Area code 502 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan for north-central Kentucky. The numbering plan area includes the city of Louisville, its suburbs, and the state capital, Frankfort.

History

Area code 502 was one of the first established in October 1947, initially intended for the entire state of Kentucky. The eastern half of the state was assigned area code 606 in 1954, and the western half was assigned area code 270 in 1999.

Service area

The numbering plan area comprises the following Kentucky counties. The boundary closely, but not exactly, tracks county lines. Parts of Hardin and Meade counties are also served by this area code, specifically: Besides Louisville and Frankfort, other cities within the 502 area code boundary include Georgetown, Shelbyville, and Bardstown. Georgetown is a long-distance call to other cities in the 502 area code, but is a free local call to Lexington, which is in the 859 area code. Current projections suggest that an additional area code will be necessary in north-central Kentucky by late 2026 or early 2027. An overlay complex involving 502 and a new area code has been recommended, which would necessitate ten-digit dialing in the Louisville area.