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Area codes 450, 579, and 354
Area codes 450, 579, and 354
Area codes 450, 579, and 354
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Longueuil

Area codes 450, 579, and 354 are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan in the Canadian province of Quebec, encompassing the off-island suburbs of Montreal, as well as the rest of the Montérégie region southward to the border with New York state. Among the cities in the numbering plan area are Laval, Longueuil, Terrebonne, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Brossard, Repentigny, Saint-Jérôme, Granby, Blainville and Saint-Hyacinthe.

Area code 450 is also shared by several small communities in an adjacent part of Ontario: some landline customers in Chute-à-Blondeau (East Hawkesbury), near Pointe-Fortune use numbers from the Rigaud exchange 451.

History

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Area code 514 served the entire Montreal area for over half-a-century. However, by the mid-1990s, it was on the verge of exhaustion because of Montreal's rapid growth and Canada's inefficient system of number allocation.[according to whom?] All competitive local exchange carriers in Canada are allocated blocks of 10,000 numbers for every rate centre in which they plan to offer service, even in the smallest hamlets. Even though most rate centres do not need nearly that many numbers, a number cannot be reallocated elsewhere once it is assigned to a carrier and rate centre.[opinion] That resulted in thousands of wasted numbers. By the late 20th century, that made a second area code necessary in Canada's second-largest toll-free calling zone.

Area code 450 entered service in 1998. The numbering plan area completely surrounds area code 514, which was confined to the Island of Montreal and a few surrounding islands, and so it is one of the six pairs of "doughnut area codes" in the numbering plan, and the only one in Canada (Toronto's area code 416 also borders Lake Ontario). For that reason, Montrealers sometimes refer to the off-island suburbs as "le 450" (the 450), much like the suburbs of Toronto are called "the 905."

On May 7, 2009, the CRTC ruled that area code 438, which had been used as an overlay for area code 514 since 2006, would be extended to overlay area codes 450 and 514.[1] However, a later decision changed that to overlay only area code 450 with the new area code 579, effective August 21, 2010.[2]

On May 2, 2011, a prepaid mobile telephone registered to "Pierre Poutine, Separatist Street, Joliette," at (450) 760-7746 on Bell Mobility's "Virgin" service played a key role in a robocall scandal in which voters in Guelph, Ontario were inundated with calls directing them to the wrong polling station.[3][4]

Area code 354 was formally assigned as of February 2, 2019 as an additional area code for the 450/579 overlay complex,[5] but the relief action was suspended indefinitely on October 8, 2019, but went into service by October 22, 2022.[6]

The incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) for the 450, 579 and 354 territory is Bell Canada. The major competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) are Vidéotron and Telus.

Service area and central office prefixes

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See also

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Notes

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Area codes 450, 579, and 354

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![Longueuil skyline in 2011][float-right] Area codes 450, 579, and 354 form an overlay complex in the , serving the southwestern suburbs of Montreal and the region in , . These codes encompass off-island portions of the Area, including major cities such as , Laval, , and Granby, extending southward to the border. The territory lies within the and supports both residential and business amid population growth and increasing demand for telephone numbers. Originally, area code 450 was introduced on , 1998, as a split from the overburdened 514 code to cover the rapidly expanding suburban regions surrounding island. To further relieve numbering exhaustion, 579 was implemented as an overlay on August 21, 2010, allowing new assignments without requiring a change in dialing procedures for existing customers. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the addition of 354 in 2019, which entered service on October 22, 2022, creating a three-way distributed overlay to distribute new numbers across all codes and extend capacity. This progression reflects empirical responses to central office code depletion driven by demographic expansion and technological adoption in the region. has been mandatory throughout the overlay areas since the introductions to accommodate the multiple codes.

