686 area code — Richmond, VA geographic
Phone numbers beginning 686 are registered to the Richmond area of Virginia (Eastern time zone). The code entered service on February 1, 2024. Together with 804 it forms the 686/804 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 21 active NXX prefixes in 686, assigned to 9 carriers. 21 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 11 rate centers (billing localities).
If a 686 call asks for money or personal data, treat the displayed number as unverified: hang up and reach the organization through its published number. Numbering data locates numbers, not callers.
Its parent code is 804, which it left in 2024.
Official projections put exhaust for the 686/804 complex at 4Q 2055.
The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 10D across codes.
Largest localities in 686
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 11 | 804 |
| Cartersville | 1 | 804 |
| Ashland | 1 | 804 |
| Chester | 1 | 804 |
| Heathsville | 1 | 804 |
| Irvington | 1 | 804 |
| Waverly | 1 | 804 |
| Montross | 1 | 804 |
| Charles City | 1 | 804 |
| Kilmarnock | 1 | 804 |
FAQ
Why am I getting spam calls from 686 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 686 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 686 number from?
686 is assigned to Richmond and surrounding areas of Virginia in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 686 a toll-free number?
No. 686 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 804 and 686 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 686/804 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.
Will 686 run out of numbers?
NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 4Q 2055 — decades of capacity remain.