Quick answer: Area code 748 is a telephone overlay covering northern and western Colorado — sharing the exact same territory as area code 970, the largest area code in the state by geography. Activated on July 7, 2025, it spans everything from Fort Collins and Greeley on the Front Range to Vail, Aspen, and Grand Junction in the mountains. The territory operates entirely in the Mountain Time Zone, and ten-digit dialing has been mandatory since April 2025.
What area code 748 covers across northern and western Colorado
Area code 748 does not mark out its own territory — it is layered directly on top of the region already served by 970. Both codes cover the exact same footprint: nearly the entire northern and western half of Colorado, from the Wyoming and Utah borders down through the Western Slope and Front Range.
This all-services overlay means new phone numbers issued anywhere in the region can carry a 970 or 748 prefix, regardless of which one a caller's neighbor happens to have. No existing number changed when 748 launched — it simply expanded the pool of numbers available as Colorado's fastest-growing Front Range cities and mountain resort towns kept adding phone lines.
Pairing a 748 number with a 509 area code Eastern Washington presence creates a natural Mountain-West corridor, connecting Colorado's Front Range tech and agriculture economy with Eastern Washington's own blend of agriculture, wine country, and outdoor recreation.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Number Plan Area (NPA) | 748 |
| Overlay for | 970 |
| Location | Northern and western Colorado |
| Type | All-services overlay |
| Time Zone | Mountain Time (MT) |
| Activated | July 7, 2025 |
| State | Colorado |
| Country Code | +1 |
Fort Collins, Greeley, and the mountain towns sharing a 748 number
The 970 and 748 territory is the largest in Colorado by land area, dividing naturally into the fast-growing Front Range corridor and the mountain and Western Slope communities.
Front Range core cities:
- Fort Collins (Larimer County) — Home to Colorado State University and a major tech and manufacturing base
- Greeley (Weld County) — Anchored by the University of Northern Colorado and a deep agricultural processing economy
- Loveland (Larimer County) — A growing manufacturing, arts, and healthcare hub between Fort Collins and Denver's northern suburbs
Mountain resort towns:
- Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, and Steamboat Springs — World-renowned ski and summer resort destinations anchoring Colorado's tourism economy
- Estes Park — Gateway community to Rocky Mountain National Park
Western Slope:
- Grand Junction (Mesa County) — The largest city on Colorado's Western Slope, anchoring energy, agriculture, and healthcare
- Durango and Glenwood Springs — Southwestern and central mountain communities supporting tourism and outdoor recreation
| Sub-region | Key communities |
|---|---|
| Front Range | Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland |
| Mountain resorts | Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs, Estes Park |
| Western Slope | Grand Junction, Durango, Glenwood Springs |
From 303 to 970 to 748: Colorado's numbering story
Area code 303 originally covered the entire state of Colorado. As the Denver metropolitan area grew rapidly through the 1980s and early 1990s, the state's numbering needs split sharply between dense urban Denver and the state's vast, sparsely populated northern and western regions.
On April 2, 1995, area code 970 split off to cover all of northern and western Colorado outside metro Denver, becoming the largest area code in the state by geographic size. For three decades, 970 alone served everything from Fort Collins and Greeley to Aspen, Vail, and Grand Junction.
By the early 2020s, growth across the Front Range's tech and university corridor was pushing 970 toward projected exhaustion. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved an overlay, and area code 748 began limited assignment on July 7, 2025.
Large-scale issuance of 748 numbers is expected in late 2026, when 970 numbers are projected to run out — an overlay NANPA projects will provide relief for roughly 38 more years.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pre-1995 | Area code 303 covers all of Colorado |
| April 2, 1995 | Area code 970 splits off for northern and western Colorado |
| April 2025 | Ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory across the 970 region |
| July 7, 2025 | Area code 748 begins limited assignment as an overlay for 970 |
| Late 2026 | Large-scale 748 issuance expected as 970 approaches exhaustion |
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Ten-digit dialing across the 970 and 748 territory
Because two area codes share one of the largest territories in the state, every call placed within the region — even between two phones in the same Fort Collins neighborhood — must include the area code.
| Calling scenario | Format |
|---|---|
| Any local call within the 970/748 territory | 748-XXX-XXXX (ten digits mandatory) |
| Anywhere else in the US or Canada | 1-748-XXX-XXXX |
| International call to a 748 number | +1 748 XXX XXXX |
Time zone: The entire 748 territory observes Mountain Time — the same zone as Denver, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix (during standard time). Businesses coordinating between Fort Collins and the mountain resort towns never need to account for a time difference within the region.
Why Northern Colorado businesses choose a 748 number
A 748 area code number places a business inside one of the fastest-growing tech, agriculture, and outdoor-recreation economies in the Mountain West.
