Quick answer
The 415 area code serves San Francisco, California in the Pacific Time (PT) (UTC-8 / UTC-7 DST). Assigned in 1947, it covers San Francisco and Marin County including San Francisco, San Rafael, Novato. Overlay code: 628.
- Region
- San Francisco and Marin County, CA
- Time zone
- PT (UTC-8)
- Assigned
- 1947
- Population
- ~1,000,000
- Prefixes used
- 785 / ~792
- Capacity in use
- ~99%
- Local time now
- · live
What is the area code for San Francisco?
The area code for San Francisco, California is 415, with overlay code 628 sharing the same geographic footprint. The 415 area code is a North American Numbering Plan geographic code assigned in 1947, covering the San Francisco and Marin County region. It serves approximately 1,000,000 residents on the Pacific Time (PT) (UTC-8 / UTC-7 DST).
The 415 area code has 785 assigned central-office prefixes (NXX codes, the three digits after the area code) across 14 rate centers, with numbers allocated to roughly 45 carriers.
At 785 of the ~792 usable central-office prefixes, the 415 area code has about 99% of its numbering capacity assigned, and that near-exhaustion is part of why overlay code 628 was added to the region. See how 415 compares in our NXX prefix allocation analysis across 338 US area codes. (Prefix data: localcallingguide.com / NANPA, 2026.)
Where is area code 415? Location and map area
Area code 415 is located in California, the United States. Its coverage area centers on San Francisco and spans the San Francisco and Marin County region. If you received a call from a 415 number, the caller's number was assigned in this area, though with number porting and virtual numbers, the person may be calling from anywhere.
The 415 location sits in Pacific Time (PT), so local business hours run roughly 9 a.m.-5 p.m. PT. Neighboring California area codes include 209, 213, 279.
Looking for a local 415 number? Get a 415 area code business number →
For the full story, every city covered, overlay history, and local scam patterns, read the complete San Francisco area code guide.
All San Francisco area codes
San Francisco is served by 3 area codes across the metro area. 415 is the original 1947 code; the others were added as overlays or for surrounding suburbs.
Cities served by the 415 area code
The 415 area code covers 5 major cities and towns across the San Francisco and Marin County region (CA). Here is where 415 phone numbers reach:
- San Francisco, CA
- San Francisco is the largest city in the 415 area code and the anchor of the San Francisco and Marin County region, most 415 numbers are assigned here. To get a phone number in San Francisco, choose a 415 number.
- San Rafael, CA
- San Rafael is served by the 415 area code as part of the San Francisco and Marin County region in California (Pacific Time (PT)). A 415 number gives your business a local San Rafael presence.
- Novato, CA
- Novato is served by the 415 area code as part of the San Francisco and Marin County region in California (Pacific Time (PT)). A 415 number gives your business a local Novato presence.
- Mill Valley, CA
- Mill Valley is served by the 415 area code as part of the San Francisco and Marin County region in California (Pacific Time (PT)). A 415 number gives your business a local Mill Valley presence.
- Sausalito, CA
- Sausalito is served by the 415 area code as part of the San Francisco and Marin County region in California (Pacific Time (PT)). A 415 number gives your business a local Sausalito presence.
Whether you need a phone number in San Francisco, San Rafael, or anywhere else in the San Francisco and Marin County region, a 415 number puts a local caller ID on every call. A caller ID that matches the recipient's region looks familiar and gets answered more often than a toll-free or out-of-area number.
415 area code time zone and business hours
The 415 area code is in the Pacific Time (PT) zone (UTC-8 / UTC-7 DST). Standard business hours in 415 run 9 AM to 5 PM PT.
If you're calling into 415 from a different time zone, factor in the offset. For example, an Eastern Time business calling 415 at 9 AM ET reaches San Francisco at 6 AM PT: likely outside standard business hours.
History of the 415 area code
The 415 area code was one of the original 86 area codes assigned in 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan was first deployed. As San Francisco grew and number demand increased, overlay code 628 was added to serve the same geographic region, a common solution that avoids forcing existing subscribers to change their numbers.
- 1947 415 entered service (one of the 86 original NANP area codes)
- 2015 628 added to serve the same region
The 415 area code in popular culture
415 is the area code of San Francisco and a recognized identifier for the Bay Area tech industry. Original startup founders, venture firms, and SF media outlets favor 415 numbers; 415 also references San Francisco's pre-Silicon Valley cultural identity.
Is the 415 area code safe? Spam and scam calls
415 is a legitimate geographic area code for San Francisco: it is not a scam code or a premium-rate prefix, and a call from a 415 number is most likely a genuine local caller. The risk is not the area code itself but a tactic called neighbor spoofing: scammers fake their caller ID so an unwanted call appears to come from your own area code, because people answer familiar numbers more readily.
