Area Code 207: Maine Phone Numbers, Coverage & Dialing Guide

What Is Area Code 207?

Area code 207 is Maine's only telephone area code, covering the entire state within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Maine has maintained 207 as its single area code since 1947 – one of only 11 U.S. states with a single area code. Whether you're looking up a 207 phone number, need dialing instructions, or want to understand Maine's telecommunications system, this guide covers technical specifications, coverage areas, conservation efforts, and regulatory requirements.

Where Is Area Code 207? Maine Coverage Map & Cities

Area code 207 covers 100% of Maine, from coastal cities like Portland and Bangor to rural communities throughout the state. The 207 coverage area includes all 16 Maine counties and 249 rate centers.

Which Cities and Towns Use Area Code 207?

All Maine cities and towns use 207 phone numbers:

Population figures from U.S. Census Bureau estimates (July 1, 2024)

Additional cities with 207 numbers: Sanford, Saco, Westbrook, Waterville, Presque Isle, Bath, Old Orchard Beach, Brewer, Caribou, York, Kennebunk, Scarborough, Falmouth, Gorham, Cape Elizabeth, and all other Maine municipalities.

Statewide coverage simplifies dialing but creates unique number conservation challenges.

How to Dial Area Code 207 Phone Numbers

Dialing Within Maine (Local Calls)

For all local calls within Maine, use 10-digit dialing:

• Format: 207 + 7-digit phone number
• Example: 207-555-0123
• No "1" prefix needed for local calls

Dialing 207 Numbers from Outside Maine

From other U.S. states or Canada:

• Format: 1 + 207 + 7-digit number
• Example: 1-207-555-0123

International Calls to Area Code 207

From outside North America:

• Format: Your country's exit code + 1 + 207 + 7-digit number
• Example from UK: 00-1-207-555-0123

Ten-digit dialing became mandatory in Maine to accommodate potential future area code changes and ensure consistent call routing across the NANP.

Technical Specifications of Area Code 207

Understanding the technical foundation of Maine's telephone numbering system:

• NPA (Numbering Plan Area) Code: 207 identifies all calls originating from Maine
• Area Code Type: Geographic, single-state coverage
• Implementation Date: 1947 (original NANP assignment)
• Parent Plan: North American Numbering Plan (NANP)
• Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET) – UTC-5 (EST) / UTC-4 (EDT)
• Rate Centers: 249 total (as of November 2024)
• Overlay Codes: None – Maine has no overlay area codes
• Split History: Never split since 1947

Maine avoids the complexity of overlays or splits used in states facing number exhaustion.

How Many Phone Numbers Are Available in Area Code 207?

Current Number Availability Statistics (2025)

• Total Numbers Available: 8 million theoretical capacity
• Numbers Currently In Use: ~3 million (38% utilization per MPUC/NANPA, 2025)
• Available Numbers: ~5 million unused
• Exhaust Projection: Q4 2033 (MPUC April 2025 data)

Utilization data from NANPA Number Resource Utilization/Forecast (NRUF) reports, published semi-annually in April and October. Current projection from Maine Public Utilities Commission.

Why Does Maine Face a Phone Number Shortage Despite Low Usage?

Despite only 38% actual usage, Maine faced number exhaustion due to inefficient allocation practices. Carriers historically received numbers in 10,000-number blocks per rate center, reserving far more numbers than they assigned to customers. This created artificial scarcity even at low utilization rates.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) addressed this through historic rate center consolidation approved on November 25, 2024, directly reducing wasted allocation and potentially extending area code 207's life indefinitely.

When Will Area Code 207 Run Out? Exhaust Timeline

The projected exhaust date has shifted dramatically through conservation efforts:

• 2022 projection: End of 2025
• 2020 projection: 2027
• April 2024 projection: Q4 2033
• Current projection (2025): Q4 2033
• Potential with conservation: Indefinite

What Phone Companies Service Area Code 207 in Maine?

Major Carriers Serving Area Code 207

Carrier market share in Maine (approximate distribution):

• Verizon: 35% market share
• AT&T: 30% market share
• T-Mobile: 20% market share
• Regional Carriers and MVNOs: 15% combined

Regional providers include: Consolidated Communications, Spectrum Mobile, US Cellular, Consumer Cellular, and various local carriers.

