Area code 856 serves southwestern New Jersey, the Philadelphia side of South Jersey. It covers Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties plus western Burlington County towns such as Mount Laurel, Maple Shade and Cinnaminson, with major cities including Camden, Cherry Hill, Vineland and Millville. It split from area code 609 on June 12, 1999, has no overlay and has required ten-digit dialing since October 24, 2021. The latest federal forecast projects 856 will run out of new numbers around early 2035.
Key Takeaways
- Location: southwestern New Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.
- Counties: Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland, plus western parts of Burlington County and a small corner of Atlantic County.
- Created: June 12, 1999, as a split from area code 609.
- No overlay: 856 is one of only two New Jersey area codes, with 908, that has no overlay.
- Ten-digit dialing: required since October 24, 2021, because of the 988 crisis line.
- Time zone: Eastern Time, like all of New Jersey.
- Future: NANPA’s April 2026 forecast projects exhaust in the first quarter of 2035.
Figures checked against the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), the NJ Board of Public Utilities and news reports in September 2026. Exhaust dates are forecasts and are updated twice a year.
Where Is Area Code 856?
Area code 856 covers the southwestern part of New Jersey, from the Camden waterfront and the Cherry Hill suburbs south through Gloucester County farmland to Salem County and the Delaware Bay communities of Cumberland County. Much of this region is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, so many residents commute across the Delaware River bridges.
To the east and north, 856 borders the 609/640 region, which serves Trenton, most of Burlington County, Atlantic City and the Shore. Across the river, Philadelphia uses 215, 267 and 445. As a result, a short drive in South Jersey can take you through several area codes.
Counties Served by Area Code 856
| County | Coverage | Example communities |
|---|---|---|
| Camden | Core of the area code | Camden, Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Haddonfield, Collingswood |
| Gloucester | Most or all of the county | Glassboro, Deptford, Woodbury, Washington Township |
| Cumberland | Most or all of the county | Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton |
| Salem | Most or all of the county | Salem, Pennsville, Woodstown |
| Burlington | Western towns only | Mount Laurel, Maple Shade, Cinnaminson, part of Moorestown |
| Atlantic | Small western area | Part of Buena Vista Township |
Area code boundaries follow telephone exchange lines, not town or county borders. For example, Moorestown and Buena Vista Township use both 609 and 856 numbers. If you need to know which code a specific number uses, look at the number itself rather than the address.
Major Cities and Towns in Area Code 856
The largest communities in area code 856 range from older river cities to fast-growing suburbs. The table below uses 2020 Census populations for the four biggest municipalities.
| Municipality | County | 2020 population |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Hill | Camden | 74,553 |
| Camden | Camden | 71,791 |
| Vineland | Cumberland | 60,780 |
| Millville | Cumberland | 27,491 |
Other well-known 856 communities include Glassboro, home of Rowan University, and Bridgeton, the Cumberland County seat. In addition, Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel are major suburban business and shopping centers.
History of Area Code 856
Before 1999, all of South Jersey used area code 609. However, demand for new phone lines from businesses, fax machines, pagers and cell phones used up 609’s supply of numbers in the late 1990s. Bell Atlantic announced the new code in March 1999, and area code 856 went into service on June 12, 1999.
The change was a geographic split. Southwestern New Jersey took the new 856 code, while Trenton, the Shore and most of Burlington County kept 609. A permissive dialing period, when calls using the old code still went through, ended on November 13, 1999.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 1999 | Bell Atlantic announces the new 856 area code |
| June 12, 1999 | Area code 856 enters service as a split from 609 |
| November 13, 1999 | Permissive dialing period for the split ends |
| 2018 | The 640 overlay is added to neighboring 609; 856 is not affected |
| October 24, 2021 | Ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory in 856 |
| July 16, 2022 | The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launches nationwide |
| 2035 (projected) | NANPA forecasts 856 will run out of new numbers |
Area Code 856 Dialing Rules
Since October 24, 2021, callers in area code 856 must dial the area code plus the seven-digit number for all local calls. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced the change after the Federal Communications Commission chose 988 as the national number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Why did 988 matter? In area codes where some local numbers began with 988 and seven-digit dialing was still allowed, a call to 988 could have been confused with a local number. As a result, 856 and 908, New Jersey’s two codes without overlays, both switched to ten-digit dialing on the same date. Every other New Jersey code already required ten digits because of its overlay.
