Area codes are an element of the North American Numbering Plan used to route telephone calls to specific geographical regions. The three-digit prefix of an area code is directly linked to the physical location, which in turn determines the local time zone observed by the area. Understanding the time zone associated with Area Code 954 is important for anyone communicating with this specific region. This clarity on the current local time governs business hours and scheduling.
Eastern Time Zone Designation
The area served by Area Code 954 operates entirely within the Eastern Time Zone (ET). This designation means the region observes two distinct time settings throughout the year. During the late autumn and winter months, the area uses Eastern Standard Time (EST), which maintains an offset of five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5).
The annual transition to a summer schedule shifts the area into Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). This change involves advancing the local time by one hour to an offset of UTC-4. This adjustment typically begins in the early spring to extend daylight into the evening hours.
The switch from EST to EDT occurs on the second Sunday in March. Clocks are advanced from 2:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to 3:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, creating a day that is only 23 hours long. The area remains on the EDT schedule throughout the spring, summer, and early autumn months.
The corresponding return to standard time takes place on the first Sunday in November. At 2:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, clocks are moved back one hour to 1:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. This specific reversal results in a 25-hour day, compensating for the hour lost in the spring changeover.
Area Code 954 Geographic Location
Area Code 954 is located along the southeastern coast of the state. It shares territory with its overlay, Area Code 754, covering a large, highly populated region. The numbering plan area primarily encompasses Broward County, situated directly north of Miami-Dade County. The 954 area code was created in 1995 as a split from the original 305 area code due to population growth and demand for telephone numbers.
The major population centers within this numbering plan area include Fort Lauderdale, which serves as the largest city and a major metropolitan hub for the county. Other significant municipalities covered by the area code are:
- Hollywood
- Pompano Beach
- Coral Springs
- Plantation
- Pembroke Pines
- Deerfield Beach