Area code 540 – Virginia
540 has served Virginia since 1995, split from 703. All but a handful of its 786 number blocks are allocated (786 of 786), so it is effectively exhausted. Verizon is the largest holder with 35.9% of blocks, ahead of Other CLEC / VoIP at 15.4%. It shares its geography with overlay codes 826, so local calls take all ten digits. 792 FTC complaints named a 540 caller ID in the 33 days to 30 October 2026, putting it 104th of 422 codes with five or more complaints.
Who holds 540 number blocks
Share of the 786 assigned NXX blocks (100% of the 786 possible), across 54 carriers. This is share of number blocks, not of subscribers.
- Verizon35.9%
- Other CLEC / VoIP16.7%
- T-Mobile11.3%
- AT&T10.3%
- Lumen6.6%
- Onvoy3.8%
- Brightspeed3.6%
- Bandwidth3.1%
- Comcast2.7%
- Windstream1.4%
- Telnyx1.3%
- Peerless1.1%
- Charter0.9%
- Vonage0.5%
- Twilio0.4%
- Dish0.3%
- Spok0.1%
- Frontier0.1%
Spam complaints naming 540
FTC Do Not Call complaints where the caller ID was a 540 number, 28 Sep – 30 Oct 2026 (33 days). Caller IDs on spam calls are frequently spoofed, so these are complaints about the code, not calls proven to originate in it.
Rate centers in 540
NANPA allocates number blocks to rate centers and records their names abbreviated to ten characters, so these are NANPA's codes rather than place names – CHAMPAURBN is Champaign-Urbana, NWYRCYZN01 is a New York City zone. We show them unchanged instead of guessing at the full names. Showing the largest 5 of 117.
Timeline
- 1995 540 goes into service, split from or overlaid on 703.
More about 540
Separate pages for the questions that need their own answer: what time it is there, what the complaint data says, who holds the number blocks, and how the code compares with the one it shares its area with.
Frequently asked about 540
What state is area code 540?
Virginia. It covers the same area as 540/826.
Can I still get a 540 number?
Only from recycled stock. 786 of the 786 available blocks are already allocated, so new numbers in the area normally come from the overlay codes (540/826).
Is a call from 540 a scam?
Not by itself. 540 drew 792 FTC complaints in the 33 days to 30 October 2026, 104th of 422 ranked codes – mid-pack or lower. Spam callers spoof caller IDs, so the only useful check is the full number.
Which carrier owns 540 numbers?
Verizon holds the largest share of assigned number blocks at 35.9%. The rest is spread across 3 other carriers. This is share of number blocks, not of subscribers – people keep their numbers when they switch carriers.
Do I need to dial 10 digits in 540?
Yes – ten digits for local calls in 540, because it shares its area with another code.
Sources and verification
- NANPA – NPA Database (npa_report.csv), file date 11/01/2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- NANPA – CO Code Assignment Records, All States (utilized), file updated 11/01/2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- FTC – Do Not Call Reported Calls Data, 25 daily files 28 Sep – 30 Oct 2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
NANPA dialing note for this code: “10D”. Reviewed by the data desk. Spotted an error? Request a correction.