Area Code 985 – Louisiana

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

Area code 985 is a geographic North American Numbering Plan (NANP) code serving the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was introduced on October 11, 2001, as a split of area code 504, which had been nearing exhaust. The 985 numbering plan area (NPA) encompasses the Florida Parishes (north of Lake Pontchartrain) and the Greater New Orleans suburbs south of the lake, including the cities of Hammond, Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, and Houma. It also covers the bayou communities of Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes, as well as portions of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, St. John the Baptist, St. James, and Assumption parishes. Major economic hubs within the region include the Port of South Louisiana, one of the largest tonnage ports in the Western Hemisphere, and the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in eastern New Orleans, which is actually served by 504 but is in proximity to 985 areas.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For local calls within the 985 region, callers must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + seven-digit subscriber number) due to the overlay of area code 504 in parts of the region. However, 985 is not an overlay itself; it is a standalone geographic code. For calls from outside the 985 area but within the NANP (e.g., from area code 504 or other U.S. states), the international format is: +1 985 XXX XXXX. For callers from outside the United States, the same format applies, replacing the leading '+' with the international access code (e.g., 011 from many countries). For example, to reach a business in Hammond, Louisiana, from abroad, you would dial +1 985 555 0123. Within the United States, long-distance calls to 985 require dialing 1 before the area code (e.g., 1-985-555-0123).

Numbering Administration and Considerations

The 985 area code is administered by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) under the oversight of the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). As of 2024, the NPA is not projected to exhaust before 2049, so no overlay is currently planned. However, due to the region's growth, especially in the suburban New Orleans corridor, the LPSC has implemented mandatory 10-digit dialing for all calls within the state to ensure compatibility with future overlays. Subscribers in 985 can port their numbers to other service providers, including VoIP and mobile carriers, but the geographic rate center remains associated with the original location for emergency services (E911) routing. When calling a 985 number from a mobile phone, standard airtime charges apply, and international callers should check with their carrier for specific rates.