History

Establishment of Area Code 450

Area code 450 was introduced on , 1998, as a geographic split from the existing area code 514 to accommodate the increasing demand for numbers in southwestern . Prior to this, area code 514, one of the original North American area codes assigned in , had served the region, including both the and its surrounding suburbs and rural areas. The split was necessitated by rapid suburban expansion and population growth in areas outside central , which had exhausted available numbering resources under the single 514 code. Under the relief plan approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Montreal and its immediate urban core retained area code 514, while 450 was allocated to the peripheral territories encompassing the North Shore (e.g., Laval), South Shore (e.g., Longueuil), Lanaudière, Montérégie, and parts of Estrie. This division followed standard North American Numbering Plan (NANP) practices for geographic splits, where existing customers kept their 514 numbers without mandatory changes, but new assignments in the relieved areas received 450 prefixes. The implementation marked 450 as the 240th area code activated in the NANP and one of 21 introduced that year. The establishment reflected broader trends in Canadian regulation during the late 1990s, prioritizing efficient numbering resource allocation amid and rising penetration rates. No permissive dialing period was required, as the split enforced immediate in affected exchanges to prevent confusion, aligning with CRTC guidelines for minimizing disruption while ensuring long-term capacity. This approach avoided the immediate need for overlays, though subsequent exhaustion of 450 led to later relief measures.

Implementation of 579 as an Overlay

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the introduction of area code 579 as a distributed overlay for area code 450 in Telecom Decision CRTC 2009-453, issued on July 28, 2009, to address projected central office code exhaustion in the existing code by mid-2010. This overlay configuration assigned 579 to the entire geographic region served by 450, encompassing southwestern excluding Island, without geographic splits or boundary changes, thereby preserving existing numbering zones and minimizing disruption. Implementation commenced on August 21, 2010, with new telephone numbers in the region assigned the code on a first-come, first-served basis from available central office prefixes, while all existing numbers remained unaffected and required no updates to customer equipment or directories. , already mandatory in the region since its 1998 introduction, continued unchanged for local calls, ensuring compatibility across the overlay complex without additional consumer education on dialing procedures beyond awareness of the new code for incoming numbers. The relief planning committee, comprising telecommunications providers, coordinated prefix allocations through the Canadian Numbering Administrator, prioritizing unassigned codes for 579 to extend the region's numbering capacity by approximately 7.8 million lines, equivalent to the full inventory of an additional area code. Public notifications began in early via media releases and communications, emphasizing the overlay's benefits in accommodating demand from and telecommunications expansion without service interruptions. By the end of , initial 579 assignments were distributed across major exchanges in areas such as , Laval, and , marking the successful activation of the overlay.

Introduction of 354 as an Additional Overlay

In response to projected exhaustion of central office codes in area codes and , the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the introduction of area code 354 as a distributed overlay to provide additional numbering capacity across the entire service area. This relief measure was formalized in Telecom Decision CRTC 2019-13, issued on January 18, 2019, following consultations with telecommunications providers, the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA), and industry committees. The decision prioritized an overlay over geographic splits to minimize disruption, given the existing overlay of on and the prevalence of in the region. The distributed overlay format for 354 means that new telephone numbers assigned after would incorporate the new area code without regard to specific geographic boundaries within the 450/579 footprint, ensuring equitable distribution of resources and avoiding the need for consumers to change numbers based on location. Initially scheduled for activation on October 24, 2020, the rollout was deferred due to implementation challenges and further CRTC review. Telecom Decision CRTC 2021-373, released on November 12, 2021, confirmed the revised timeline, with 354 entering service on October 22, 2022, alongside public awareness campaigns coordinated by the CNA to inform residents and businesses of the change. Upon activation, area code 354 began assigning to new and mobile subscriptions, while existing 450 and 579 numbers remained unaffected, preserving service continuity. This additional overlay extended the projected lifespan of the numbering pool by an estimated 10-15 years, based on historical usage trends and forecasts from the relief planning process. The CRTC's approach emphasized conservation measures, such as thousands blocks recycling, prior to overlay deployment to optimize resource use.

