Area code 249
Area code 249 holds 586 in-service central-office prefixes in the CNAC register, covering roughly 5,860,000 telephone numbers. They are split between 23 carriers and 176 rate centres. The largest is Sudbury. Recorded assignments run from March 18, 2011 to April 24, 2026. That ranks it 33 of 55 Canadian area codes by prefix count.
Background reading: Caller ID spoofing, STIR/SHAKEN, and how to actually block calls in Canada · Canadian area codes, overlays, and what a 416 number actually tells you · One-ring scams and the Caribbean area codes that look Canadian
Area code 249 at a glance
- Province or territory
- Ontario
- Main rate centres
- Sudbury, Barrie, Huntsville, Collingwood, Peterborough
- Local time
- — Eastern Time (ET), UTC−5; UTC−4 in daylight saving time — also: Central Time
- In service since
- March 19, 2011
- Split or overlaid from
- 705
- Number format
- 249-NXX-XXXX · +1 249 NXX XXXX
Sources: CNAC, NANPA (September 25, 2026), Statistics Canada.
In numbers
- In-service prefixes
- 586
- Telephone numbers covered
- 5,860,000
- Carriers
- 23
- Rate centres
- 176
- Provinces and territories
- 1
- First assignment
- March 18, 2011
- Most recent assignment
- April 24, 2026
Who holds these numbers
Fibernetics Corporation holds the largest share at 142 prefixes, 24.2% of the total, ahead of 22 other carriers.
| Carrier | Prefixes | Share | First assigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibernetics Corporation | 142 | 24.2 % | 2012 |
| TELUS Integrated Communications | 110 | 18.8 % | 2012 |
| Iristel Inc. | 76 | 13.0 % | 2013 |
| Distributel | 64 | 10.9 % | 2016 |
| ISP Telecom Inc. | 30 | 5.1 % | 2019 |
| TELUS Mobility | 29 | 4.9 % | 2011 |
| Bell Canada | 26 | 4.4 % | 2016 |
| Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) | 17 | 2.9 % | 2012 |
| Bragg Communications Inc. | 14 | 2.4 % | 2014 |
| Fido Solutions Inc. | 14 | 2.4 % | 2013 |
| Bell Mobility | 11 | 1.9 % | 2014 |
| Comwave Networks | 10 | 1.7 % | 2013 |
| Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Cable) | 9 | 1.5 % | 2017 |
| IXICA Communications Inc. | 8 | 1.4 % | 2017 |
| Rogers Communications Canada Inc. | 6 | 1.0 % | 2019 |
| ExaTEL Inc. | 5 | 0.9 % | 2017 |
| InnSysVoice Corp | 4 | 0.7 % | 2018 |
| Cogeco Connexion Inc. | 3 | 0.5 % | 2025 |
| FGLTEL Inc. | 2 | 0.3 % | 2022 |
| Nexicom Telecommunications Inc | 2 | 0.3 % | 2016 |
| TekSavvy Solutions Inc | 2 | 0.3 % | 2021 |
| Northern Telephone Ltd. | 1 | 0.2 % | 2018 |
| Videotron Ltd. | 1 | 0.2 % | 2020 |
Where these numbers land
Prefixes in 249 serve 176 rate centres. A rate centre is the billing area a prefix is attached to, not where the handset is.
| Rate centre | Province | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sudbury | ON | 25 | 11 |
| Barrie | ON | 21 | 9 |
| Huntsville | ON | 17 | 9 |
| Collingwood | ON | 15 | 7 |
| Peterborough | ON | 15 | 9 |
| Alliston | ON | 13 | 6 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | ON | 12 | 9 |
| Espanola | ON | 10 | 5 |
| North Bay | ON | 9 | 7 |
| Bracebridge | ON | 8 | 5 |
| Midland | ON | 8 | 5 |
| Borden-Angus | ON | 7 | 5 |
| Lindsay | ON | 7 | 6 |
| Moonstone | ON | 7 | 6 |
| Orillia | ON | 7 | 4 |
| Parry Sound | ON | 7 | 6 |
| Pefferlaw | ON | 7 | 7 |
| Bobcaygeon | ON | 6 | 4 |
| Brechin | ON | 6 | 6 |
| Campbellford | ON | 6 | 2 |
| Elliot Lake | ON | 6 | 5 |
| Timmins | ON | 6 | 4 |
| Udora | ON | 6 | 6 |
| Algoma Mills | ON | 5 | 3 |
| Cookstown | ON | 5 | 4 |
| Kirkland Lake | ON | 5 | 4 |
| Markstay | ON | 5 | 3 |
| Penetanguishene | ON | 5 | 5 |
| Blind River | ON | 4 | 3 |
| Chapleau | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Gravenhurst | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Haliburton | ON | 4 | 2 |
| Kapuskasing | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Little Current | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Mattawa | ON | 4 | 4 |
| New Liskeard | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Omemee | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Port Carling | ON | 4 | 3 |
| Severn Bridge | ON | 4 | 3 |
| Spanish | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Stayner | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Stroud | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Warren | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Wasaga Beach | ON | 4 | 4 |
| Alban | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Azilda | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Bala | ON | 3 | 2 |
| Baysville | ON | 3 | 2 |
| Bethany | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Blezard Valley | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Bluewater | ON | 3 | 2 |
| Bridgenorth | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Buckhorn | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Chelmsford | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Creemore | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Elmvale | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Emsdale | ON | 3 | 2 |
