The 813 Area Code Explained — Florida Phone Numbers

Area code 813 covers Tampa and surrounding areas in Florida. It was activated in 1953 as an overlay of area code 305. Today it shares its territory with overlay code 656. For the full picture, see all Florida area codes.

History of Area Code 813

Area code 813 was activated on January 1, 1953 in connection with area code 305. The decision was driven by population growth and the exhaustion of available phone numbers in the original numbering plan area.

Since its activation, the geographic area covered by 813 has been reshaped by the following splits:

• 1995 — area code 941 split off to cover Thirteen counties south and east of Hillsborough County, from Manatee County to Collier County, split from 813 and were assigned area code 941.
• 1999 — area code 727 split off to cover Most of Pinellas County (except Oldsmar) and western Pasco County split off on February 1, 1999 and received area code 727.

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

• 2022 — area code 656 activated as an overlay

Cities and Areas Served by 813

Area code 813 serves Hillsborough County, central and southeastern Pasco County, and the city of Oldsmar in Pinellas County — Tampa Bay area, including the following cities and communities:

• Tampa
• Brandon
• Riverview
• Plant City
• Zephyrhills
• Oldsmar
• Land O Lakes
• Wesley Chapel

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 727, 941, 656.

Overlay Codes 813

Area code 656 shares the same geographic territory as 813 (added in 2022). 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 Florida.

The Cultural Weight of a 813 Number

Area code 813 was carved out of Florida’s original statewide 305 on January 1, 1953, making it the second area code ever assigned in Florida and one of the first in the nation to break the old NANP rule requiring a 0 or 1 as the middle digit. At its 1953 launch, 813 blanketed the entire western peninsula from Tampa Bay south to Collier County, a territory that shrank through two geographic splits — the 941 split in 1995 and the 727 split in 1999 — until it settled on its present footprint of Hillsborough County, inland Pasco County, and the city of Oldsmar. By 2022, explosive population growth had exhausted the original prefix pool, prompting the Florida Public Service Commission to authorize the all-services overlay 656, which launched February 22, 2022, and made ten-digit dialing mandatory throughout the region. Through every redistricting, 813 has remained the recognized telephone identity of Tampa, whose own story tracks the code’s arc: a small Gulf Coast port transformed first by Vicente Martinez Ybor’s cigar factories in the 1880s, then by MacDill Air Force Base during World War II, and finally by post-war suburban growth that drove the very number exhaustion leading to 813’s repeated relief measures.

The 813 footprint is inseparable from the neighborhoods, teams, and traditions that define Tampa’s identity. Ybor City, founded in 1886 by cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez Ybor, grew into what was known as the ‘Cigar Capital of the World,’ with more than 200 factories producing upward of 500 million hand-rolled cigars annually at peak output in 1929; it is today a National Historic Landmark District whose cobblestone streets, wild chickens, and café con leche still draw visitors. The annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival — in which the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla stages a mock invasion of downtown along Bayshore Boulevard — has run nearly every year since 1904 and is among the largest parades in the United States. On the field, the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who call Raymond James Stadium home in the 813, won Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003 and Super Bowl LV in February 2021; the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004, 2020, and 2021 from Amalie Arena downtown. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz, set in the cigar factories of Ybor City, brought national literary attention to the neighborhood’s Latin immigrant heritage. Tampa’s Cuban sandwich — invented in Ybor City to feed cigar workers in the 1890s — is the area’s most iconic culinary export and a point of fierce local pride.

How to Get a Phone Number with Area Code 813

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 813 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 813 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. Browse our 813 inventory.
2. Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 813 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 813 number. If you already have a 813 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 Florida sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 813 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 813 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 813 numbers for Tampa, Florida — choose your number, port it to any carrier in 3–5 business days, and pay a one-time fee with no monthly charges. Browse available 813 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 813 area code still in use?
Yes. 813 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Hillsborough County, central and southeastern Pasco County, and the city of Oldsmar in Pinellas County — Tampa Bay area.

What is the difference between 813 and 656?
Today they share the same geographic territory in Florida. New phone lines in the area may be assigned either code. The two codes work identically for calling, billing, and service.

What is the parent area code of 813?
Area code 813 is an overlay of 305. Both codes serve the same region of Florida.

Can I get a 813 number if I don't live in Florida?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 813 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 813 a scam area code?
No. 813 is a legitimate, active area code for Hillsborough County, central and southeastern Pasco County, and the city of Oldsmar in Pinellas County — Tampa Bay area. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 813 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real Florida businesses, government offices, and residents.

Do I need to dial all ten digits for local calls in the 813 area?
Yes. Since the 656 overlay launched on February 22, 2022, all local calls within the 813/656 region require ten-digit dialing — the area code plus the seven-digit number.

What counties does area code 813 cover?
Area code 813 covers all of Hillsborough County (including Tampa and Plant City), the central and southeastern portions of Pasco County, and the city of Oldsmar in Pinellas County.

Why did 813 split into 941 and 727?
Rapid population growth and the proliferation of pagers and cell phones exhausted available numbers. The 941 split in 1995 carved off thirteen counties to the south; the 727 split in 1999 separated most of Pinellas County and western Pasco County.

What is 813 Day?
813 Day is an informal annual celebration of Tampa and Hillsborough County observed on August 13 (8/13). Local businesses, residents, and civic organizations use the date to promote community events and local pride tied to the area code.

Related Reading

• Why the Right Area Code Matters
• When Did We Start Using Area Codes?
• How Many Area Codes Are In the US?
• Who Invented Area Codes?

Looking for a different code? See the complete US area code directory.