<P> North American area code 480 is a telephone area code in Arizona serving the eastern and northern portions of the Phoenix metropolitan area . It was created on April 1, 1999 in a three - way split of area code 602, when it was apparent that the Valley of the Sun was growing too fast for it to remain entirely in one area code . Generally, 480 is coextensive with the East Valley, while most of the West Valley is area code 623 and most of Phoenix itself remained in 602 . </P> <P> Original plans called for the 480 code to be an overlay code for the entire Phoenix metro area . However, overlays were a new concept at the time, and met with considerable resistance due to potential geographic ambiguity caused by overlay codes, as well as the requirement for ten - digit dialing . A three - way geographic split was chosen instead, with 480 being assigned to the East Valley . </P>

Where is area code 480 located in usa