Southeast Georgia Rings in a New Era with Area Code 565

New 565 Area Code to Overlay 912 Region in Southeast Georgia by 2028

By Carol A. Gasser Moore |

GEORGIA – The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) has announced that Southeast Georgia’s 912 area code is set to receive a new overlay—area code 565—to accommodate growing demand for phone numbers in the region.

The official announcement, made on June 10, 2025, follows recommendations from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA). According to projections, the 912 code—serving coastal and southeastern communities such as Savannah, Brunswick, Hinesville, Statesboro, and Waycross—is expected to run out of assignable numbers by the second quarter of 2028. The 565 overlay will be activated at least six months prior to that milestone to ensure a seamless transition.

“This overlay ensures we’re planning responsibly for Georgia’s growth,” the PSC stated. “Our goal is to protect existing users while preparing for future demand.”

No Number Changes for Existing Users

The overlay plan means no geographic split or changes to current phone numbers. If you already have a 912 number, it will stay the same. Instead, new customers or those requiring additional lines in the region will begin receiving numbers with the 565 area code once the overlay goes live in late 2027 or early 2028.

The overlay area will include all communities currently in the 912 region:

• Savannah, Brunswick, Hinesville, Pooler, Statesboro, Waycross, Douglas, Kingsland, Richmond Hill, St. Marys, and nearby towns.

This change will bring Georgia’s total number of area codes to eleven, joining the likes of 229, 404, 470, 478, 678, 706, 762, 770, 912, and 943.

What It Means for South Georgia

For most people and businesses in the region, the transition will be smooth:

• No change to existing 912 numbers
• Ten-digit dialing will continue, as it has since 2021 due to the federal 988 suicide prevention hotline implementation
• New lines activated post-rollout will receive a 565 number
• Businesses should begin listing phone numbers with full area codes in marketing materials and online listings

Telecommunications providers will need to ensure all systems recognize the new code, but consumers will not experience any service interruptions.

Planning for the Future

The decision to overlay—rather than split—the 912 area code was based on best practices supported by the FCC and telecom industry. Overlays are now the standard approach to number exhaustion, avoiding the disruption of changing existing phone numbers.

According to NANPA, the addition of 565 will provide numbering capacity until approximately 2050, ensuring long-term stability for the region’s growing population and expanding business base.

A Brief History of 912

The 912 area code, first introduced in 1954 as a split from 404, originally covered a large swath of southern Georgia. It was reduced in 2000 when new area codes 229 and 478 were created to serve the southwest and central parts of the state, respectively. Since then, 912 has exclusively served the southeastern region.

Bottom Line

By early 2028, the first 565 numbers will begin appearing across Southeast Georgia. For residents, nothing changes—but for the region, it signals growth, preparation, and a step into the future of telecommunications.

For more updates or to access PSC consumer guides about the overlay, visit psc.ga.gov.