Area code 502 – Kentucky
502 is one of the original area codes, in service across Kentucky since 1947. 735 of its 786 number blocks are allocated – about 94% full. AT&T is the largest holder with 42.3% of blocks, ahead of Other CLEC / VoIP at 18.2%. It shares its geography with overlay codes 761, so local calls take all ten digits. NANPA has relief planning under way for this code, which means another overlay is coming. It is also among the most imitated codes in spam calls: 1,703 FTC complaints named a 502 caller ID in the 33 days to 30 October 2026, ranking 4th of 422 ranked codes. The dominant complaint type is “Other”.
Who holds 502 number blocks
Share of the 735 assigned NXX blocks (93.5% of the 786 possible), across 52 carriers. This is share of number blocks, not of subscribers.
- AT&T42.3%
- T-Mobile12%
- Other CLEC / VoIP9.4%
- Verizon7.6%
- Onvoy7.1%
- Lumen6.1%
- Windstream5%
- Charter4.1%
- Bandwidth2%
- American Messaging1.1%
- Spok1.1%
- Dish0.7%
- Peerless0.5%
- Telnyx0.5%
- Vonage0.1%
- TPx0.1%
- Twilio0.1%
Spam complaints naming 502
FTC Do Not Call complaints where the caller ID was a 502 number, 28 Sep – 30 Oct 2026 (33 days). Caller IDs on spam calls are frequently spoofed, so these are complaints about the code, not calls proven to originate in it.
Rate centers in 502
NANPA allocates number blocks to rate centers and records their names abbreviated to ten characters, so these are NANPA's codes rather than place names – CHAMPAURBN is Champaign-Urbana, NWYRCYZN01 is a New York City zone. We show them unchanged instead of guessing at the full names. Showing the largest 5 of 36.
Timeline
- 1947 502 assigned in the original North American Numbering Plan.
- Announced NANPA records relief planning in progress: another overlay is being prepared.
More about 502
Separate pages for the questions that need their own answer: what time it is there, what the complaint data says, who holds the number blocks, and how the code compares with the one it shares its area with.
Frequently asked about 502
What state is area code 502?
Kentucky. It covers the same area as 502/761.
Is a call from 502 a scam?
502 is one of the most complained-about codes in the country – 1,703 FTC complaints in the 33 days to 30 October 2026, 4th of 422 ranked codes. Most of those calls are spoofed: the caller fakes a local-looking number because it gets answered more often. Look up the specific number rather than judging by the code. The most reported category here is “Other”.
Which carrier owns 502 numbers?
AT&T holds the largest share of assigned number blocks at 42.3%. The rest is spread across 3 other carriers. This is share of number blocks, not of subscribers – people keep their numbers when they switch carriers.
Do I need to dial 10 digits in 502?
No. NANPA records 502 as 7-digit dialing for local calls.
Is a new area code coming to the 502 area?
Yes. NANPA lists relief planning as in progress for this code, which means a new overlay is being prepared. The overlay complex is recorded as 502/761.
Sources and verification
- NANPA – NPA Database (npa_report.csv), file date 11/01/2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- NANPA – CO Code Assignment Records, All States (utilized), file updated 11/01/2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- FTC – Do Not Call Reported Calls Data, 25 daily files 28 Sep – 30 Oct 2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- NANPA – NPA relief planning letters, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
NANPA dialing note for this code: “7D”. Reviewed by the data desk. Spotted an error? Request a correction.