The California Public Utilities Commission approved an area code overlay on Wednesday, May 9th that would provide a new area code for small portions of Kern County, Monterey, and most of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. 

The new area code will be 820.

An area code overlay adds a second area code to a geographic region. 

The California Public Commission acted to ensure that phone numbers continue to be available to meet the demand in certain geographic areas. 

People who are served by the 805 area code will retain their area code and specific telephone numbers. 

However, customers will have to dial the new area code to and from all calls that with the 805 area code. 

New telephone number with the 820 area code may be issued to customers beginning May 2018.