| Fenelon Falls | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Foleyet | ON | 3 | 2 |
| Garson | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Gogama | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Gore Bay | ON | 3 | 2 |
| Hanmer | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Hastings | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Havelock | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Killarney | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Kirkfield | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Lafontaine | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Lakefield | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Lefroy | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Mactier | ON | 3 | 2 |
| Massey | ON | 3 | 3 |
| McKellar | ON | 3 | 2 |
| Noelville | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Norwood | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Oba | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Oro | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Port McNicoll | ON | 3 | 3 |
| St. Charles | ON | 3 | 3 |
| Sturgeon Falls | ON | 3 | 3 |
How the allocation was built up
| Period | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2014 | 38 | 9 |
| 2015–2019 | 268 | 19 |
| 2020–2024 | 251 | 16 |
| 2025–2029 | 29 | 6 |
Overlay area codes
249 shares its rate centres with 705, 683. Overlay codes cover the same ground, which is why ten-digit dialling is required: two neighbours on one street can hold different area codes.
What people check and report about 249 numbers
Searches typed into this site's lookup form since July 28, 2026, plus the verdicts and moderated reports visitors left. A search usually follows a missed call.
- Checks
- 32
- Different numbers
- 30
- Different people
- 31
Phone and text fraud in Ontario
In 2024 the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 5,002 fraud reports from Ontario where the first contact was a phone call (3,655) or a text (1,347); 2,814 came from victims, who reported $37.1 million lost. The most common types were service, phishing, bank investigator.
January to September 2025: 2,830 reports (-24% on the same months of 2024) and $43.3 million reported lost (+66%).
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre open data (Open Government Licence – Canada), current to September 29, 2025. These are province-wide figures, not specific to one area code, and only a fraction of fraud is ever reported. Dataset
Had a call from a 249 number?
No clear pattern in reports on these numbers yet. If a call worried you:
- Call back on a number you trust
If a caller says they are your bank, the Canada Revenue Agency, a courier or your phone company, hang up and call the organization on the number from its website or your statement, never the number that called you. Caller ID can be faked.
- Report the fraud
Report the call or text to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or at 1-888-495-8501. If you lost money or gave out personal details, tell your bank first, then your local police.
- Register on the National Do Not Call List
Registering a landline or mobile on the National DNCL is free. Registered charities, political parties, newspapers and companies you already do business with may still call.
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726
Forward a scam or spam text to 7726 (SPAM on the keypad). It's free, and your carrier uses it to block the sender. Don't tap links or reply.
Area code 249: questions and answers
Where is area code 249?
249 serves Ontario. Its 586 in-service prefixes belong to 176 rate centres, mainly Sudbury, Barrie, Huntsville and Collingwood.
What time zone is area code 249 in?
It depends on the exchange: 168 rate centres are on Eastern Time (ET), UTC−5; UTC−4 in daylight saving time; 1 rate centre is on Central Time (CT), UTC−6; UTC−5 in daylight saving time.
When did area code 249 start?
249 has been in service since March 19, 2011; it was created from 705. It shares its territory with 683 and 705, so a new number there can get any of these codes.
Which carriers hold 249 numbers?
The CNAC register lists 23 carriers with prefixes in 249; the largest are Fibernetics Corporation (24.2%), TELUS Integrated Communications (18.8%) and Iristel Inc. (13%). Numbers can be ported, so the original carrier may not be the current one.
Is phone fraud rising in Ontario?
In the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's open data, call and text fraud reports from Ontario went from 3,744 in January–September 2024 to 2,830 in the same months of 2025 (-24%). Reported losses went from $26.1 million to $43.3 million.
How do I report a scam call from a 249 number?
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501). If you lost money, call your bank first, then your local police. Unwanted telemarketing goes to the National Do Not Call List, and spam texts can be forwarded to 7726.
Allocated prefixes
Showing 256 of 586 prefixes, largest rate centres first.
