Geographic Coverage & Key Cities

The 520 area code serves a vast region across southern Arizona, connecting over 6.7 million residents through a diverse landscape of urban centers, border communities, and desert towns. The coverage spans multiple counties, including Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, and portions of Pinal, Graham, and Greenlee counties, creating a unified telecommunications region for this economically dynamic area.

Tucson stands as the heart of the 520 territory, Arizona's second-largest city and commercial hub, home to major employers in aerospace, defense, optics, and biotechnology, as well as the University of Arizona's vibrant innovation ecosystem. The 520 region strategically borders other Arizona telecommunications zones, including 480 and 602, which serve Phoenix, and 928, which covers northern and western Arizona.

Key Economic Zones & Business Hubs

  • Major Cities: Tucson (aerospace and defense hub), Sierra Vista (Fort Huachuca intelligence operations), Nogales (international trade gateway), Casa Grande (strategic Phoenix-Tucson corridor), Douglas, Bisbee, Benson
  • Economic Zones: University of Arizona research district, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, border commerce corridors, tourism and hospitality areas
  • Business Hubs: University innovation ecosystem, aerospace defense operations, cross-border trade facilities, agricultural operations centers
  • Neighboring Area Codes: 480/602 (Phoenix area), 928 (northern/western Arizona), enabling multi-regional Arizona business presence
  • Strategic Industries: Aerospace and defense, border trade and logistics, tourism and hospitality, agriculture, mining, university research, and innovation

Time Zone & Business Impact

The 520 area code operates on Mountain Standard Time (MST/UTC-7), with a business-friendly twist—Arizona doesn't participate in daylight saving time. The state maintains MST year-round, eliminating the seasonal clock changes that can disrupt business operations while creating strategic positioning for nationwide business operations.

Your standard workday aligns with East Coast business hours in the morning and West Coast schedules in the afternoon, enabling you to efficiently serve clients across multiple time zones without extending your operating hours. GoodCall's AI answering service seamlessly handles Arizona's unique time zone, providing correctly timed responses regardless of where your customers are calling from.

Time Zone Advantages:

  • Predictable Scheduling: Year-round MST eliminates seasonal clock changes for consistent customer service and operations.
  • East Coast Overlap: Morning alignment with Eastern time zones enables early business calls and financial market coordination.
  • West Coast Coverage: Afternoon availability for California clients and suppliers without extended staffing hours.
  • National Market Access: Strategic positioning enables efficient service across multiple time zones within standard business hours.
  • Stable Operations: No twice-yearly adjustments for staff schedules, automated systems, or customer communications.
  • Extended Effectiveness: Shifting relationship with other regions expands business coverage window throughout the year.