If you get an unexpected 415 call, a few signals point to a likely scam, a pre-recorded message, urgent pressure to act now, a demand for payment by gift card or wire transfer, or anyone asking for passwords, Social Security, or account numbers. Let suspicious calls go to voicemail, never share personal information, and report fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
The FCC consumer guide on spoofing explains your rights under the Truth in Caller ID Act. A real San Francisco business will leave a clear voicemail and will not pressure you.
US carriers verify caller ID with the STIR/SHAKEN framework, which flags many spoofed numbers as "Spam Likely" before they ring. DialPhone 415 numbers are registered for STIR/SHAKEN attestation, so calls from your business are verified as genuine and reach customers without a false spam label. See the DialPhone guide to VoIP security for more.
Why get a 415 area code number for your business?
Getting a 415 number gives your business three measurable advantages over a toll-free or out-of-area number:
- Local trust signal. Customers in San Francisco recognize 415 as their home area code. Caller ID matching builds immediate credibility for service businesses, sales outreach, and patient communication.
- Higher answer rate. Calls from a familiar local area code are answered more often than unknown or toll-free numbers, which matters most for outbound sales, appointment confirmations, and time-sensitive service callbacks.
- Targeted marketing. Businesses serving San Francisco and the broader San Francisco and Marin County can advertise a local number across print, radio, billboards, and digital channels for higher conversion than a national 800 number.
For businesses in San Francisco and surrounding cities, top industries that benefit from local 415 presence include Tech, Entertainment, and Healthcare. DialPhone's AI receptionist is available for every 415 number, never miss a call, even after standard business hours.
How to get a 415 area code number
Setting up a 415 business number with DialPhone takes under 10 minutes:
- Sign up for a DialPhone plan. Choose any plan starting at $24/user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required.
- Search available 415 numbers. Filter the DialPhone number inventory by area code, city, or pattern.
- Choose your number and configure. Assign your new 415 number to a user or team, set up call routing, voicemail, AI receptionist, and business SMS.
- Port your existing number (optional). Already have a 415 number? Free number porting in 2 to 5 business days with zero service interruption.
New to local numbers? The complete guide to getting a local phone number covers choosing the right area code, porting an existing line, and avoiding spam flags.
Plans, every tier includes a local 415 number
-
Core
$24/user/mo
Unlimited US & Canada calling, business SMS, AI transcription, free porting.
-
Advanced
$34/user/mo
Everything in Core plus AI SMS, workflow automation, and a HIPAA BAA at no surcharge.
-
Ultra
$54/user/mo
Everything in Advanced plus AI Conversation Expert and the highest usage limits.
415 area code overlay codes
The San Francisco and Marin County region is served by multiple overlay area codes:
| Area Code | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 415 | Primary area code for San Francisco and Marin County, assigned 1947 |
| 628 | Overlay, same geography (assigned 2015) |
All overlay codes serve the same San Francisco region. New subscribers may be assigned any available code; existing numbers retain their original prefix.
AI receptionist for 415 area code businesses
Every DialPhone 415 number includes optional AI receptionist coverage, available 24/7. The AI handles calls when your team is unavailable, answering common questions, booking appointments, routing urgent callers to on-call staff, and capturing voicemail with full transcription and intent tagging.
For businesses in San Francisco that handle high call volume, run extended hours, or need bilingual support (especially valuable in multilingual metros like San Francisco), the AI receptionist reduces voicemail backlog and improves first-call resolution.
HIPAA-compliant 415 numbers for healthcare
San Francisco has one of the largest healthcare systems in California. DialPhone signs HIPAA Business Associate Agreements on the Advanced plan ($34/user) and above, covering all 415 area code phone numbers, business SMS, and AI receptionist features.
Medical practices, telehealth groups, and behavioral health providers in the San Francisco and Marin County region can use DialPhone 415 numbers for patient calls, appointment reminders, and post-visit follow-up. See the DialPhone healthcare solutions page for compliance details.
All area codes in California
California has 40 active geographic area codes. The 415 area code is part of the same numbering plan as the codes listed below, calls between them are typically local within the state, depending on the carrier.
Ready to buy? See 415 area code numbers for business: pricing, availability, and instant setup for San Francisco.
Nearby area codes
Related area codes in California and the Pacific Time (PT) region:
- 209 area code: Stockton, California
- 213 area code: Los Angeles, California
- 279 area code: Sacramento, California
- 310 area code: Los Angeles, California
- 323 area code: Los Angeles, California
- 341 area code: Oakland, California
All California area codes → · Browse all US area codes →
More area codes: ← 414 Milwaukee · 416 Toronto →
How this page is verified
DialPhone re-verifies every area code page every 90 days. Area code geography, timezone, and overlay data come from the official North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) database. Pricing reflects the published DialPhone plan tiers, see the pricing page for current details. Number availability varies; check the DialPhone signup flow for live inventory in the 415 region.
