The 661 area code covers a large inland part of Southern and Central California. Bakersfield is its biggest city, and Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale are also in it. It has no overlay.
Here is where 661 is used, the time zone, how the code was created and how to deal with unknown 661 calls.
661 Area Code Quick Facts
| State | California |
| Location | Bakersfield, Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale |
| Time zone | Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 during daylight saving time) |
| In service since | February 13, 1999 |
| Type | Geographic area code |
| Overlay | None |
| Toll-free? | No, it is a regular geographic area code |
Check any other code with our free area code lookup tool.
Where Is the 661 Area Code Located?
Area code 661 is located north of the Los Angeles basin. It covers most of Kern County and the northern part of Los Angeles County, with small parts of Ventura, Santa Barbara and Tulare counties. Main cities:
- Bakersfield
- Santa Clarita
- Lancaster
- Palmdale
The area takes in three separate regions: the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley and the Antelope Valley.
What Time Zone Is the 661 Area Code In?
Bakersfield is on Pacific Time.
- Pacific Standard Time (PST), UTC-8, in winter
- Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), UTC-7, from mid March to early November
That makes it three hours behind New York and two hours behind Chicago. Check the clock before you dial, especially if you are several time zones away.
History of the 661 Area Code
- 1947: Southern California is in 213.
- 1957: 805 is created when 213 is reduced in size. It includes the coast and the inland valleys.
- February 13, 1999: the eastern, inland part of 805 is split off as 661.
Since the split, 805 has been a coastal code and 661 an inland one. The coastal side is covered in our 805 area code guide.
Three Regions, One Code
The places inside 661 are quite different from each other. Bakersfield is a center for oil and farming at the southern end of the Central Valley. Santa Clarita is a suburban city just north of Los Angeles, known for film production and a large theme park. Lancaster and Palmdale sit in the high desert of the Antelope Valley, where the aerospace industry is a major employer. A 661 number could come from any of the three.
How to Dial a 661 Number
You need the area code for every call, even a local one.
- From the US or Canada: 1 + 661 + the seven-digit number
- From another country: your exit code + 1 + 661 + the seven-digit number
Is a Call From 661 a Scam?
A 661 call is usually a local household or business. Job offers by text, solar panel sales calls and fake utility shut-off warnings are the kinds of unwanted calls to be careful with.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Threats of arrest, a lawsuit or a service shut-off unless you pay today
- Offers of a prize, a loan or a job that need a fee first
- Callers who already know part of your details and ask you to “confirm” the rest
- One-ring calls that try to make you call back
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 661 call
- Do not answer numbers you do not know.
- Never share a PIN, password or passcode with someone who called you.
- Block repeat callers and turn on your carrier spam filter.
- Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov and register at donotcall.gov.
- Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
How to Get a 661 Phone Number
Want a 661 number of your own? There are a few ways to get one.
- Carriers: any new line in the area gets a 661 number, since it is the only code there.
- VoIP and virtual number providers: search by area code, pick a 661 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 833 area code.
Area Codes Near 661
| 805, 820 | Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo |
| 559, 357 | Fresno, Visalia |
| 818, 747 | San Fernando Valley |
| 760, 442 | Victorville, Ridgecrest and the Mojave Desert |
Related guides: 805 area code for the Central Coast, 559 area code for Fresno, 818 area code for the San Fernando Valley.
661 Area Code FAQs
What city is area code 661?
Bakersfield is the largest. Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale are also in 661.
Is 661 in Los Angeles?
Part of it is in northern Los Angeles County, but most of the area is in Kern County.
Does 661 have an overlay?
No. It is the only area code for its region.
What time zone is 661?
Pacific Time.
Is 661 a toll-free number?
No. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Final Word
The 661 area code covers Bakersfield, Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley on Pacific Time. It has been in service since 1999. Let unknown callers leave a message and verify before you call back.
