NumberGlossaryN11 Code
US and Canada — the N-1-1 set is common to the NANP, but some assignments differ by country (e.g., 511 and 811 in Canada) · also called service code, abbreviated dialing code, 3-digit code
A three-digit abbreviated dialing code of the form N-1-1 (211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 811, 911) reserved for special services.
An N11 code is one of eight three-digit codes formed as N-1-1, where N is any digit 2 through 9, giving the set 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 811, and 911. They are reserved for widely useful public and network services rather than for reaching ordinary telephone numbers. Per NANPA's abbreviated-codes listing, the current U.S. assignments are: 211 community information and referral services; 311 non-emergency police and other governmental services; 411 local directory assistance; 511 traffic and transportation information; 611 (telephone company) repair service; 711 Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS); 811 pipeline/utilities protection (call-before-you-dig); and 911 emergency. A few assignments differ in Canada — NANPA lists 511 as weather and traveller information and 811 as non-urgent health teletriage there.
NANPA administers N11 codes, and in the United States the FCC recognizes their national designations; specific uses are set through FCC and industry processes. By contrast, 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — is a distinct three-digit dialing code but is NOT an N11 code: it does not fit the N-1-1 pattern. The FCC deliberately chose a non-N11 number in 2020 partly because the N11 codes 2 through 8 were already in use.
N11 codes are not area codes (NPAs) and do not reach ordinary phone numbers — they are reserved abbreviated service codes. Two common errors: assuming 911 is the only such code (there are eight), and assuming 988 is an N11. 988 is a separate three-digit dialing code for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; it does not follow the N-1-1 pattern and was intentionally chosen as a non-N11 number.