The 470 area code is an Atlanta area code. It covers the city and the wide ring of suburbs around it, and it is one of five codes that serve metro Atlanta.
This guide explains where 470 is used, its time zone, how Atlanta got five area codes and how to treat a 470 call from a number you do not know.
470 Area Code Quick Facts
| State | Georgia |
| Location | Atlanta and the surrounding metro area |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 during daylight saving time) |
| In service since | September 2, 2001 |
| Type | Overlay area code |
| Shares its area with | 404, 770, 678 and 943 |
| Toll-free? | No, it is a regular geographic area code |
Check any other code with our free area code lookup tool.
Where Is the 470 Area Code Located?
Area code 470 is located in north Georgia. It covers the Atlanta metropolitan area, which takes in more than 27 counties, including Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton. Cities in the area include:
- Atlanta
- Sandy Springs
- Marietta
- Roswell
- Alpharetta
- Decatur
- Lawrenceville
What Time Zone Is the 470 Area Code In?
Atlanta is on Eastern Time.
- Eastern Standard Time (EST), UTC-5, in winter
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC-4, from mid March to early November
That makes it three hours ahead of Los Angeles and one hour ahead of Chicago. A quick time check saves you from calling someone at dinner or before breakfast.
History of the 470 Area Code
- 1947: 404 is created as an original area code.
- 1995: 770 is added for the suburbs outside the Interstate 285 loop. 404 stays with Atlanta and the area inside the loop.
- January 15, 1998: 678 numbers start being assigned as an overlay across both areas. Ten-digit dialing becomes required.
- September 2, 2001: 470 is added as a second overlay.
- March 15, 2022: 943 starts service as the fifth code.
More on the original code is in our 404 area code guide.
Inside or Outside the Perimeter?
In Atlanta, 404 traditionally means “inside the Perimeter”, the area within Interstate 285, and 770 means the suburbs outside it. The overlay codes ignore that line. A 470 number can be in Midtown Atlanta or in a suburb 40 miles away. All five codes form one local calling area, with no long-distance charges between them.
How to Dial a 470 Number
Local calls in this area are dialed with the area code included.
- From the US or Canada: 1 + 470 + the seven-digit number
- From another country: your exit code + 1 + 470 + the seven-digit number
Is a Call From 470 a Scam?
Atlanta is a headquarters city for airlines, logistics, media and payment companies, so many 470 calls are legitimate customer service or sales calls. The same fact makes Atlanta numbers a favorite for spoofing.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Fake bank or card fraud alerts that ask for your PIN or passcode
- Calls about Medicare, health insurance or a car warranty you never asked about
- Messages that claim a family member is in trouble and needs money
- Pressure to stay on the line and act right now
Caller ID can be spoofed, so the number on your screen does not prove where a call comes from.
What to do with an unknown 470 call
- Hang up as soon as a call feels wrong. You do not owe a stranger an explanation.
- Verify the caller through an official number, not the one they give you.
- Block the number.
- Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov and register at donotcall.gov.
- Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
How to Get a 470 Phone Number
You do not have to live in Atlanta to use a 470 number.
- Carriers: new metro Atlanta lines are assigned 470, 943 or 678 in most cases. New 404 numbers are rare.
- VoIP and virtual number providers: search by area code, pick a 470 number and forward calls to any phone.
- Toll-free numbers: a better fit if your customers are spread across the country.
Read our guides to virtual phone numbers and the 800 area code.
Area Codes Near 470
| 404 | Atlanta, inside Interstate 285 |
| 770 | Atlanta suburbs |
| 678, 943 | Same area as 470 |
| 706, 762 | Athens, Augusta, Columbus |
| 478 | Macon, Warner Robins |
Related guides: 404 area code for Atlanta, 904 area code for Jacksonville, 850 area code for the Florida Panhandle.
470 Area Code FAQs
What city is area code 470?
Atlanta, Georgia, and its suburbs, such as Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs.
Is 470 the same as 404?
They overlap. 470 covers the 404 area and the 770 suburbs as well.
Is 470 a cell phone area code?
It is used for mobile and landline numbers, but many 470 numbers are mobile.
What time zone is 470?
Eastern Time.
Is 470 a toll-free number?
No. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Final Word
The 470 area code covers metro Atlanta on Eastern Time and has been in service since 2001, next to 404, 770, 678 and 943. Let voicemail screen unknown callers.