Types of Phone Service Available

Choose from three service categories with 207 numbers:

• Landline (POTS): Traditional wired telephone service through copper or fiber lines
• Wireless/Mobile: Cellular service via Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile networks
• VoIP (Voice over IP): Internet-based phone service through providers like RingCentral, Vonage, Ooma, and business VoIP platforms

VoIP Provider Registration Requirements

Effective October 25, 2023, Title 35-A MRSA §7110 requires interconnected VoIP (I-VoIP) providers to:

1. Register with MPUC using the Case Management System (CMS)
2. Notify MPUC for all initial and growth block requests (minimum 30 days' advance notice per FCC 15-70 Order)
3. Provide contact information for numbering resource tracking
4. Report number utilization to support conservation efforts

Legal Authority:

• Signed into law June 8, 2023, as LD 396: "An Act to Preserve the 207 Area Code and Impede So-called Robocalling"
• MPUC does not regulate I-VoIP providers or approve block requests
• Registration requirement aids number conservation and robocall prevention
• Non-compliance may result in number allocation denial

NANPA Reporting: Under FCC rules, all number holders (including carriers and VoIP providers) must file Number Resource Utilization/Forecast (NRUF) reports on February 1 and August 1 each year. These reports provide the utilization data NANPA uses for exhaust projections.

What the MPUC Regulates

MPUC regulates Provider of Last Resort (POLR) service – flat-rate voice-grade access offered by incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) like Consolidated Communications. Non-POLR offerings (wireless, VoIP) face minimal rate regulation under Maine telecommunications law.

Area Code 207 History & Conservation Milestones

Key Events in Maine's Area Code Timeline

Maine's area code 207 has survived through strategic conservation efforts:

• 1947: Area code 207 assigned as original NANP code (one of 86 original area codes)
• 2001: Number pooling implemented, allocating numbers in 1,000-number blocks instead of 10,000-number blocks
• 2020: Exhaust extended to 2027 through efficient number utilization management
• April 2024: MPUC extended exhaust to Q4 2033 (38% utilization per NANPA semi-annual review)
• June 2023: LD 396 signed requiring VoIP provider registration
• October 2023: VoIP registration requirement becomes effective
• November 25, 2024: MPUC voted 3-0 to approve Consolidated Communications rate center consolidation – reducing 135 rate centers to one (nearly half of Maine's 249 rate centers). MPUC Chair Philip Bartlett called this "by far the most significant step to date" in preservation efforts. Largest consolidation of its kind in the United States.
• 2025: NANPA maintains Q4 2033 exhaust projection (38% utilization)

What Is Rate Center Consolidation?

Rate center consolidation combines multiple geographic rate centers into one, allowing carriers to access number blocks across larger areas instead of requesting separate blocks for each small rate center. This dramatically improves number allocation efficiency.

Maine's 2024 consolidation impact:

• Reduced Consolidated Communications' 135 rate centers to 1
• Freed thousands of unused numbers for reallocation
• Represents nearly 50% of Maine's 249 total rate centers
• Serves as national model for other states
• Investigation opened January 2023, approved November 25, 2024

Will Maine Get a Second Area Code?

Based on current projections and conservation efforts, Maine is unlikely to need a second area code until at least 2033, and potentially never with continued optimization.

What Would Happen If 207 Runs Out?

If area code 207 exhausts, the MPUC and NANPA would implement one of these solutions:

Option 1: Area Code Overlay

• New area code (e.g., 557) covers same geographic area as 207
• Existing 207 numbers keep their numbers
• All new numbers assigned from new area code
• 10-digit dialing already required (no change)

Option 2: Geographic Split

• Maine divided into regions with separate area codes
• Southern Maine might get new area code, northern Maine keeps 207
• Existing numbers keep their area codes
• More disruptive than overlay option

Option 3: Number Plan Expansion

• Add digits to all North American phone numbers
• Estimated cost: $90–$270 billion (2023 dollars)
• Last resort for entire NANP system

Maine strongly prefers conservation over any of these options to preserve the cultural and economic value of the single 207 area code.

National Impact of Maine's Conservation Strategy

How Maine's Efforts Affect the North American Numbering Plan

Maine's conservation strategies affect the broader NANP:

• NANP exhaust projection: 2054–2061 (NANPA projection)
• Expansion cost estimate: $50–$150 billion in 1999 ($90–$270 billion in 2023 dollars, per Federal Communications Commission and North American Numbering Council)
• Required change: Adding digits to all telephone numbers, fundamentally altering numbering systems across U.S., Canada, and Caribbean territories

Maine's rate center consolidation model could guide other states facing similar challenges, potentially delaying NANP-wide expansion by years.

Other States with Single Area Codes

Maine is one of only 11 U.S. states maintaining a single area code in 2025:

1. Alaska (907)
2. Delaware (302)
3. Hawaii (808)
4. Maine (207)
5. Montana (406)
6. New Hampshire (603)
7. North Dakota (701)
8. Rhode Island (401)
9. South Dakota (605)
10. Vermont (802)
11. Wyoming (307)

Single area code status provides cultural identity, marketing advantages, and simplified dialing for residents and businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Area Code 207

Is 207 the only area code in Maine?