| Type of call | How to dial |
|---|---|
| Local call within 856 | 856 + seven-digit number |
| Local call to 609/640 or another nearby code | Ten digits, or 1 + ten digits for toll calls, depending on your carrier |
| Long-distance call | 1 + area code + seven-digit number |
| Suicide and Crisis Lifeline | 988 |
| Emergency | 911 |
Phone numbers did not change when ten-digit dialing arrived. However, the BPU urged residents to reprogram any device stored with a seven-digit number, such as security alarms, medical monitoring devices, gate systems and speed dialers. If a local call is dialed with only seven digits, a recording says the call cannot be completed as dialed.
Is Area Code 856 Getting an Overlay?
As of September 2026, no new area code has been approved for the 856 region. NANPA, the federal administrator of phone numbers, publishes exhaust forecasts twice a year. Its April 2026 report projects that area code 856 will exhaust in the first quarter of 2035, earlier than any other New Jersey code.
| NJ area code | Projected exhaust (NANPA, April 2026) |
|---|---|
| 856 | 1st quarter 2035 |
| 908 | 3rd quarter 2039 |
| 609/640 | 3rd quarter 2046 |
| 201/551 | 2nd quarter 2048 |
| 732/848 | 3rd quarter 2051 |
| 973/862 | 3rd quarter 2052 |
When 609 ran low on numbers, the BPU approved an all-services overlay in 2017, and the 640 code followed in 2018. If 856 needs relief in the future, the BPU would make that decision after a public process. An overlay would let everyone keep their existing 856 number, while new lines could receive a different code.
Area Code 856 vs. Neighboring Codes
| Area code | Region | Overlay |
|---|---|---|
| 856 | Southwest NJ: Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland | None |
| 609 / 640 | Trenton, most of Burlington, Atlantic, Cape May and southern Ocean | Yes (640 added in 2018) |
| 215 / 267 / 445 | Philadelphia and nearby Pennsylvania suburbs | Yes |
Because South Jersey and Philadelphia share one economy, it is common to see 856 and 215 numbers side by side on business signs and websites.
Calls From Area Code 856: Tips
An 856 number on your caller ID usually means the line was first assigned in southwestern New Jersey. However, numbers can be ported to other carriers and moved with people who relocate, so the area code does not prove where a caller is today.
- Watch for spoofing. Scammers can fake a local area code to make a call look familiar.
- Do not share personal details with unexpected callers, even if the number looks local.
- Call back through an official number if a caller claims to be a bank, utility or government agency.
- Update stored numbers in older phones and alarm systems to include the 856 area code.
More NJ Guides
For every code in the state, see our guide to NJ area codes, or read about Central Jersey in our 732 New Jersey guide. To check which county a town belongs to, use our list of NJ towns by county. Find more in our Living in NJ section or on the homepage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Area Code 856
Where is area code 856 in New Jersey?
Area code 856 covers southwestern New Jersey, including Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties and western Burlington County towns such as Mount Laurel and Maple Shade.
What cities use the 856 area code?
Major 856 cities and towns include Cherry Hill, Camden, Vineland, Millville, Glassboro and Bridgeton.
When was area code 856 created?
Area code 856 went into service on June 12, 1999, as a split from area code 609.
Does area code 856 have an overlay?
No. As of 2026, 856 has no overlay. It and 908 are the only New Jersey area codes without one.
Do I need to dial 10 digits in area code 856?
Yes. Ten-digit dialing has been mandatory for local calls in 856 since October 24, 2021, because of the 988 crisis line.
Is 856 the same as 609?
No. 856 split from 609 in 1999. Today 609 and its 640 overlay serve Trenton, most of Burlington County and the southern Shore, while 856 serves southwestern New Jersey.
Will area code 856 run out of numbers?
NANPA’s April 2026 forecast projects 856 will exhaust in the first quarter of 2035. No new area code has been approved yet.
What time zone is area code 856?
Area code 856 is in the Eastern Time Zone, like the rest of New Jersey.
Area Code 856 at a Glance
Area code 856 is South Jersey’s Philadelphia-side code, serving Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties and western Burlington County. It split from 609 in 1999, has no overlay and requires ten-digit dialing since October 24, 2021. Although no new code has been approved, NANPA projects 856 will run out of numbers around 2035, so an overlay may eventually be considered.
