LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There's a lot of pride in this city and the region for its three identifying numbers: 502. But now the state is projecting it will soon run out of new numbers for the area code, and the solution could be a new set of three digits. 

The familiar digits, long associated with the Louisville region and Central Kentucky, are plastered everywhere: on your phone, on doors, cards, buildings and even clothing. 

As one person put it, "502 means Louisville." 

The area code has come to represent a blend of culture, nostalgia and identity because most Louisville residents are connected by those three digits.

"I have it on my license plate," one person told us. 

However, the state's Public Service Commission says projections show that all available 502 numbers will be exhausted by the third quarter of 2027. A suggested fix is a distributed overlay, which would introduce a new area code in the same geographic region. That means everyone with a new phone number in the 502 region would get the new area code, and all local calls would require 10-digit dialing.

PSC Chair Angie Hatton said the Commission is committed to a transparent process and wants to hear from those who could be impacted.

“We want to hear from the telecommunications industry, from businesses that might be affected by the change, and from area code 502 residents,” Hatton said. “We seek public input so that we will have a full understanding of the issues before we make a decision that may have a significant impact on the economy and on people’s daily lives.”

The change could be confusing.

"If you have the old 502, and then there's a new area code, that will be confusing," said one Louisville resident. "I don't like that very much." 

Before any decisions are made, the state wants to hear from you. The Public Service Commission is holding five public meetings in June across the state to get feedback on what to do.

Public Meeting Schedule:

  • Monday, June 2 — 6 p.m.
    Nelson County Fiscal Courtroom
    One Court Square, Second Floor, Bardstown

  • Tuesday, June 3 — 6 p.m.
    Scott County Fiscal Courtroom
    160 E. Main St, Georgetown

  • Thursday, June 5 — 6 p.m.
    Jefferson Community & Technical College – Southwest Campus
    1000 Community College Drive, Louisville

  • Monday, June 16 — 6 p.m.
    Carroll County Fiscal Courtroom
    440 Main St, Carrollton

  • Tuesday, June 17 — 6 p.m.
    Kentucky Public Service Commission
    211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort

The state will have exhausted the 502 area code by the third quarter of 2027.

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