The 813 is the telephone area code for Tampa and most of Hillsborough County. To the people who live here, it means a lot more than a dialing prefix. It is local shorthand for "I'm from the bay," worn on hats and shirts as a quiet badge of belonging. If you know it, you know it. Here is what the 813 actually covers, where it came from, and why Tampa locals wear it on their heads.
What does the 813 area code mean?
On paper, 813 is just the area code that serves Tampa and the counties around the bay. In real life, it is an identity. When someone in Tampa wears the 813, they are saying they are from here, not visiting here. That distinction is the whole point. An 813 hat is your number if you live in Tampa Bay, and trivia if you do not. It is the opposite of a souvenir, which is exactly why locals reach for it.
Where is the 813 area code?
The 813 covers the heart of Tampa Bay. According to the public record for area codes 813 and 656, it takes in all of Hillsborough County, the city of Oldsmar in Pinellas, and the central and southeastern parts of Pasco. In plain terms, that is Tampa and the places most locals actually mean when they say Tampa: Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Temple Terrace, and the neighborhoods in between, from Hyde Park to Davis Islands to Seminole Heights.
When did the 813 area code start?
The 813 was created in 1953, when the western side of the state split off from Florida's original 305. It has been Tampa's number ever since. At first it stretched across a huge stretch of the Gulf coast, from the bay all the way south, before later splits trimmed it back to the Tampa area. So the 813 has been the bay's number for more than seventy years, long enough that wearing it reads as roots, not a trend.
What is the difference between 813, 727, 941, and 656?
If you live in Tampa Bay, you have probably seen all four. Here is the short version.
| Code | What it is | What locals read into it |
|---|---|---|
| 813 | The original Tampa area code since 1953 | The one with the deepest roots, the local default |
| 656 | An overlay added over the 813 in 2022 | Same region, newer number, you got it more recently |
| 727 | Split off in 1999 for Pinellas, St. Pete and Clearwater | The beach side of the bay, an identity of its own |
| 941 | Split off in 1995 for Sarasota, Bradenton and southwest Florida | Still the Gulf coast, just south of the bay |
They all dial the same corner of Florida. But 813 is the one people put on a hat, because it is the one that has meant Tampa the longest.
Why do people wear 813 hats?
Because pride in where you are from wants somewhere to live. An 813 hat is a small, honest way to wear it. It is not loud, it does not explain itself, and that is what makes it feel like Tampa rather than a gift-shop version of Tampa. It shows up on Bayshore on a Saturday morning, in the stands on a Bucs Sunday, at a Rays game, on the Riverwalk. The people who get it, get it. The people who do not simply see a clean hat.
We build the area code hats the same way we build everything at Palmr: for families who actually live here. The 813 is Tampa's number, made in palm green, black, blue, and Palmr pink so the whole family can rep the bay without looking like they tried too hard. It turned out the hat was never really about the hat. It was about giving a Florida family a way to wear the place they already belong to.
If you know, you know. If you don't, welcome to Tampa. Palm green, water-resistant, built for the bay.
The colorway that pairs with any outfit, any team, any Saturday. Same 813, cleaner canvas.
What about the other Florida area codes?
Tampa is not the only city in Florida with a number worth wearing. The same idea travels: 305 is Miami, 407 is Orlando, 561 is the Palm Beaches, and 954 is Fort Lauderdale. Each one is an inside thing for the people who live there, the same way the 813 is for Tampa Bay. We break down what each one covers in our guide to Florida area codes and what your number says about you, and if Orlando is your city, read The 407, Explained. If your city has a number, it has a flag, and you can find the latest in the full hat collection.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 813 area code mean?
813 is the telephone area code for Tampa and most of Hillsborough County, including Brandon, Riverview, and Plant City. Locally, it is also used as shorthand for being from Tampa Bay, which is why people wear it on hats and shirts.
What counties are in the 813 area code?
The 813 covers all of Hillsborough County, plus the city of Oldsmar in Pinellas and the central and southeastern parts of Pasco. That includes Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, and Temple Terrace.
Why do Tampa people wear their area code?
It is a low-key way to show local pride. Wearing the 813 signals you are from Tampa Bay rather than visiting, and it reads as belonging to people who recognize it. It is identity, not a souvenir.
Is 727 the same as 813?
No. The 727 split off from the 813 in 1999 and covers Pinellas County, which is St. Petersburg and Clearwater on the beach side of the bay. The 813 stayed with Tampa and Hillsborough County. They are neighbors, not the same number.
Where can I buy an 813 hat?
Palmr makes the 813 hat in Tampa colors, along with area code hats for other Florida cities. You can find them in the 813 collection.
Wear your 813
Tampa's number, made for the people who live here. Palm green, black, blue, and Palmr pink.
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