DETROIT (WXYZ) — The City of Detroit is known for the 313 area code, but later this year the Motor City will get a second area code to deal with a lack of unclaimed numbers.
About two years ago, the North American Numbering Plan proposed that the area start using area code 679 as the number combinations with 313 are running out. The Michigan Public Service Commission later approved that plan.
The 313 area code coverage includes Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Allen Park, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, the Grosse Pointes, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Redford Township, River Rouge and Taylor.
Previous coverage: Commission likely to approve new 679 area code as 313 numbers begin to run out
It's a simple question, with many answers.
“So what does 313 mean to you?" I asked Detroiters.
"My whole life,” Lisa Burney said.
"It's part of my heart. It's what I know," Shivon Lowe said. "My culture.”
“313 to me means community,” Izaiah Ford said.
“313 means to me a lot," Lauren Jernigan said. "I was born here. My mother and father were born here.”
However, in each answer one theme remains the same.
"It's Detroit," Cass Reed said. "It's Detroit — it's just straight Detroit”
“313 is part of a Detroit. I've had a cousin who got married on 313," Sandy Reed said. "She's native of Detroit and it represents Detroit and she's about Detroit, so she got married on 313.”
Now, after decades of being the only area code in Detroit and a dozen neighboring communities, 10 digit numbers that start with 313 are running low.
“It's a problem that's occurring throughout the country," said Ryan McAnany, director of the Telecommunications Division of the Michigan Public Services Commission. "As technology has evolved, there's a lot more demand for numbers and at some point, numbers will run out all together.”
“All the 313 numbers exist, nothing is changing," McAnany added. "It’s just for those new customers moving into that region or requesting numbers — they potentially will get the 679 area code.”
“679... it's not Detroit,” Jernigan said.
“Nobody's going to know that," Lowe said. "When you say I have a 679 number, where are you from? When you say 313, it's like of you’re from Detroit, Michigan.”
While the amount of 313 numbers may be limited, its meaning to Detroiters is endless and they’ll never give it up.
“Even if I move out of Detroit, I'm still going to try to keep my 313 number," Lowe said. "I'm never going to change it again because you lose a sense of who you are when you lose that 313.”
“My dad... he came up here in the early 60s and he had his same phone number, 313, and it will never change,” Burney said.
Because of the low numbers, telephone providers may issue a new overlay code of 679 to new phone customers starting Nov. 7, 2025. When that area code goes into effect, all local calls with a 313 area code will require 10-digit dialing, which means you have to include the area code with each call.
To prepare customers, there will be a six-month "permissive dialing" period starting April 7 to get used to the requirement. During that time, all local calls can be made with either seven or 10 digits, and all calls that are local will continue to be local even if you dial 10 digits.
Starting Oct. 7, all local calls must use the 10-digit phone number. Calls using only seven digits will not be completed.
Other important to know about the upcoming addition of the 679 area code include:
- Your current telephone number, including the current 313 area code, will not change.
- You will need to dial the area code and telephone number for all local calls, including calls within the same area code.
- You will continue to dial 1 plus the area code and telephone number for all long-distance calls.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
- You can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988. You can also dial three digits to reach 211, 311, 511, and 811 where available.
