Virginia Phone Numbers: Formats, Dialing Rules, and Technical Insights

Quick Reference

• Country: United States
• Country Code: +1
• International Prefix: 011
• National Prefix: 1

Overview

Discover the comprehensive details of Virginia's telephone numbering plan. This guide is essential for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators, offering insights into number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory aspects.

Number Structure

Virginia phone numbers adhere to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) format:

• Country Code: +1
• Area Code: Three digits identifying specific regions in Virginia.
• Subscriber Number: A unique seven-digit number within an area code.

General Number Format

+1 NXX-NXX-XXXX

• N: Digits 2-9
• X: Digits 0-9

Example

• +1 804-123-4567: A typical Virginia phone number.

Number Formats by Type

Regular Expressions

Use these regex patterns to validate Virginia phone numbers:

• Geographic/Mobile:
  ^\+1[2-9]\d{2}[2-9]\d{2}\d{4}$
  

• Toll-Free:
  ^\+18(00|44|55|66|77|88)[2-9]\d{2}\d{4}$
  

• Premium Rate:
  ^\+1900[2-9]\d{2}\d{4}$
  

• Emergency:
  ^911$
  

• Suicide Hotline:
  ^988$
  

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 10-digit number.
  • Example: 804-123-4567
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 10-digit number.
  • Example: 571-555-5678
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 10-digit number.
  • Example: 703-555-6789

International Calls

• Outgoing (from VA): Dial 011 + Country Code + Area Code + Subscriber Number.
  • Example: To the UK: 011 44 20 7946 0958
• Incoming (to VA): Dial +1 + Area Code + Subscriber Number.
  • Example: From France: +1 804-123-4567

Area Codes in Virginia

Virginia's area codes serve diverse regions:

Number Portability

Virginia supports number portability, allowing users to keep their numbers when changing providers. This applies to both landline and mobile numbers, implemented since 2003 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Regulatory Body

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) oversees telecommunications in Virginia. For the latest updates, visit the SCC official website.

Recent or Upcoming Changes

Recent Changes

• 686 Area Code: Added as an overlay to 804 in January 2024.
• 948 Area Code: Added as an overlay to 757.

Upcoming Changes

• No upcoming changes announced.

Special Number Formats

Emergency Numbers

• 911: Universal emergency number.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

• 988: Dedicated for mental health crisis support.

Toll-Free Numbers

• Prefixes: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833.

Premium Rate Numbers

• Prefix: 900

ITU-T Recommendations

Virginia's numbering plan complies with ITU-T E.164, ensuring global telecommunication compatibility.

Number Allocation and Management

The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) manages Virginia's area codes and phone numbers.

Technical Restrictions or Special Cases

Golden Numbers

Highly desirable numbers, easy to remember, may be subject to special allocation rules.

Number Blocking

Subscribers can block specific numbers through telecom providers.

Technical Considerations for Developers

Validation

Implement regex for validating Virginia phone numbers. Consider using APIs adhering to NANP standards for robust validation.

Number Formatting

Ensure systems can format and store numbers according to NANP, including area code overlays.

Portability Handling

Design systems to handle number portability, ensuring seamless transitions when users switch providers.