250 Area Code
Covers Victoria and nearby communities in British Columbia.
(250) 555-0142Area code 250 map
Interactive coverage map for area code 250, centered on Victoria, British Columbia
48.4329, -123.3693
Open in OpenStreetMapArea code 250 coverage map — centered on Victoria. Shaded area shows the approximate reach around the primary city.
Area code 250 is a telephone area code in British Columbia, anchored on Victoria. It covers communities such as Victoria, Campbell River, Castlegar, Courtenay and more across British Columbia. The region observes local time, so a number like (250) 555-0142 is on that clock right now. Neighboring area codes include 236, 604, 672. It is not currently paired with an overlay code. Local calls inside the 250 area can generally be placed with ten digits, and you do not need a leading 1 for domestic calls. Keep reading for the current local time in Victoria, a map of the 250 coverage area, the places it reaches, nearby and overlay codes, and how to tell a real 250 call from a scam.
Cities covered by 250
Cities & neighborhoods
- Victoria
- Campbell River
- Castlegar
- Courtenay
- Cranbrook
- Dawson Creek
- Duncan
- Fernie
- Fort St. John
- Kamloops
- Kimberley
- Kitimat
- Ladysmith
- Merritt
- Nanaimo
- Nelson
- North Saanich
- Parksville
- Penticton
- Port Alberni
- Prince George
- Prince Rupert
- Quesnel
- Revelstoke
- Salmon Arm
- Smithers
- Sooke
- Summerland
Looking for the broader picture? See all British Columbia area codes.
Nearby & overlay area codes
Overlay codes (same area)
These share 250’s geography — a number in either code can be on the same street.
250 has no overlay code right now.
Neighboring codes
Codes for adjacent regions and metros.
Is a call from 250 a scam?
Area code 250 serves Victoria and the surrounding area, so most calls are ordinary local and business traffic. As everywhere, spam and robocalls do use 250 numbers, frequently by spoofing a local-looking caller ID to boost pickup rates. The area code itself tells you nothing about who is really calling, so judge the call by what's said, not the number.
Red flags to watch for
- Pressure to act right now, or threats of arrest, fines, or service being cut off.
- Requests to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, crypto, or a payment app.
- Asking for passwords, one-time codes, your SSN, or full card/bank numbers.
- A robocall or recording, or a number that won’t let you call back.
When unsure, hang up and call the organization back on a number you look up yourself.
Calling a 250 number from abroad
Every 250 number is a US/Canada +1 number. From a mobile anywhere, the simplest approach is to dial it in international format:
+1 250 555-0142If your phone can’t dial the +, replace it with your country’s exit code, then 1, then the number:
- UK, Germany, France & most of Europe
00 1 250 555-0142 - Australia
0011 1 250 555-0142 - Japan
010 1 250 555-0142 - Mexico
00 1 250 555-0142
Within the US and Canada you don’t need any of this — just dial the ten digits 250 555-0142.
Reverse phone lookup
Check any US or Canada number to see whether it's a working line, which carrier it sits on, whether it's mobile, landline or VoIP, and roughly where it's registered.
Shows carrier, line type and location. Owner name isn't available here.
Results are for personal, informational use only and may not be used for employment, credit, housing or tenant-screening decisions.
Area code 250: frequently asked questions
Where is the 250 area code located?
The 250 area code is located in British Columbia, centered on Victoria. Communities in the 250 area include Victoria, Campbell River, Castlegar, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek.
What time zone is 250 in?
Area code 250 is in the local time zone (UTC-8 (PST) / UTC-7 (PDT)). You can see the exact current local time for Victoria on the live clock above.
What cities use area code 250?
Cities and areas that use 250 include Victoria, Campbell River, Castlegar, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek. Its primary city is Victoria, BC.
Do I need to dial 1 before 250?
You generally do not need to dial a leading 1 for domestic calls to 250. Ten-digit dialing (the 250 code plus the seven-digit number) is the safest habit.
Is 250 a toll-free or scam number?
No — 250 is a normal geographic area code for Victoria, not a toll-free code (toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888). A 250 number is not inherently a scam, but the code can be spoofed. See the spam-call section above for how to tell.
What are the overlay area codes for 250?
Area code 250 does not currently have an overlay code; it is not layered on top of another code in the same area.