Key reasons to establish a 748 area code number:
- Colorado State University — A major research university and the region's largest single employer, anchoring a deep pipeline of engineering, agricultural science, and technology talent in Fort Collins
- Woodward and Otterbox headquarters — Two Fortune 500-caliber manufacturing and consumer-product companies anchor Fort Collins's advanced manufacturing and design economy
- Front Range tech corridor — Advanced Energy, Agilent, and a dense cluster of semiconductor and clean-energy companies support a substantial technology sector across Fort Collins and Loveland
- Mountain resort tourism — Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, and Steamboat Springs anchor a year-round hospitality, real estate, and outdoor-recreation economy across the territory
- UCaaS virtual Northern Colorado presence — Businesses targeting the region's tech, agriculture, or tourism markets from outside Colorado can establish immediate local credibility through a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform, provisioning a 748 number with cloud-hosted voice, video, messaging, and analytics routed to any device worldwide; pairing a 748 number with a 737 area code Austin, Texas presence creates a natural university-tech corridor connecting Colorado State's research economy with Austin's Silicon Hills
Utility shutoff scams and other 748 area code fraud calls
Area code 748 is a legitimate telephone prefix serving Fort Collins and Northern Colorado residents and businesses — but scammers actively spoof 748 numbers to appear local.
Most frequently reported 748 scam types:
- Xcel Energy disconnection threats — High-pressure robocalls falsely claim a customer's account is delinquent and threaten power shutoff within 30 to 45 minutes unless payment is made immediately through an untraceable method
- Sheriff and jury duty impersonation — Callers pose as sheriff's deputies, claiming a missed jury duty summons requires an immediate cash-card payment to avoid arrest
- Fake delivery verification scams — Callers claiming to represent a shipping carrier ask residents to confirm addresses and read back tracking numbers, then direct them to a fake support line to steal personal information
- Debt reduction robocalls — Prerecorded calls offering to erase credit card or loan debt in exchange for upfront fees
Staying protected: No legitimate utility company, sheriff's office, or shipping carrier demands immediate payment or personal information over an unsolicited call. Report suspected 748 scam calls to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the Colorado Attorney General's office.
748 area code: the essentials
- Area code 748 overlays 970 across Fort Collins, Greeley, and Colorado's mountain and Western Slope communities
- It began limited assignment on July 7, 2025, with large-scale issuance expected in late 2026
- Ten-digit dialing is mandatory for every call, local or long-distance
- The entire territory observes Mountain Time — aligned with Denver and Salt Lake City
- Major economic anchors include Colorado State University, Woodward, Otterbox, and Colorado's mountain resort tourism economy
- The most reported 748 scam types are Xcel Energy shutoff threats, sheriff impersonation, fake delivery scams, and debt reduction robocalls
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 748 area code?
Area code 748 is a telephone overlay code serving northern and western Colorado, including Fort Collins, Greeley, and mountain resort towns like Vail and Aspen. Activated on July 7, 2025, it shares the exact same territory as area code 970, meaning new numbers issued anywhere in the region can carry either prefix.
Where is the 748 area code located?
Area code 748 covers northern and western Colorado, from Fort Collins and Greeley on the Front Range through the Rocky Mountains to Grand Junction on the Western Slope, including resort communities such as Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, and Steamboat Springs.
Is 748 the same as the 970 area code?
Not exactly the same code, but the same territory. Area code 748 is an overlay, meaning it covers the identical geographic footprint as 970 rather than a separate region. A 748 number is just as local to Fort Collins as a 970 number.
When was the 748 area code created?
Area code 748 began limited assignment on July 7, 2025. It followed area code 970, which split off from area code 303 on April 2, 1995, to serve all of northern and western Colorado outside metro Denver.
What time zone is the 748 area code in?
Area code 748 is in the Mountain Time Zone. The entire territory observes Mountain Standard Time (UTC−7) in winter and Mountain Daylight Time (UTC−6) during daylight saving time, the same zone as Denver and Salt Lake City.
Why is Colorado adding a third area code overlay?
Colorado's 970 region is the largest area code in the state by land area, and continued growth across Fort Collins's tech corridor and the state's mountain resort economy pushed the code toward projected exhaustion. Regulators chose an overlay to preserve existing numbers rather than force a disruptive geographic split of the state's largest region.
Can I get a 748 number for a business outside Colorado?
Yes. Virtual phone providers and UCaaS platforms offer 748 area code numbers to businesses and individuals regardless of physical location. A virtual 748 number establishes authentic Northern Colorado presence, routes all calls to any device anywhere in the world, and connects your business with the region's technology, agriculture, and tourism markets without a physical Colorado office.
Is the 748 area code associated with scam calls?
Area code 748 is a legitimate telephone prefix for Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, but scammers actively spoof 748 numbers to appear local. The most heavily reported fraud types include Xcel Energy disconnection threats, sheriff and jury duty impersonation, fake delivery verification scams, and debt reduction robocalls. Any unsolicited call demanding immediate payment or personal information is a scam regardless of caller ID.
