604 Area Code Canada: Location, Time Zone & Dialing Guide

If you’ve ever dialed a number in Vancouver and heard the familiar 604 prefix, you might have wondered what makes that area code so special. It’s not just a random set of digits—604 is one of the original North American area codes, assigned in 1947 to serve the southwestern corner of British Columbia. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about its location, time zone, dialing rules, and how it fits into Canada’s telecom landscape.

Area code: 604 ·
Location: Southwestern British Columbia, Canada ·
Major city: Vancouver ·
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8) ·
Numbering plan area: NPA 604

The 604 area code’s snapshot reveals its concentrated urban focus and overlay complexities.

Five key facts about the 604 area code, one pattern: it’s a Pacific Coast numbering plan with a history dating to 1947.

Which city in Canada uses code 604?

What cities are in the 604 area code?

The 604 area code covers the southwestern corner of British Columbia, including Metro Vancouver and surrounding communities. Major cities served include Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, and Aldergrove (Phone2 – 604 Area Code). The numbering plan area also extends to the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound/Sea-to-Sky Corridor, Fraser Valley, and lower Fraser Canyon (Wikipedia – Area code 604).

Does area code 604 cover Vancouver only?

No. While Vancouver is the most prominent city, 604 also covers many cities in the Lower Mainland. In fact, the original 604 area code from 1947 covered the entire province of British Columbia (Phone2 – 604 Area Code). Today it shares its territory with overlay area codes 236, 257, 672, and 778 (Wikipedia – Area code 604).

The implication: 604 is far from a single-city code. It’s a regional identifier for southwestern BC that has required multiple overlays as demand for phone numbers has grown.

What time is it in Canada area code 604?

What is the time zone for area code 604?

604 operates in the Pacific Time Zone, which is UTC-8 during standard time and UTC-7 during daylight saving time (Phone2 – 604 Area Code). This time zone is shared with major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and Seattle.

• Standard time: UTC-8
• Daylight saving time: UTC-7
• Abbreviation: PST (PDT during DST)

Does area code 604 observe daylight saving time?

Yes. British Columbia observes daylight saving time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During this period, clocks are set one hour ahead (UTC-7). This is consistent with most of Canada and the U.S. West Coast.

The catch: If you’re calling a 604 number from a region that doesn’t observe DST (like parts of Arizona), the time difference shifts twice a year.

Why is 604 used with Vancouver?

When was area code 604 assigned?

Area code 604 was assigned in 1947 as one of the original 86 area codes in the North American Numbering Plan. It was one of only nine originally assigned to Canada (Wikipedia – Area code 604). The original numbering plan allocated 604 to the entire province of British Columbia.

“Area code 604 was one of the nine original Canadian area codes assigned in 1947.”

Wikipedia – Area code 604

Why was 604 chosen for British Columbia?

The specific digits 6-0-4 were chosen because they required 20 pulses on a rotary dial (6+0+4), which was a relatively efficient sequence for the time (AllAreaCodes – Area code 604). Until 1953, a middle digit of 0 indicated that the area code covered an entire province (AllAreaCodes – Area code 604).

The pattern: 604’s digits were both practical for rotary dialing and followed the early NANP convention for province-wide codes.

What country code is +1 604?

What does +1 mean in a phone number?

The +1 is the country code for Canada and the United States under the North American Numbering Plan. When you dial +1 604, you’re telling the network to route the call to the NANP region, then to the 604 area code (AllAreaCodes – Area code 604).

How to call a 604 number from outside Canada?

To call a 604 number from another country:

1. Dial your country’s international access code (e.g., 011 from the U.S. or 00 from most European countries).
2. Then dial 1 (the NANP country code).
3. Then dial 604 (the area code).
4. Finally, dial the 7-digit local number.

The complete sequence looks like: [international prefix] + 1 + 604 + XXX XXXX.

Is area code 604 an international call in Canada?

Is 604 considered long distance within Canada?

If you are calling a 604 number from another Canadian area code (e.g., 416 in Toronto), the call is a domestic call, not international. However, it may be charged as a long-distance call depending on your carrier plan and the distance between the calling and receiving areas (Vancouver Is Awesome – BC area code news).

Is a call to 604 from another Canadian area code toll-free?

No, it is not automatically toll-free. Many Canadian long-distance plans include nationwide calling, but if your plan has a local-only zone, a call to 604 from elsewhere in Canada may incur per-minute charges. Always check with your provider. Some VoIP services consider 604 numbers as local for customers in the Lower Mainland only.

What this means: even within Canada, calling a 604 number can bring surprise charges if you’re not on an unlimited nationwide plan.

How to dial a 604 number

Whether you’re calling from within Canada, the United States, or another country, the steps are straightforward.

1. From within Canada or the U.S.: Dial 604 followed by the 7-digit local number. No international prefix needed.
2. From overseas: Dial your international access code (00 or 011), then 1 (country code), then 604, then the 7-digit number.
3. For texting: The same number format works for SMS. Ensure your carrier supports international text rates if dialing from abroad.

The pattern: dialing a 604 number is straightforward whether you’re in North America or abroad.

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

The balance of known and unknown facts about 604 shows that while much is documented, some specifics remain uncertain.

Quotes from experts

“Area code 604 was one of the nine original Canadian area codes assigned in 1947.”

Wikipedia – Area code 604

“The CRTC directed area code 672 for BC relief in Telecom Decision 2011-451, indicating the ongoing need for numbering resources in the province.”

Vancouver Is Awesome – BC area code overlay

These expert sources confirm the historical and regulatory context of 604.

Summary

The 604 area code is more than just a set of digits—it’s a piece of Canadian telecom history. From its origins as a province-wide code in 1947 to its current role as a regional identifier for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, 604 has adapted through splits and overlays as demand for numbers has surged. For anyone living or doing business in British Columbia, understanding 604—and its companion codes 778, 236, 257, and 672—is essential for navigating local and international calls. The pattern is clear: as the region grows, so does the numbering plan.

For residents of British Columbia, the proliferation of overlays means that 604 numbers are becoming scarcer, but the original code remains a symbol of Vancouver’s telecom heritage. The choice is yours: keep your existing 604 number if you have one, or embrace the newer codes—but know that 604 is here to stay. For more on Canadian area codes, check out the 902 Area Code Canada article.

Related reading: **902 Area Code Canada** · **Average Height in Canada**

The 604 area code serves Vancouver and southwestern British Columbia, and it operates alongside the 778 area code overlay that was introduced in 2001 to meet growing demand for phone numbers in the region.

Frequently asked questions