Area Code 530 Location

Area code 530 serves Chico, California, and a wide stretch of Northern California, from the fertile Sacramento Valley into the Sierra Nevada. Centered in Butte County, Chico is a regional hub known for California State University, Chico and the sprawling Bidwell Park. The 530 area code connects farming towns, college communities, and mountain gateways, making it a key identifier for phone numbers across this diverse region. It follows Pacific Time (PT).

Major cities and communities in the 530 area code include:

• Chico
• Redding
• Davis
• Yuba City and Marysville
• Woodland
• Oroville and Paradise
• Red Bluff
• Grass Valley and Auburn
• Truckee and South Lake Tahoe These cities cover everything from university life and agriculture to outdoor recreation around Lake Tahoe and the northern Sierra.

“Area code 530 was created in 1997 from a split of 916.” — North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA)

Established in 1997, 530 covers many rural and suburban counties in Northern California, linking numbers across the valley, foothills, and mountain towns. In Chico, 530 phone numbers often tie to landmarks like CSU Chico and downtown’s historic core, while nearby communities use 530 for government, healthcare, and agricultural services. The code also reaches popular destinations such as Lassen Volcanic National Park and Tahoe-area trailheads, so a 530 call can come from valley farms or alpine resorts. If you see a 530 phone number, it typically points to Northern California—especially the Chico region and its neighboring cities.