Area Code 604: Vancouver and British Columbia's Phone History
Area code 604 has served Vancouver and British Columbia since 1947. As Metro Vancouver became one of Canada's largest cities, it required several new codes to keep up.
British Columbia's Original Code
Area code 604 was one of Canada's original area codes, assigned in 1947 to all of British Columbia. For decades it served the entire province — from Vancouver on the coast to Prince George in the north, and east to the Rockies.
250: The Province Outside Metro Vancouver
As Metro Vancouver grew into one of Canada's largest and most expensive cities, telephone number demand in the Lower Mainland far outpaced the rest of the province. In 1996, area code 250 was created for all of British Columbia outside Metro Vancouver — essentially the Interior, the North, Vancouver Island (outside Victoria's core), and the Peace Region. This left 604 serving the Greater Vancouver area.
Vancouver's Population Boom
Greater Vancouver has grown dramatically due to immigration (particularly from Asia), a booming tech industry, and its status as Canada's Pacific gateway. This growth created exceptional demand for telephone numbers in the 604 area.
778 and 236: Metro Vancouver's Overlays
Two overlays have been added to relieve pressure in the Metro Vancouver area: 778 was introduced in 2001 as the first overlay, and 236 was added in 2013. All three codes (604, 778, 236) now serve the same geographic territory — Greater Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Ten-digit dialing is required for all local calls in the area.
British Columbia Today
British Columbia now has four active area codes: 604, 778, and 236 for Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, and 250 for the rest of the province. The 250 territory itself has seen growing number demand, particularly around Victoria, Kelowna, and Kamloops. See the full picture at British Columbia area codes.
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