The 703 area code covers Northern Virginia, the part of the state just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Manassas are all in it. It shares the area with 571.
Below are the places in 703, the time zone, how the code shrank from all of Virginia to one corner of it, and how to handle unknown 703 calls.
703 Area Code Quick Facts
| State | Virginia |
| Location | Northern Virginia: Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and nearby areas |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 during daylight saving time) |
| In service since | 1947 |
| Type | Original geographic area code |
| Shares its area with | 571 (overlay since March 1, 2000) |
| Toll-free? | No, it is a regular geographic area code |
Check any other code with our free area code lookup tool.
Where Is the 703 Area Code Located?
Area code 703 is located in the northeast corner of Virginia. It covers Arlington County, Fairfax County and parts of Loudoun, Prince William and Fauquier counties. Main places:
- Arlington
- Alexandria
- Fairfax
- Falls Church
- Reston
- Herndon
- Manassas
What Time Zone Is the 703 Area Code In?
Northern Virginia 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. Most offices there answer between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time.
History of the 703 Area Code
- October 1947: 703 is created as one of the 86 original area codes. It covers the entire state of Virginia.
- June 24, 1973: eastern Virginia is split off as 804.
- June 19, 1995: the western part becomes 540. 703 is left with Northern Virginia.
- March 1, 2000: 571 is added as an overlay, and ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory.
A Government and Technology Corridor
Northern Virginia is tied closely to the federal government. The Pentagon is in Arlington, and many agencies, defense contractors and consulting firms have offices across the 703 area. The region is also one of the largest data center hubs in the world. Calls from recruiters, security clearance offices and contractors are part of daily life here. See our 202 area code guide for Washington itself.
How to Dial a 703 Number
Dial all ten digits for every call in this area.
- From the US or Canada: 1 + 703 + the seven-digit number
- From another country: your exit code + 1 + 703 + the seven-digit number
Is a Call From 703 a Scam?
Because so many real government-related calls come from 703 and 571, scammers use these codes to pose as federal agencies. No agency will call to demand payment by gift card, wire transfer or crypto.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Someone who says they are from the IRS, Social Security or a court and demands payment
- Tech support calls about a virus on your computer
- Investment or crypto offers from a company you do not know
- Texts that ask you to click a link to fix a billing problem
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 703 call
- Let it ring out and check the voicemail.
- Search the full number online before you call back.
- Block the number and report it.
- Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov and register at donotcall.gov.
- Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
How to Get a 703 Phone Number
A 703 number is easy to get, for personal or business use.
- Carriers: new lines in Northern Virginia receive 703 or 571 depending on supply. 571 is more likely.
- VoIP and virtual number providers: search by area code, pick a 703 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 703
| 571 | Same area as 703 |
| 202, 771 | Washington, D.C. |
| 301, 240, 227 | Maryland suburbs of Washington |
| 540, 826 | Fredericksburg, Winchester, Roanoke |
| 804, 686 | Richmond |
Related guides: 202 area code for Washington, D.C., 240 area code for Maryland, 804 area code for Richmond.
703 Area Code FAQs
Where is area code 703?
In Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Reston and Manassas.
Is 703 Washington, D.C.?
No. It is the Virginia side of the Washington area. The city itself uses 202 and 771.
What is area code 571?
It is the overlay for the 703 area and has been in service since March 1, 2000.
What time zone is 703?
Eastern Time.
Is 703 a toll-free number?
No. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Final Word
The 703 area code has covered Northern Virginia since 1947 and shares its area with 571. It is on Eastern Time. If a caller claims to be a government agency, hang up and call the agency through its official number.