What to know before getting a 415 number
- Number availability is finite. Popular San Francisco area codes can be inventory-constrained, request specific vanity patterns early.
- Porting timing varies. Most 415 ports complete in 2-5 business days; complex multi-line legacy contracts can take 7-10.
- HIPAA tier required for healthcare. The Core $24 plan doesn't include a BAA, healthcare users need Advanced ($34) or above.
Where the 415 Area Code Works: San Francisco & Marin County
The 415 area code serves the City and County of San Francisco, most of Marin County across the Golden Gate Bridge, and a small slice of northern San Mateo County. It is one of the original area codes from 1947, in continuous service for nearly eighty years, and shares its territory with the 628 overlay.
| City / Area | Known for |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | Global tech and finance hub, SoMa startups, the Financial District, and Union Square retail |
| San Rafael | Marin County seat, professional services and North Bay healthcare |
| Mill Valley | Affluent Marin community at the foot of Mount Tamalpais |
| Sausalito | Waterfront tourism, galleries, and houseboat community just over the Golden Gate |
| Novato | North Marin business parks and biotech employers |
The California Public Utilities Commission administers the 415/628 region, and its published materials confirm the footprint: San Francisco, the bulk of Marin, and a sliver of San Mateo County, compact geography, enormous economic weight.
History: an Original 1947 Code That Kept Shrinking
415 began in 1947 as one of California's first three area codes, originally covering a huge swath of central California. Growth kept carving it down: the South Bay went to 408 in 1959, Oakland and the East Bay to 510 in 1991, and the Peninsula to 650 in 1997, leaving 415 with San Francisco itself and Marin.
By the 2010s even that compact footprint was filling up. Rather than split the city, the CPUC approved the 628 overlay, assigned in 2015, since then, new San Francisco numbers may carry either code, and all local calls are dialed with ten (or eleven) digits.
- 1947, 415 enters service as an original California code (NANPA)
- 1959, 408 split takes the South Bay
- 1991, 510 split takes Oakland and the East Bay
- 1997, 650 split takes the Peninsula
- 2015, 628 overlay assigned; ten-digit dialing follows (CPUC)
Dialing To and From a 415 Number
Within the 415/628 overlay, local calls are dialed 1 + area code + seven-digit number per the CPUC's dialing plan. From elsewhere in the US, dial 1-415 and the number; from abroad, your exit code, then 1-415. The code is in the Pacific time zone, San Francisco's 9 a.m. is noon in New York and 5 p.m. in London.
Why a 415 Number Carries Weight
Few area codes carry brand equity like 415. It is the code of the original tech economy, venture firms, founders, and two generations of startups reached at a 415 number before "Silicon Valley" moved south. For a company selling into tech, finance, or professional services, a 415 caller ID signals you belong in that conversation.
Because 415 predates its 628 overlay by almost seventy years, established San Francisco institutions overwhelmingly hold 415 numbers. A 415 line reads as the incumbent; 628 reads as the newcomer. Both ring the same city, but perception differs, and in sales, perception decides whether the call gets answered.
A virtual 415 number lets a remote company keep a San Francisco front door without paying San Francisco rent, local presence for Bay Area customers, answered from anywhere.
415 Area Code FAQ
Is 415 a San Francisco area code?
Yes, 415 is the original San Francisco code, in service since 1947. It also covers most of Marin County and a small part of northern San Mateo County, and shares the territory with the 628 overlay.
What is the 628 area code, and is it the same as 415?
628 is the overlay added to the 415 region in 2015 when 415 neared exhaustion. Same geography, same local rates, a new San Francisco number today may carry either code.
Are 415 numbers still available?
Supplies are tighter than for young codes, but yes, carriers and VoIP providers still hold 415 inventory. DialPhone can typically activate a 415 number instantly; if a specific prefix is scarce, 628 covers the identical area.
How do I dial a 415 number?
Inside the overlay: 1 + 415 + the seven-digit number (CPUC dialing plan). From the rest of the US: 1-415 + number. From overseas: your international exit code, then 1-415 + number.
What time zone is the 415 area code in?
Pacific time (PT), UTC-7 in summer, UTC-8 in winter.
Get a 415 San Francisco Number for Your Business
DialPhone provisions virtual 415 numbers with business SMS, smart call routing, and an AI receptionist, a San Francisco presence you can answer from anywhere.
- Instant activation, no Bay Area office required
- Call + text from your 415 number on any device
- AI receptionist and voicemail transcription included
- Free 14-day trial, no contracts
Start your free 14-day trial and get a 415 number today.