551 area code — Jersey City, NJ geographic

Data: NANPA public reports, current as of July 28, 2026.

The 551 area code covers Jersey City, New Jersey, Eastern time zone, and dates back to December 29, 2001. Together with 201 it forms the 201/551 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 292 active NXX prefixes in 551, assigned to 28 carriers. 288 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 22 rate centers (billing localities).

Official projections put exhaust for the 201/551 complex at 2Q 2048.

The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 1+10D across codes.

Practical takeaway: the 551 label narrows geography to New Jersey, 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 201, which it left in 2001.

Largest localities in 551

FAQ

Why am I getting spam calls from 551 numbers?

Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 551 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.

Where is a 551 number from?

551 is assigned to Jersey City and surrounding areas of New Jersey in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.

Is 551 a toll-free number?

No. 551 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.