Service Area

Geographic Coverage

The area codes , , and 354 overlay one another and serve the identical geographic territory in southwestern , , known as the suburban numbering plan area. This region encircles the core area covered by codes 514, 438, and 263, extending outward to include outer suburbs and adjacent rural districts. The territory was carved from the original 514 area code in 1998 to address growing demand for telephone numbers. The coverage encompasses the full extent of the Montérégie administrative region south of the , featuring densely populated South Shore communities such as , , and Châteauguay. North of the river, it includes the entire Island of Laval and extends into the region, reaching areas like Saint-Jérôme and Mirabel. To the northwest, the area reaches and , while eastward it covers parts of Lanaudière, including , and southeastward into the Richelieu Valley up to . Southern extensions touch Granby in the region and near the U.S. border. This numbering plan area operates within the and excludes the immediate inner suburbs and proper, focusing instead on the broader metropolitan periphery and interconnecting valleys and plateaus. The boundaries align with historical districts established by providers like , avoiding overlap with adjacent codes such as 819/873 to the north and west or 418/581 further east and south.

Major Communities and Economic Significance

The service area of area codes 450, 579, and 354 includes major suburban communities surrounding in the , , and administrative regions of . Key municipalities encompass Laval (population 460,396 as of 2024), , Terrebonne, , , Repentigny, (approximately 80,000 inhabitants), Granby, and Blainville. These communities form densely populated residential and commercial zones, with many residents commuting to central for employment. Economically, the region supports Greater Montreal's diversified post-industrial base through manufacturing, services, and proximity-driven . In Montérégie, which includes and , the economy features strong commercial development fueled by urban expansion from , alongside and ; the tertiary sector accounted for 77.5% of in 2024. Montérégie contributes significantly to provincial GDP, with regions like it, alongside and , representing 57.6% of 's economic output in 2023. Northern areas such as , home to , emphasize tourism and forest products processing as primary activities. , serving Terrebonne and Repentigny, relies on wood processing, agri-food production, and outdoor recreation-related services. Specialized industries bolster the suburbs, including aerospace manufacturing in and biotechnology clusters in Laval, enhancing the area's integration into Montreal's high-tech ecosystem. Overall, these codes cover zones vital for workforce supply, industrial expansion, and regional GDP growth in .

Technical Details

Central Office Prefixes and Number Allocation

The central office prefixes, or NXX codes, for area codes 450, 579, and 354 are assigned by the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) to telecommunications carriers serving the Suburban Montréal region, following applications based on demonstrated need and compliance with North American Numbering Plan (NANP) guidelines. These prefixes, typically ranging from 200 to 999 (excluding reserved codes like 555 for directory assistance or N11 service codes), are tied to specific rate centers such as Longueuil, Sorel, or Berthierville, with assignments reflecting carrier-specific operations like Bell Canada or Cogeco Connexion Inc. In this overlay complex, NXX codes are allocated independently across the three NPAs, enabling duplication where the same prefix operates in multiple area codes (e.g., 450-353 and 354-209 both in service), which expands capacity by permitting up to 30,000 unique numbers per duplicated NXX through distinct NPA-NXX combinations. This structure, implemented to avert exhaustion without splitting the service area, allows carriers to provision numbers flexibly while maintaining universality. Within each NPA-NXX, subscriber numbers are allocated in 1,000-number thousands-blocks via the CNA's centralized , which reclaims and redistributes underutilized blocks from carriers to optimize resources across the 354/450/579 complex. Status tracking for these blocks, including assigned, spare, and pooled categories, is maintained collectively for the overlay to support efficient management, with ongoing transitions toward enhanced thousands-block pooling directed by the CRTC for implementation by late 2025. Comprehensive assignment details, including carrier and rate center mappings, are updated regularly in CNA reports.

