Quebec
(581) Area Code 581 — Quebec City, Quebec
581 Area Code – Quebec City, Quebec: Location, Time Zone & History
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Map of Area Code 581
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History & Cultural Notes
Area code 581 was assigned by the CRTC in 2007 and entered service in 2008 as the very first overlay added to area code 418, which covers eastern Quebec. A permissive dialing period began on June 21, 2008, and mandatory ten-digit dialing followed on September 6, 2008 — making this one of the earliest parts of Canada required to dial ten digits for local calls. The numbering plan area kept growing: area code 367 was layered on as a second overlay in 2018, and a fourth code, 273, was approved by the CRTC in 2025 for introduction in 2027, reflecting sustained demand across the 418/581/367 complex.
Beyond Quebec City, the numbering plan area reaches Saguenay, Levis, Rimouski, Sept-Iles, and Baie-Comeau, spanning much of eastern Quebec's coastline and interior. Its economy draws on several sectors:
- Government administration
- Tourism
- Forestry and pulp/paper
- Mining
- Fishing and maritime industry
Quebec City, the anchor of the region, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the seat of the provincial government, and 581's status as the first overlay on 418 remains a distinctive marker in the area's telecommunications history.