Sudbury, ON
249-203 · 249-239 · 249-266 · 249-350 · 249-354 · 249-360 · 249-377 · 249-431 · 249-526 · 249-532
Barrie, ON
249-288 · 249-315 · 249-359 · 249-388 · 249-444 · 249-489 · 249-495 · 249-498 · 249-535 · 249-544
Huntsville, ON
249-216 · 249-228 · 249-338 · 249-435 · 249-478 · 249-549 · 249-558 · 249-679 · 249-692 · 249-699
Collingwood, ON
249-225 · 249-399 · 249-481 · 249-486 · 249-499 · 249-522 · 249-533 · 249-550 · 249-553 · 249-660
Peterborough, ON
249-353 · 249-357 · 249-387 · 249-494 · 249-504 · 249-510 · 249-516 · 249-680 · 249-681 · 249-688
Alliston, ON
249-221 · 249-424 · 249-501 · 249-505 · 249-523 · 249-524 · 249-527 · 249-530 · 249-593 · 249-594
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
249-356 · 249-383 · 249-479 · 249-493 · 249-507 · 249-525 · 249-622 · 249-865 · 249-889 · 249-955
Espanola, ON
249-200 · 249-201 · 249-202 · 249-217 · 249-234 · 249-275 · 249-281 · 249-402 · 249-421 · 249-999
North Bay, ON
249-328 · 249-358 · 249-362 · 249-506 · 249-560 · 249-591 · 249-650 · 249-774 · 249-983
Bracebridge, ON
249-218 · 249-299 · 249-390 · 249-403 · 249-422 · 249-482 · 249-487 · 249-502
Midland, ON
249-301 · 249-307 · 249-492 · 249-554 · 249-559 · 249-579 · 249-649 · 249-893
Borden-Angus, ON
249-227 · 249-294 · 249-368 · 249-483 · 249-616 · 249-668 · 249-943
Lindsay, ON
249-332 · 249-346 · 249-477 · 249-628 · 249-690 · 249-702 · 249-703
Moonstone, ON
249-223 · 249-308 · 249-552 · 249-618 · 249-674 · 249-875 · 249-876
Orillia, ON
249-209 · 249-385 · 249-449 · 249-451 · 249-721 · 249-749 · 249-891
Parry Sound, ON
249-219 · 249-287 · 249-317 · 249-585 · 249-701 · 249-866 · 249-988
Pefferlaw, ON
249-204 · 249-241 · 249-295 · 249-349 · 249-434 · 249-665 · 249-886
Bobcaygeon, ON
249-290 · 249-329 · 249-485 · 249-488 · 249-490 · 249-627
Brechin, ON
249-251 · 249-369 · 249-454 · 249-617 · 249-669 · 249-881
Campbellford, ON
249-339 · 249-503 · 249-509 · 249-528 · 249-529 · 249-531
Elliot Lake, ON
249-260 · 249-352 · 249-404 · 249-464 · 249-954 · 249-960
Timmins, ON
249-351 · 249-361 · 249-578 · 249-750 · 249-832 · 249-870
Udora, ON
249-205 · 249-296 · 249-433 · 249-484 · 249-666 · 249-949
Algoma Mills, ON
249-302 · 249-456 · 249-500 · 249-508 · 249-801
Cookstown, ON
249-252 · 249-371 · 249-663 · 249-883 · 249-945
Kirkland Lake, ON
249-355 · 249-592 · 249-654 · 249-713 · 249-992
Markstay, ON
249-248 · 249-426 · 249-491 · 249-803 · 249-808
Penetanguishene, ON
249-256 · 249-375 · 249-455 · 249-521 · 249-946
Blind River, ON
249-458 · 249-620 · 249-953 · 249-974
Chapleau, ON
249-276 · 249-305 · 249-319 · 249-897
Gravenhurst, ON
249-300 · 249-420 · 249-423 · 249-468
Haliburton, ON
249-480 · 249-580 · 249-773 · 249-802
Kapuskasing, ON
249-587 · 249-712 · 249-874 · 249-994
Little Current, ON
249-247 · 249-321 · 249-386 · 249-997
Mattawa, ON
249-400 · 249-410 · 249-966 · 249-996
New Liskeard, ON
249-586 · 249-714 · 249-863 · 249-991
Omemee, ON
249-344 · 249-637 · 249-903 · 249-922
Port Carling, ON
249-395 · 249-436 · 249-543 · 249-609
Severn Bridge, ON
249-258 · 249-347 · 249-378 · 249-661
Spanish, ON
249-325 · 249-441 · 249-789 · 249-898
Allocation source: Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNAC), the registry that records which carrier a central-office code was originally issued to. An allocation says who was issued the prefix, not who serves the number today: numbers can be ported between carriers, and caller ID can be spoofed outright.