227 area code — Washington, MD geographic
The 227 area code covers Washington, Maryland, Eastern time zone, and dates back to June 14, 2023. Together with 240, 301 it forms the 227/240/301 overlay. Because of number portability and VoIP, the area code tells you where the number was issued, not where the caller is right now.
NANPA lists 121 active NXX prefixes in 227, assigned to 15 carriers. 121 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 37 rate centers (billing localities).
Official projections put exhaust for the 227/240/301 complex at 1Q 2041.
The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 10D across codes.
Practical takeaway: the 227 label narrows geography to Maryland, the prefix narrows it to a locality, and neither authenticates a caller. Verification means calling back through a number you found yourself.
Its parent code is 301, which it left in 2023.
Largest localities in 227
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Zone 10 | 20 | 240, 301 |
| Washington Zone 02 | 11 | 240, 301 |
| Myersville | 11 | 240, 301 |
| Laurel 236 | 8 | 240, 301 |
| Frederick | 7 | 240, 301 |
| Ashton 236 | 7 | 240, 301 |
| Gaithersburg | 6 | 240, 301 |
| Washington Zone 04 | 5 | 240, 301 |
| Washington Zone 05 | 5 | 240, 301 |
| Waldorf | 5 | 240, 301 |
FAQ
Why am I getting spam calls from 227 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 227 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 227 number from?
227 is assigned to Washington and surrounding areas of Maryland in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 227 a toll-free number?
No. 227 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Why do 240 and 227 cover the same place?
They are overlays: when a code runs low on numbers, a new code is added over the same territory instead of splitting it. The 227/240/301 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.