A new area code is coming to the 805, and that will change how you dial

Get ready to update your smartphone contacts.

Beginning Dec. 1, residents and businesses using the 805 area code — covering most of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and parts of Monterey and Kern counties — are asked to begin dialing 1 plus the prefix before making local calls, in anticipation for the impending introduction of the 820 area code.

When it begins distribution June 30, 2018, the 820 area code will serve the same region as the 805 code.

As part of the change beginning in December, California Public Utilities Commission recommends reprogramming equipment and phones to include 1 plus the area code, “including automatic dialers, life safety systems and medical monitoring devices, speed-dialing, call forwarding, voicemail services, modems for computer or internet dial-up access and other similar services or equipment.”

The commission also recommends updating items containing phone numbers, such as stationary or checks, to include the area code if it is not currently reflected.

“Consumers will still be able to dial three digits to reach 911, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 and 811,” according to a commission statement.

More information is available by visiting www.cpuc.ca.gov/805areacode.

This story was originally published November 23, 2017 at 8:52 AM with the headline "A new area code is coming to the 805, and that will change how you dial."