Yes, area code 207 is Maine's only area code. It has served the entire state since 1947, making Maine one of only 11 states with a single area code. There are no overlay codes or regional splits.

When will area code 207 run out of numbers?

According to the Maine Public Utilities Commission (April 2025 data), area code 207 is expected to exhaust in Q4 2033. The November 25, 2024 rate center consolidation could potentially extend this indefinitely through improved number allocation efficiency.

Do I need to dial 10 digits for local calls in Maine?

Yes, 10-digit dialing is mandatory for all calls within Maine. You must dial 207 + the 7-digit phone number, even for local calls within the same city. This requirement prepares for potential future area code changes.

What percentage of 207 phone numbers are in use?

As of 2025, approximately 38% of the 8 million available numbers are actively in use (~3 million numbers), according to MPUC and NANPA data. Despite this moderate utilization, inefficient historical allocation practices created artificial scarcity by tying up numbers in large blocks.

Which cities use area code 207?

All cities and towns in Maine use area code 207, including: Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Biddeford, Augusta, Brunswick, Sanford, Saco, Westbrook, Waterville, Presque Isle, Bath, and every other Maine municipality. There are no regional divisions.

Can I get a 207 phone number if I live outside Maine?

Yes, VoIP service providers can issue 207 numbers to customers outside Maine. However, as of October 25, 2023, VoIP providers must register with the Maine Public Utilities Commission under Title 35-A MRSA §7110 before obtaining number blocks.

What is rate center consolidation and how does it help?

Rate center consolidation combines multiple rate centers into one administrative area, allowing more efficient number allocation. On November 25, 2024, the MPUC approved Consolidated Communications' consolidation of 135 rate centers to one – the largest consolidation of its kind in the U.S. This frees thousands of previously trapped numbers for reuse.

What time zone is area code 207?

Area code 207 operates in the Eastern Time Zone (ET). Maine observes Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) in winter and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) during daylight saving months.

How do I look up who owns a 207 phone number?

Use reverse phone lookup services like WhitePages, TrueCaller, or Spokeo to identify 207 number owners. For business numbers, search the number directly in search engines or check business directories. The MPUC does not provide public number ownership databases.

Are 207 numbers being ported to other area codes?

No, 207 numbers remain associated with Maine regardless of where the user physically lives. Number portability allows users to keep their 207 numbers when changing carriers, but the area code itself identifies the number's Maine origin within the NANP system.

How do I get a 207 phone number?

You can obtain a 207 phone number through any phone service provider operating in Maine, including wireless carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile), landline providers (Consolidated Communications), or VoIP services (RingCentral, Vonage, Ooma). VoIP providers must register with the Maine Public Utilities Commission before obtaining 207 number blocks. Contact your preferred provider to request a new 207 number during service activation.

Is area code 207 toll free?

No, area code 207 is not toll free. It is a standard geographic area code for Maine. Calls to 207 numbers are billed according to your phone plan's long-distance or local calling rates. Toll-free area codes in North America include 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833.

What other Maine phone numbers or calling codes exist?

Maine uses only area code 207 for all phone numbers. There are no additional area codes, overlays, or regional calling codes within Maine. All Maine telephone numbers follow the format 207-XXX-XXXX.

Key Takeaways

• Area code 207 serves all of Maine since 1947 – one of only 11 single-area-code states
• Current exhaust projection: Q4 2033 (potentially indefinite with ongoing conservation)
• Only 38% of 8 million available numbers currently in use (MPUC/NANPA, 2025)
• November 25, 2024 rate center consolidation represents the most significant preservation effort to date
• VoIP providers must register with MPUC effective October 25, 2023 (Title 35-A MRSA §7110)
• 10-digit dialing required for all calls within Maine: 207 + 7-digit number
• All Maine cities use 207: Portland, Bangor, Augusta, Lewiston, Auburn, and all municipalities

Official Resources & Regulatory Information

For the most current information on Maine phone regulations, area code resources, and numbering policies, consult these authoritative sources:

• Maine Public Utilities Commission Area Code Program: maine.gov/mpuc/regulated-utilities/telecom/programs/area-code
• NANPA Exhaust Projections: Published semi-annually with current availability data
• VoIP Provider Registration Portal: maine.gov/mpuc/regulated-utilities/telecom/programs/area-code/ivoip
• North American Numbering Plan Administrator: nationalnanpa.com
• FCC Telecommunications Policy: fcc.gov/general/telecommunications-act-1996