Dialing Procedures and Compatibility

In the region served by area codes 450, 579, and 354, all local telephone calls require dialing the full 10-digit number, consisting of the three-digit area code followed by the seven-digit subscriber number, irrespective of whether the calling and called parties share the same area code. This mandatory 10-digit local dialing procedure was established in area code 450 prior to the 579 overlay's implementation on , 2016, to accommodate the increasing complexity of routing in overlay configurations. The addition of area code 354 as a distributed overlay, effective October 22, 2022, introduced no changes to this requirement, as the existing infrastructure already supported 10-digit dialing across the 450/579 complex. Long-distance calls within the (NANP) to numbers in this area code complex necessitate dialing the 1 followed by the 10-digit number (1 + NPA + seven digits). No leading 1 is required for local calls, and permissive dialing—omitting the area code for intra-area calls—is not permitted, ensuring unambiguous routing in the multi-code overlay environment. Emergency services (e.g., 911) and abbreviated dialing codes (e.g., N11 services like 411 for ) remain accessible without the area code. The overlay structure provides full compatibility for telephone service across the three area codes, allowing seamless local connectivity between numbers prefixed with , , or 354 without requiring updates to end-user equipment or central office switches beyond those already implemented for prior overlays. This compatibility stems from the region's long-standing adoption of 10-digit local dialing, which predates the 579 and 354 introductions and aligns with NANP standards for overlaid numbering plan areas, minimizing disruptions during number exhaust relief. Telecom providers are required to maintain network parity, ensuring calls to any valid local number in the complex are completed equivalently.

Regulatory and Administrative Aspects

CRTC Oversight and Relief Planning

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) administers telephone numbering resources in pursuant to section 46.1 of the Telecommunications Act, which grants it authority over the allocation and management of numbers within the (NANP). This includes oversight of area codes (NPAs) and central office codes (NXX codes), with day-to-day operations delegated to the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA), a non-profit entity managed by industry stakeholders. The CRTC collaborates with telecommunications carriers through the Canadian Industry Steering Committee (CISC) and its Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN), which coordinates numbering policies and relief planning to address NXX code exhaustion. When the CNA forecasts NXX exhaustion in an NPA—typically when fewer than 10% of codes remain available—the CSCN directs the formation of an Relief Planning Committee (RPC), comprising carriers and other stakeholders, to evaluate options such as geographic splits or overlays. The RPC develops a relief implementation plan, including the selection of a new area code from the NANP Administration's inventory, dialing impacts, and timelines, which is submitted to the CRTC via the CISC for and final approval. The CRTC prioritizes solutions that minimize disruption, such as overlays that preserve existing local calling areas and avoid mandatory number changes, while ensuring sufficient capacity for projected demand driven by and telecommunications expansion. For area code , introduced in as a split from 514 to serve southwestern , the CNA projected NXX exhaustion by mid-2010, prompting RPC formation in 2008. The committee recommended a distributed overlay using area code 579, avoiding a split that would require millions of number changes in densely populated suburbs like Laval and ; the CRTC approved this in Telecom Decision CRTC 2009-255 on May 7, 2009, with permissive dialing from August 21, 2010, and mandatory 10-digit dialing thereafter. This added approximately 579,000 new numbers without altering existing 450 assignments. Subsequent projections indicated exhaustion of the /579 complex by 2023, leading to RPC reactivation and reservation of area code 354 in Telecom Decision CRTC 2017-38 on February 2, 2017. The RPC proposed a further distributed overlay, which the CRTC approved in Telecom Decision CRTC 2019-13 on January 18, 2019, citing the need to accommodate ongoing demand without geographic reconfiguration. Implementation occurred on October 22, 2022, following public awareness campaigns coordinated by the CNA, extending 10-digit dialing across the complex and providing an additional 579,000 numbers. The CRTC's decisions emphasized empirical forecasts from CNA data, rejecting alternatives like splits due to high relocation costs and potential service disruptions in urban exchanges.

