502 area code — Louisville, KY geographic
- State
- Kentucky
- Major area
- Louisville
- Time zone
- Eastern
- In service since
- 1947-01-01
- Overlay complex
- 502 / 761
- Active prefixes
- 728
- Rate centers
- 35
- Carriers
- 49
- Projected exhaust
- 1Q 2029
If a call shows area code 502, the number was issued in the Louisville area — a code active since 1947, on Eastern time. Together with 761 it forms the 502/761 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 728 active NXX prefixes in 502, assigned to 49 carriers. 502 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 35 rate centers (billing localities).
Official projections put exhaust at 1Q 2029 — relief planning typically starts years ahead. Relief planning (a future overlay or boundary change) is in progress.
Later relief produced 270 (1999) from its territory.
The dialing plan is 7D for home-NPA local calls and 7D across codes.
Worth noting: 502 is the oldest area code in Kentucky, in service since 1947; it is also projected by NANPA to exhaust its numbering capacity by 1Q 2029.
Practical takeaway: the 502 label narrows geography to Kentucky, the prefix narrows it to a locality, and neither authenticates a caller. Verification means calling back through a number you found yourself.
Largest localities in 502
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 398 | — |
| Frankfort | 40 | — |
| Bardstown | 27 | — |
| La Grange | 23 | — |
| Rose Terrace | 22 | — |
| Shelbyville | 18 | — |
| Georgetown | 18 | — |
| Lawrenceburg | 16 | — |
| Carrollton | 12 | — |
| Taylorsville | 11 | — |
FAQ
Why am I getting spam calls from 502 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 502 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 502 number from?
502 is assigned to Louisville and surrounding areas of Kentucky in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 502 a toll-free number?
No. 502 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 761 and 502 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 502/761 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.