Goodbye 813, Tampa is getting a new area code

813, we hardly knew ye. OK that might be a little dramatic, but going forward residents setting up phones in Tampa will have a 656 area code instead of 813. The Florida Public Service Commission made the announcement on May 8.

It was first approved in early 2020.

Why?

The old 813 area code was running out of numbers and would have completely run out by the end of 2022, according to the Commission.

The new 656 area code covers the same area that 813 covered, and should take a little over one year to implement.

NOTE: This does not change your current phone number. The 656 area code is for new lines in the region.