What Is Area Code 716? (Buffalo, New York)

Area code 716 covers Buffalo and surrounding areas in New York. It is one of the original 86 area codes established by AT&T in 1947. Today it shares its territory with overlay code 624.

History of Area Code 716

Area code 716 is one of the 86 original area codes created by AT&T in 1947, when the first nationwide numbering plan went into effect on January 1 of that year. It was assigned to New York as part of the initial map that divided the United States and Canada into geographic dialing regions.

Since its activation, the geographic area covered by 716 has been reshaped by the following splits:

• 1954 — area code 607 split off to cover 716's eastern territory was combined with the southern portion of 315 to form area code 607, reducing 716 to the far western portion of New York.
• 2001 — area code 585 split off to cover On November 15, 2001, 716 was split to create area code 585 for the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding counties, leaving 716 exclusively serving the Buffalo–Niagara Frontier.

Overlay codes have been added to the same geographic territory in:

• 2023 — area code 624 activated as an overlay

Cities and Areas Served by 716

Area code 716 serves Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area and western New York, covering all or portions of Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties, including the following cities and communities:

• Buffalo
• Niagara Falls
• Cheektowaga
• Tonawanda
• Jamestown
• Lockport
• West Seneca
• North Tonawanda

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 585, 607, 315.

Overlay Codes 716

Area code 624 shares the same geographic territory as 716 (added in 2023). New phone numbers in the region may be assigned either code.

Because multiple area codes serve the same area, ten-digit dialing is mandatory for all local calls. A call from any of these codes originates from the same geographic region in New York.

The Cultural Weight of a 716 Number

Area code 716 is one of the original 86 codes established in 1947 under the North American Numbering Plan, making it the first area code ever assigned in New York State. It originally blanketed a broad swath of western New York that stretched as far east as Rochester, but two geographic splits—607 carved off the southern territory in 1954, and 585 claimed the Rochester region on November 15, 2001—whittled 716 down to its current footprint anchoring Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier. When the split threatened to hand 716 to Rochester in 2001, Erie County officials mounted an aggressive lobbying campaign, arguing that the code already functioned as a civic brand; Buffalo prevailed, kept the digits, and Rochester became 585. By 2022 the NANP Administrator projected 716 would exhaust its central-office prefixes by the second quarter of 2024; the New York Public Service Commission responded by approving overlay code 624, which entered service on November 16, 2023, requiring all local calls to use ten-digit dialing.

Few three-digit sequences carry the weight that 716 does in Buffalo. The number adorns T-shirts, hats, and storefront windows; The BFLO Store built a retail brand around it; and July 16—7/16—is observed annually as ‘716 Day,’ a civic holiday marked by sales, charity drives, and appearances by Buffalo Bills players. The Bills and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres are the twin cultural pillars of the region; ‘716’ is stenciled prominently at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, visible on broadcast television every home-game Sunday. The code’s identity is bound up with the city’s blunt, working-class pride—a legacy of its steel and grain-milling past—and with its food traditions, most notably the Buffalo chicken wing, which originated at the Anchor Bar on Main Street. Directors and musicians who grew up in the 716 frequently cite the code in interviews as shorthand for a particular no-frills sensibility, and local hip-hop artists have name-checked it as a territorial signifier since at least the early 2000s.

How to Get a Phone Number with Area Code 716

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 716 area code, each suited to a different need:

1. Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 716 number directly, often with a one-time fee and ownership transferred to you (no recurring carrier fees). This is the option for picking a specific memorable number, or for getting an area code that most carriers won’t let you request. Contact us about a 716 number.
2. Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 716 number on request, especially for active overlay codes. You won’t usually get to pick the specific number, but you’ll get a working line in the area code. This is the cheapest option for anyone who doesn’t need a particular number.
3. Port an existing 716 number. If you already have a 716 phone number with another carrier, you can transfer it (port it) to a new service provider while keeping the number. This works for landlines, cell phones, and VoIP services, though landlines outside of New York sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 716 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

212areacode.com specializes in Manhattan 212 numbers and select premium area codes. We don’t currently maintain a 716 inventory, but we may be able to source a 716 number through our carrier relationships. Contact us with your requirements and we’ll let you know what’s available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 716 area code still in use?
Yes. 716 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area and western New York, covering all or portions of Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties.

What is the difference between 716 and 624?
Today they share the same geographic territory in New York. New phone lines in the area may be assigned either code. The two codes work identically for calling, billing, and service.

Can I get a 716 number if I don't live in New York?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 716 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 716 a scam area code?
No. 716 is a legitimate, active area code for Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area and western New York, covering all or portions of Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 716 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real New York businesses, government offices, and residents.

What cities does the 716 area code cover?
Area code 716 covers Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, North Tonawanda, West Seneca, Lockport, Jamestown, Olean, and Dunkirk, among other communities in Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties.

Why did the 716 area code get an overlay in 2023?
A 2022 NANPA analysis projected that 716 would exhaust its available central-office prefixes by mid-2024. The New York Public Service Commission approved overlay code 624, which entered service on November 16, 2023. All existing 716 numbers were unaffected; new lines may be assigned either 716 or 624.

Do I need to dial ten digits for local calls in the 716 area?
Yes. Since the 624 overlay took effect, all local calls within the 716/624 numbering plan area require ten-digit dialing—the full area code plus the seven-digit number. Seven-digit local dialing is no longer valid.

Is 716 still Buffalo's area code after 624 was introduced?
Yes. Existing 716 numbers remain unchanged. Area code 624 is an overlay that shares the exact same geographic territory; both codes are considered local Western New York numbers.

Related Reading

• How Many Area Codes Are In the US?
• Who Invented Area Codes?
• Why Use Area Codes For Local Calls?
• What States Have the Most Area Codes?