805 area code — Santa Barbara, CA geographic
- State
- California
- Major area
- Santa Barbara
- Time zone
- Pacific
- In service since
- 1957-01-01
- Split from
- 213
- Overlay complex
- 805 / 820
- Active prefixes
- 786
- Rate centers
- 41
- Carriers
- 43
- Projected exhaust
- 3Q 2074
If a call shows area code 805, the number was issued in the Santa Barbara area — a code active since 1957, on Pacific time. It is part of the 805/820 overlay complex — these codes share the same territory. Note that porting and VoIP mean a 805 number can be used from anywhere — the code marks where the number was assigned.
786 central-office prefixes are currently active in this code, spread across 43 code-holding carriers. Thousands-block pooling applies to 540 prefixes, so a single prefix can belong to several carriers. Its prefixes map to 41 distinct rate centers.
NANPA projects numbering capacity for the 805/820 complex to exhaust in 3Q 2074.
805 was created from 213 in 1957. It has since spawned 661 (1999), 820 (2018).
Dialing: 1+10D locally, 1+10D to other codes.
Use this page to decode where 805 numbers come from — and remember that spoofing means the screen can lie about everything except your own caution.
Largest localities in 805
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara | 86 | 820 |
| Oxnard | 75 | 820 |
| San Luis Obispo | 71 | 820 |
| Thousand Oaks | 64 | 820 |
| Santa Maria | 45 | 820 |
| Simi Valley | 43 | 820 |
| Ventura East | 36 | 820 |
| Camarillo | 36 | 820 |
| Paso Robles | 30 | 820 |
| Ventura Central | 28 | 820 |
FAQ
Where is a 805 number from?
805 is assigned to Santa Barbara and surrounding areas of California in the Pacific time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 805 a toll-free number?
No. 805 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 820 and 805 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 805/820 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.
Will 805 run out of numbers?
NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 3Q 2074 — decades of capacity remain.
Why am I getting spam calls from 805 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 805 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.