Number Exhaustion Projections and Implementation Timeline

The area code 450 was projected to exhaust its central office code supply in the late due to and demand in southwestern , prompting the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to approve an overlay with area code in Telecom Decision CRTC 2009-255. Implementation began on August 21, 2010, with new telephone numbers in the region assigned the 579 prefix while existing 450 numbers remained unaffected; became mandatory for local calls within the area to accommodate the overlay. Subsequent forecasts indicated that the combined 450/579 numbering plan area (NPA) would exhaust by June 2021, as reported in the January 2018 National Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast (NRUF). In response, the CRTC approved a distributed overlay with area code 354 in Telecom Decision CRTC 2019-13, initially scheduling for October 24, 2020, to distribute new codes evenly across the service area without geographic splits. However, Telecom Decision CRTC 2019-347 deferred implementation indefinitely pending updated exhaustion data and further committee review. Revised planning led to Telecom Decision CRTC 2021-373, which confirmed the 354 overlay for / and set the effective date for October 22, 2022, with gradual rollout of new 354 numbers thereafter and mandatory enforced by service providers. The Canadian Numbering Administrator verified 354's entry into service on that date, covering the same suburban region. As of the second quarter 2024 NRUF analysis, the 354// NPA complex is projected to exhaust in the second quarter of 2037, reflecting stabilized demand post-relief and ongoing monitoring by the Administrator. No further relief measures are currently planned, though the CRTC retains oversight for potential adjustments based on annual NRUF updates.

References

  1. https://www.cnac.ca/
  2. https://www.allareacodes.com/450
  3. https://www.areacodelocations.info/5/579.html
  4. https://cnac.ca/npa_codes/NPA_History.pdf
  5. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2019/2019-347.htm
  6. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2019/2019-13.htm
  7. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2021/2021-373.htm
  8. https://support.bell.ca/home_phone/what_are_the_new_area_codes_in_canada
  9. https://www.allareacodes.com/514
  10. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-453.pdf
  11. https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2009/07/crtc-introduces-new-area-code-greater-montreal-region-2010.html
  12. https://dial10.ca/content/documents/Communique_579_EN.pdf
  13. https://www.calilio.com/virtual-phone-number/canada/quebec/579-area-code
  14. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2019/2019-13.pdf
  15. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-area-codes-in-quebec-849411591.html
  16. https://www.areacodelocations.info/quebec
  17. https://www.allareacodes.com/579
  18. https://cnac.ca/reference_data/canadian_exchange_area_listing.htm
  19. https://www.citypopulation.de/en/canada/cities/quebec/
  20. https://app.myaifrontdesk.com/blog/area-code-450
  21. https://24timezones.com/Province-of-Quebec/area-codes
  22. https://www.canada.ca/fr/developpement-economique-regions-quebec/a-propos/informations-regionales/monteregie.html
  23. https://www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/pages-regionales/monteregie/portrait-regional/structure-economique
  24. https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/communique/gdp-up-in-all-17-administrative-regions-2023
  25. https://www.canada.ca/en/economic-development-quebec-regions/about/regional-information/laurentides.html
  26. https://www.quebecmetiersdavenir.com/en/region/lanaudiere/
  27. https://innovationsoftheworld.com/monteregie-economique-the-innovative-ecosystem-of-the-monteregie/
  28. https://www.cnac.ca/co_codes/co_code_status.htm
  29. https://cnac.ca/data/COCodeStatus_NPA450.htm
  30. https://cnac.ca/data/COCodeStatus_NPA354.htm
  31. https://www.cnac.ca/data/COBlockStatus_Complex_8.htm
  32. https://www.cnac.ca/co_codes/co_block_status.htm
  33. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2024/2024-26.htm
  34. https://cnac.ca/data/COCodeStatus_NPA579.htm
  35. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-255.htm
  36. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2025/2025-224.htm
  37. https://crtc.gc.ca/cisc/eng/cisf3fg.htm
  38. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/num.htm
  39. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2023/2023-141.htm
  40. https://cnac.ca/npa_codes/relief/retired_excerpts/Archive_NPA_450_%28579%29.pdf
  41. https://www.nanpa.com/sites/default/files/2024-10/2024-2_NPA_Exhaust_Projections_Final.pdf
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