New Area Code for the Upstate

The Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSC) announced that the Upstate region is set to receive a new area code. This decision was approved on September 27, 2022, and it involves an area code overlay for the existing 864 area code, which includes larger cities such as Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson, among other areas in the Upstate. The PSC stated that this overlay will establish a new area code, 821, in 2024.

The new 821 area code will cover the same geographic area as the current 864 area code and will only affect the assignment of new telephone numbers. All existing customers will retain the 864 area code and will not need to change their telephone numbers as a result of this overlay. However, ten-digit dialing will be required by all customers within the area covered by the current 864 and new 821 area codes.