Alabama’s got a new area code coming next year – the seventh for the state – but there are other changes for which you may need to prepare.

Alabama’s Public Service Commission in March 2024 approved the new code – 483 – for phone customers in the same area as the existing area code 334.

The 334 area code serves Selma, Montgomery, Prattville, Pike Road, Tuskegee, Auburn, Opelika, Phenix City, Eufaula, Dothan, Enterprise, Troy, Greenville and a large area of central and southeast Alabama.

Why the change? A forecast for the 334 area code estimated that it would exhaust its possible number combinations by the third quarter of 2026.

If you live in the 334 area code, don’t worry. It will not affect existing service for any customers there, according to the Public Service Commission.

New customers, or customers requesting an additional telephone line, may be assigned the new 483 area code, but that won’t not begin until February 23 of next year.

And there’s another change coming as well – mandatory 10-digit dialing for all local calls, meaning area code and phone number.

The hard start date for that change will be Jan. 23, 2026, but phone customers, beginning July 23, are being encouraged to start early.

That also gives you time to reprogram numbers on autodial to the 10-digit number.