357 area code — Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley, CA (overlay of 559)
The valley’s second code, laid over 559 on March 26, 2025. 559 was itself only cut from 209 in 1998, and number pooling from 2002 kept it going into the 2020s; 357 is the first time the area has needed a second layer.
New numbers available in 357Area code 357 covers Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley: Clovis, Madera, Visalia, Tulare, Hanford, Reedley and Porterville, across all or parts of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare and Kings counties.
It is an overlay, not a separate region. 357 shares every street with 559, the valley’s code since 1998, and a new line there can come from either. Local calls are dialled with 1 and all ten digits.
Area code 357 at a glance
- State
- California
- County
- All or parts of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare and Kings
- Region
- Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley
- Time zone
- Pacific Time (PT)
- In service since
- March 26, 2025
- Type
- Overlay code
How a 357 number is built
Every North American number has four parts. Knowing where the seams fall answers most of what people ask about 357.
The code and the exchange together are the NPA-NXX: what each group of digits means.
Cities and areas served by 357
- Fresno
- Clovis
- Madera
- Visalia
- Tulare
- Hanford
- Reedley
- Porterville
Codes sharing the same area
One other code covers the same ground as 357.
Nearby area codes
Bordering California and the surrounding region. A number in one of these is close to 357 but not in it.
How 357 came about
Cut from 209 in 1998, layered in 2025.
- 1958209 takes the Central ValleyThe valley gets its own code, 209, split from the San Francisco Bay Area’s 415. For forty years it runs from Stockton and Modesto down to Fresno and Visalia.
- November 14, 1998559 takes the southThe southern part of 209 — Fresno, Visalia, Hanford and the Sierra foothills — becomes 559. 209 keeps Stockton and Modesto.
- 2002Pooling buys timeCarriers in 209 and 559 start receiving numbers in blocks of 1,000 instead of whole exchanges of 10,000, so far fewer sit unused. It is a large part of why 559 lasted into the 2020s.
- December 14, 2023An overlay is approvedWith 559 expected to run out of prefixes in 2025, the California Public Utilities Commission approves an overlay: 357 will cover the same ground, and nobody changes number.
- March 26, 2025357 goes into service357 can now be assigned across the whole of 559’s territory, and carriers move to it as 559’s prefixes run out. Every existing 559 line keeps its number.
Which code should you choose?
Two codes cover the central San Joaquin Valley identically. The codes around it are different regions.
| Code | Covers | How it reads |
|---|---|---|
| 559 | Fresno, Visalia and the valley since 1998 | The established valley code |
| 357 | The same area since 2025 | Newest, with the most numbers still free |
| 209 | Stockton, Modesto and the northern valley | Not Fresno |
| 661 | Bakersfield and Kern County | Not Fresno |
| 805 | The Central Coast | Not Fresno |
Callers in the valley read 559 and 357 as equally local. Pick 559 for familiarity, 357 if you want a choice of patterns.
What people get wrong about 357
Is 357 used for spam calls?
Because 357 is new, an unfamiliar 357 number can look suspicious — but it is as local as a 559 one. Caller ID is a field the calling system fills in, not proof of where a call started. Carriers check STIR/SHAKEN attestation, but an unexpected request for payment, a code or personal details should still be checked by calling back a number you already trust.
Sources
- NANPA area code report: 357 (npa_report.csv, file dated October 19, 2026: in service 26-Mar-2025; parent 559; overlay complex 357/559; local calls 1+10 digits; 559 in service 14-Nov-1998, parent 209; 209 in service 1958, parent 415)
- California Public Utilities Commission: 559 Area Code (357 overlay approved December 14, 2023; counties served; 559 expected to run out of prefixes in 2025)
- Area codes 559 and 357 (the 1998 split from 209, number pooling by 2002, cities served, neighbouring codes)
Area code 357 FAQ
Where is area code 357?
Area code 357 is the central San Joaquin Valley in California: Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Visalia, Tulare, Hanford, Reedley and Porterville, across all or parts of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare and Kings counties.
What state is the 357 area code in?
California. 357 covers the central San Joaquin Valley around Fresno and Visalia.
Is 357 a Fresno area code?
Yes. 357 is Fresno’s second area code, alongside 559. Both cover exactly the same area.
What is the difference between 357 and 559?
There is no geographic difference. 559 has served the valley since November 14, 1998, and 357 was laid over the same area on March 26, 2025. 559 is the established code; 357 is newer and has more numbers free.
When did the 357 area code start?
Its in-service date was March 26, 2025. The California Public Utilities Commission approved the overlay on December 14, 2023, when 559 was expected to run out of prefixes in 2025.
Is a call from a 357 number a scam?
Not because of the code. 357 is a real Fresno-area code, in service since March 26, 2025. Judge a call by what it asks for, not by its area code.
What time zone is the 357 area code in?
Pacific Time: UTC−8 in winter and UTC−7 during daylight saving time.
How do I dial a local number in the 357 area?
Dial 1, then all ten digits — area code and number — even for a call to the next street.
Getting a 357 business number
357 numbers are still being issued, so a business anywhere can hold one and route it to wherever its team actually works — you do not need an address in California.
- STIR/SHAKENAttested, so calls are less likely to show as spam
- AI receptionistCover for the hours nobody is at a desk
- Free portingIf you already hold a 357 number
- Recording & SMSOn the same line, no add-on