Area Code 705 – Ontario
The phone area code for Ontario is 705 (international format +1705). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Ontario
Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction
Area code 705 is a geographic North American Numbering Plan (NANP) code serving a vast expanse of Ontario, Canada. It encompasses the province's central and northeastern regions, including major urban centers such as Sudbury, Barrie, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Peterborough, and Timmins. The numbering plan area (NPA) also covers numerous smaller communities and rural areas, stretching from the shores of Georgian Bay to the Quebec border. Administratively, the region falls under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and is served by various local exchange carriers, including incumbent telcos and competitive providers.
Dialing Formats and Procedures
Within the 705 region, local calls are placed using the standard 10-digit dialing format: NPA-NXX-XXXX (e.g., 705-555-0134). This applies to both landline and mobile numbers. For callers outside the 705 area but within Canada or the United States, the international format is +1 705 XXX XXXX. When calling from overseas, the country code for Canada (and the U.S.) is +1, followed by the area code and the seven-digit subscriber number. For example, a caller from Europe would dial +1 705 555 0134.
Overlay and Future Considerations
To meet the growing demand for telecommunication services, the CRTC introduced an overlay area code, 249, in 2011, serving the same geographic region. This means that new numbers in the region may be assigned either 705 or 249. Consequently, 10-digit dialing is mandatory for all local calls within the overlay area, and callers must always include the area code when dialing. This overlay does not require any change to existing numbers; it simply expands the available pool of numbers. For businesses and residents, it is essential to store and dial full 10-digit numbers to ensure connectivity.
Caller Instructions
For local callers within the 705/249 area: simply dial the 10-digit number (area code + local number). For long-distance callers from other Canadian provinces or the U.S.: dial 1 (trunk prefix) followed by 705 and the seven-digit number. For international callers: dial your country's exit code (e.g., 011 from the U.S., 00 from most European countries), then 1, then 705, and the subscriber number. Remember that calls to 705 from outside North America will incur international tariffs as determined by your carrier.