You’re walking down Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal, and you see a shop window with a 263 area code. You might pause. Is that a scam? A long-distance call? Actually, it's just the newest reality of phone numbers in Quebec.
The days of just "514" or "418" are long gone. Honestly, the map of Quebec's telecommunications is starting to look like a complex puzzle. If you've lived here since the 90s, you remember when 514 covered almost everything from the US border to the far north. Now? We're stacking area codes on top of each other just to keep up with the explosion of devices.
Most people don't realize how quickly we are running out of space. In fact, a brand new area code—273—is slated to land in Eastern Quebec by February 2027. This isn't just about more digits. It's about how we connect in a province where a phone number is a badge of regional identity.
The Great Montreal Split and the 514 Mystique
For decades, the 514 area code was synonymous with Montreal. It wasn't just a code; it was a status symbol. Then 1998 happened. That was the year the "off-island" suburbs like Laval and Longueuil were kicked out of the 514 club and moved to 450.
People were genuinely upset. Businesses had to reprint everything. It felt like a divorce between the island and its surroundings. But the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) didn't have a choice. The demand for phone numbers in Quebec was skyrocketing because of pagers, fax machines, and the early days of mobile phones.
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Fast forward to today, and 514 is "full." If you want a 514 number now, you usually have to hope someone gives theirs up or buy one from a third-party broker. Most new residents in Montreal end up with a 438 or the even newer 263. It's the same city, just a different digital "zip code."
Why "Overlay" Changed Everything
In the old days, when an area code ran out of numbers, they would split the region geographically. Half the people kept their number; the other half got a new one. It was a nightmare.
Quebec moved away from this "split" method in favor of the "overlay." This means they just add a new code to the same geographic area. You keep your number, but everyone has to start dialing 10 digits—area code plus the number—even if they're calling their neighbor.
- Montreal (Island): 514, 438, and now 263.
- Montreal Suburbs (Laval/South Shore): 450, 579, and 354.
- Quebec City and Eastern Quebec: 418, 581, and 367.
- Western and Central Quebec (Gatineau/Sherbrooke): 819, 873, and 468.
Basically, if you're in Sherbrooke and you get a new cell phone today, there's a good chance your number starts with 468. Ten years ago, no one would have known what that was. Now, it’s just part of the local fabric.
The 2026-2027 Outlook: Here Comes Area Code 273
The hunger for new numbers never stops. According to the Canadian Numbering Administrator, the region currently served by 418, 581, and 367 is reaching "exhaustion." That’s a fancy way of saying we’re almost out of combinations.
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To fix this, the CRTC recently approved the introduction of area code 273. It’s set to go live on February 27, 2027. This will serve places like Quebec City, the Saguenay, and the Gaspé Peninsula.
It’s a bit weird to think about. A region that was once purely 418 for over half a century will soon have four different area codes operating in the same space. If you're a business owner in Lévis or Rimouski, you need to start thinking about how this looks on your signage. A 273 number is perfectly valid, but it might take a year or two for locals to stop asking, "Where is that from?"
Hidden Rules of Phone Numbers in Quebec
One thing that trips people up is "number portability." Can you move to Montreal from Gatineau and keep your 819 number?
Technically, yes, if you're using a mobile provider. You can port your number across carriers. However, if you have a 514 landline and move to a house in the 450 area, you generally can't take that specific number with you because of "rate center" regulations. VoIP services (Voice over IP) have blurred these lines significantly, though.
Many Quebec businesses now use virtual numbers to appear local in multiple cities. You could be sitting in a home office in Trois-Rivières but have a 514 number for your Montreal clients and a 418 number for your Quebec City clients. It’s a smart way to build trust. People still prefer calling a local number over a toll-free 1-800, especially in Quebec where local culture is so distinct.
The Scam Factor
With so many new codes, scammers are having a field day. People are used to 514, so when they see a call from 263 or 354, they might actually be more likely to pick up out of curiosity—or ignore it entirely thinking it's international.
The rule of thumb? If the area code is on the official list of phone numbers in Quebec, it's a local call. But if you see a 10-digit number that starts with something like +263 (the country code for Zimbabwe), that’s not a Montrealer. That’s an international call that will cost you a fortune if you dial back. Always check the "1" before the area code.
Practical Steps for Managing Your Quebec Numbers
If you're moving to the province or starting a business here, don't just take the first number the carrier gives you. You have more control than you think.
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- Check for "Golden" Numbers: If you are a business, ask your provider if they have any 514 or 450 numbers available. They are rare, but they carry a certain legacy weight.
- Update Your Speed Dial: With the 273 code coming to Eastern Quebec in 2027, ensure your automated systems and security alarms are programmed for 10-digit dialing if they aren't already.
- Audit Your Marketing: If you're still printing 7-digit numbers on your business cards, stop. It’s been 10-digit mandatory since 2006 in Montreal and 2008 in the rest of the province.
- VoIP Flexibility: Consider using a VoIP provider if you need to maintain a presence in both Gatineau (819) and Ottawa (613). Since they are different provinces, the rules for "local" calling can be a bit of a headache without a digital system.
The landscape of phone numbers in Quebec is only going to get more crowded. Between the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT)—think smart fridges and cars that all need their own "numbers"—and the growing population, we might see even more codes before the decade is out. Stay ahead of the curve by knowing your codes and verifying any "local" number that looks a bit unfamiliar.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify your regional code: Use the CNA Area Code Map to see exactly which overlay serves your specific town.
- Prepare for 2027: If you operate in the 418/581/367 zone, mark February 27, 2027, on your calendar as the start date for the new 273 area code to avoid confusion with new contacts.
- Consolidate your presence: If you have multiple locations across Quebec, look into a unified communications (UC) platform that allows you to manage different regional area codes from a single mobile app.