Area code 250: British Columbia
What is area code 250?
Area code 250 is a Canadian province area code for the British Columbia, on Pacific Time. It has 781 prefixes in service across 268 exchange areas, the largest being Victoria, Kelowna and Nanaimo. It shares its area with 236, 257, 672 and 778, so local numbers there can start with any of them. Local calls there take 10 digits.
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Paste your 250 numbers (a mixed list is fine). They are counted here at once; the free checker then gives every number its E.164 form, country and line type, with a file to download.
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See the phone add-onArea code 250 facts
| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Pacific TimeNANPA lists Pacific time. Parts of eastern British Columbia use Mountain time, and the north-east keeps Mountain Standard Time all year. |
| Overlays | 236, 257, 672, 778 |
| Split from | 604 |
| In service since | October 19, 1996 |
| Local calls | 10 digits; toll calls 1 + 10 digits |
| Carrier | Not shown. An area code is where a number was issued; numbers port between carriers. Check line type |
In short: 250 is British Columbia (Pacific Time). Format checks here are free and run in your browser; the current carrier and line type need a live lookup. Bulk phone number validator · Pro + Phone plan
Local time in area code 250
America/Vancouver
Prefixes in service
781 of 792 possible
268 exchange areas
Which cities and towns use area code 250?
The Canadian Numbering Administrator records each prefix against an exchange area, usually named after its main town. These are the 250 exchange areas with the most prefixes in service. 256 smaller ones aren't listed.
| Exchange area | Prefixes |
|---|---|
| Victoria | 94 |
| Kelowna | 32 |
| Nanaimo | 25 |
| South Kamloops | 22 |
| Vernon | 19 |
| Prince George | 19 |
| Penticton | 15 |
| Duncan | 14 |
| Courtenay | 13 |
| Campbell River | 12 |
| Fort St. John | 12 |
| Parksville | 11 |
Source: Canadian Numbering Administrator CO code status, file dated 2026-10-16. Each prefix holds up to 10,000 numbers.
How do I dial a 250 number?
NANPA's dialling plan for 250: local calls inside the code take 10 digits, toll calls 1 + 10 digits. From another area code, dial 1 first. From abroad, use +1. The examples use 555-0147, from a range reserved for fictional numbers.
| Local call inside 250 | 250-555-0147 |
|---|---|
| From another US or Canadian area code | 1-250-555-0147 |
| From outside North America | +1 250 555 0147 |
| E.164, for CRMs and SMS tools | +12505550147 |
When did area code 250 start?
Area code 250 went into service on October 19, 1996, split from 604. Today 250, 236, 257, 672 and 778 cover the same area as an overlay, which is why 10-digit dialling is needed for local calls there.
Tools for 250 numbers
- Bulk phone number validator
Format, country and number type for every number in a CSV, with E.164 output.
- Area code lookup
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- Area code time zone
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- NPA-NXX lookup
Rate center and state for one prefix, a level below the area code.
- TCPA calling hours checker
Whether it's inside the federal 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. calling window there now.
Next step
A 250 number tells you where it was issued, not what it is now.
Mobiles, landlines and VoIP lines share area codes, and numbers move between carriers. A live line-type and carrier lookup on every number in your list says which is which, and that decides which calling and texting rules apply. It's in the phone add-on.
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Area code 250 questions
- What province is area code 250?
- Area code 250 is in the British Columbia, Canada. Its largest exchange areas by number of prefixes are Victoria, Kelowna, Nanaimo, South Kamloops and Vernon.
- What time zone is area code 250 in?
- Pacific Time. NANPA lists Pacific time. Parts of eastern British Columbia use Mountain time, and the north-east keeps Mountain Standard Time all year.
- What area codes overlay 250?
- 236, 257, 672 and 778. An overlay adds a new code to the same area instead of splitting it, so neighbours can have different area codes and local calls need 10 digits.
- When did area code 250 start?
- Area code 250 went into service on October 19, 1996, split from 604.
- Is a 250 number a cell phone or a landline?
- The area code can't tell you. In the US and Canada mobiles, landlines and VoIP lines share area codes and prefixes, and numbers move between carriers and line types. Only a live line-type lookup answers it for one number.
- How many phone numbers does area code 250 have?
- 781 of its 792 possible prefixes are in service, and each prefix holds up to 10,000 numbers. That counts prefixes assigned to carriers, not numbers in use.
- Does a valid format mean a 250 number is in service?
- No. A format check only says the digits fit the North American Numbering Plan and that 250 is an assigned code. It cannot tell whether the number is connected, who answers it or which carrier serves it today, because numbers are reassigned and ported. A live carrier lookup reports the current carrier and line type, but even that is not proof someone answers.
- Can I check a list of 250 numbers for free?
- Yes. Paste them in the list tab above or upload a CSV to the bulk phone number validator: format, E.164, country and the numbering-plan line type are free for every row, with no account. Live carrier and line-type lookups come with Pro + Phone at $49.99/mo (5,000 a month).
Other area codes in British Columbia
All British Columbia area codes on the area code index.
Sources
Location, overlays, in-service date and dialling plan: NANPA NPA database, file dated 10/16/2026. Prefixes and exchange areas: Canadian Numbering Administrator CO code status, 2026-10-16. Time zones mapped to the IANA time zone database. By the SimpleVerifier Team; how we build these pages.