park corridor
RocklinPlacer~70,000Sierra College area
LincolnPlacer~50,000Fast-growing community
West SacramentoYolo~55,000Across the river
DavisYolo~70,000UC Davis (partial coverage)

The region spans Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, Sutter, and parts of Solano counties. For complete coverage details, see the NANPA area code map.

916 area code time zone

Area code 916 is in the Pacific Time Zone (PT). During standard time, this is UTC-8 (PST). During daylight saving time, it shifts to UTC-7 (PDT).

History of the 916 area code

The 916 area code is one of the original California area codes established in 1947 when AT&T created the North American Numbering Plan. Originally, 916 covered all of Northern California north of the Bay Area.

Over the decades, 916 was reduced through splits as the population grew. Area codes 209, 530, and others were carved out to serve surrounding regions.

In 2018, the 279 area code was added as an overlay to the same geographic region. Both 916 and 279 now serve the Sacramento area, so new phone lines may be assigned either area code. This means 10-digit dialing (area code + number) is required for all local calls. For regulatory details, visit the California Public Utilities Commission.

Why the 916 region matters for business

Sacramento is the capital of California and a major government, healthcare, and technology hub:

Government

  • California State Capitol and state agencies
  • Largest state government workforce in the US
  • Federal regional offices
  • County and city government employment

Healthcare

  • UC Davis Medical Center — Level 1 trauma center
  • Sutter Health headquarters
  • Kaiser Permanente regional hub
  • Dignity Health facilities

Technology

  • Growing tech sector and startups
  • Intel and HP legacy presence
  • State IT modernization projects
  • Proximity to Bay Area tech ecosystem

Education

  • UC Davis (partial coverage)
  • California State University, Sacramento
  • Community college system

A local 916 number helps businesses build trust with customers in this region. Calls from local area codes have higher answer rates than unfamiliar or toll-free numbers.

Get a 916 phone number

Telnyx offers local phone numbers in the 916 area code. You get:

  • Instant provisioning — activate numbers in minutes, not days
  • Flexible pricing — pay only for what you use
  • Voice, SMS, and MMS — full communication capabilities
  • API access — programmatic number management
  • Number portabilitybring your existing 916 numbers to Telnyx

Browse available 916 numbers or contact sales to discuss your needs.

Neighboring area codes

Area CodeRegionMajor CityRelationship to 916
279SacramentoSacramentoOverlay (same area)
530Northern CaliforniaChicoNorth/East
209Central ValleyStocktonSouth
707North BaySanta RosaWest
925East BayWalnut CreekSouthwest
415/628San FranciscoSan FranciscoSouthwest

Frequently asked questions

What area code is 916? Area code 916 serves the Greater Sacramento region in Northern California, including Sacramento, Roseville, Elk Grove, and Folsom.

What time zone is 916? Pacific Time (PT) — UTC-8 standard, UTC-7 during daylight saving.

Is 916 the same as 279? Yes, 279 is an overlay that covers the same geographic area as 916. Both area codes serve the Sacramento region.

Do I need to dial the area code for local calls? Yes. Since the 279 overlay was introduced in 2018, all calls require 10-digit dialing (area code + 7-digit number).

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