If you’re trying to dial someone in the City of Angels, you’re basically walking into a numerical minefield. It used to be simple. Back in the day, if you were in LA, you had a 213 number. That was it. One code for the whole sprawling basin. Now? It’s a mess of 310s, 818s, 323s, and a bunch of new "overlays" that most people haven't even heard of yet. Honestly, the Los Angeles California mobile number code you carry says more about your neighborhood—and how long you’ve lived there—than your actual zip code does.
Landlines are dying, but the area code is forever. Well, sorta.
The original 213 and the death of the "Prestige" code
Let’s talk about the 213. It’s one of the original area codes from 1947. Back then, AT&T and the Bell System created the North American Numbering Plan. They gave the easiest codes to the biggest cities. Since rotary phones took forever to dial high numbers, New York got 212 and LA got 213. Low numbers meant fast dialing.
If you have a 213 mobile number today, people assume you’re either an OG resident or you’re some kind of high-powered downtown attorney. It’s the "prestige" code. But by the 80s and 90s, LA exploded. Everyone got a pager. Then everyone got a cell phone. Then fax machines became a thing. We ran out of numbers. Fast.
The solution was the "split." They started carving pieces out of the 213. The San Fernando Valley got shoved into the 818 in 1984. The Westside and South Bay got the 310 in 1991. Then, in 1998, they basically punched a hole in the middle of the city and created the 323.
Understanding the current Los Angeles California mobile number code map
You can’t just guess a code anymore. It’s not like San Francisco where 415 covers a neat little area. In LA, the codes overlap. It’s what the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) calls an "overlay."
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The 310 and 424 (The Coast and Westside)
If you’re hanging out in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, or Malibu, you’re looking at a 310. It’s arguably the most famous code globally because of 90210 and Hollywood culture. But here’s the thing: 310 is full. You can’t get a new 310 number easily. So, they added the 424 overlay. If you get a new mobile plan in Venice today, you’re probably getting a 424. It’s the same geographic area, just a different set of digits.
The 818 and 747 (The Valley)
The San Fernando Valley—Burbank, Glendale, Van Nuys—is 818 territory. It has its own culture, its own vibe, and its own code. Like the Westside, the 818 ran out of room, so the 747 was born. Fun fact: people in the Valley hated the 747 when it first arrived. There’s a weird pride about that 818. It’s part of the identity.
The 323 and 213 (The Great Reunion)
This is where it gets weird. For years, 213 was Downtown and 323 was the "ring" around it (Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park). In 2017, they decided the split didn’t make sense anymore. They merged them. Now, both 213 and 323 serve the exact same area. If you’re in Hollywood, you could have either.
The 562, 626, and 949 (The Outsiders)
Technically, these aren't "LA proper" in the eyes of many locals, but they are part of the massive Los Angeles County mobile ecosystem.
- 562: Long Beach and Gateway Cities.
- 626: Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.
- 661: Santa Clarita and the far north.
- 949/714: That’s Orange County territory. Don’t call someone from Irvine an Angeleno; they might get offended. Or you might.
Why we keep running out of numbers
You’d think with 10 million people in the county, we’d have enough combinations. We don’t. A single area code has about 7.92 million usable numbers. That sounds like a lot until you realize how many devices a single person owns. You’ve got your personal iPhone. Your work phone. Your iPad with a data plan. Your car’s built-in LTE. Your smart watch.
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Every single one of those needs a number.
Then there’s the "number pooling" issue. The FCC allocates blocks of 1,000 or 10,000 numbers to carriers like Verizon or T-Mobile. Even if a carrier only has 500 customers in a specific area, they might be sitting on a block of 10,000 numbers that no one else can use. It’s incredibly inefficient. This is why the CPUC is constantly announcing new overlays like the 2023 introduction of the 738 area code, which is set to eventually overlay the 213/323 zone.
The 10-digit dialing struggle
Remember when you could just dial seven digits?
"Call me at 555-1234."
Those days are dead in Los Angeles. Because of the overlays (where two codes cover the same street), you must dial the area code for every single call. Even if you're calling your neighbor next door. If you don't dial the Los Angeles California mobile number code first, the call simply won't go through.
This became mandatory for the 310/424 area in 2006 and eventually rolled out to everyone else. It was a huge adjustment for older residents, but for Gen Z, who just click a contact name in their phone, the actual digits are almost invisible.
How to get a "Cool" LA number if you just moved here
If you just moved to Silver Lake and you’re stuck with a 747 or some weird 209 number from Central California, you might feel a bit like an outsider. People actually buy "vanity" area codes. There are websites where you can pay $50 to $500 to "buy" a 213 or 310 number that you can then port over to your carrier.
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Is it worth it? Probably not.
But in a city built on image, having an old-school 213 or 310 on your business card still carries a weird, unspoken weight. It says you didn't just get here. It says you're "established."
Real-world tips for managing your LA numbers
If you're moving to the area or setting up a business, you need to be strategic. Don't just take the first number the guy at the AT&T store hands you.
- Check for "Spam" history: Because LA numbers are recycled so quickly, your "new" 310 number might have belonged to a debt collection agency or a very popular pizza joint last week. Before you commit to a number, search it on Google. See if it shows up on "Who Called Me" sites.
- Google Voice is your friend: If you want a 310 but your carrier only has 424, try getting a 310 through Google Voice and forwarding it. They often have access to different number pools.
- Update your SEO: If you’re a local business, your Los Angeles California mobile number code matters for "near me" searches. Using a 213 or 323 number signals to Google’s algorithm that you are physically located in the heart of the city, which can help with local map rankings.
- The 1+ Requirement: For most mobile carriers, you don't need to dial "1" before the area code for domestic calls anymore, but many landlines and PBX office systems still require it. If a call fails, try adding the 1.
The landscape of Los Angeles telecommunications is basically a reflection of the city itself: crowded, confusing, and constantly expanding. We’ve gone from one code to nearly a dozen in just a few decades. As the "Internet of Things" (IoT) grows, expect even more overlays. Eventually, we might just run out of 3-digit codes entirely, but for now, just make sure you've got your friend's area code saved in your contacts, or you're never going to reach them.
Essential Los Angeles Area Code Reference
213 / 323: Downtown, Hollywood, West Adams, Eagle Rock.
310 / 424: Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Torrance, Catalina Island.
818 / 747: Burbank, Northridge, Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills.
626: Pasadena, Alhambra, El Monte.
562: Long Beach, Whittier, Downey.
661: Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale.
Next Steps for New Residents
- Verify your location: Use the CPUC interactive map to see which area code technically governs your neighborhood before signing a contract.
- Request a legacy code: Ask your mobile provider specifically if any 213 or 310 numbers are available in their "aged" pool before accepting a newer overlay code.
- Audit your digital presence: Ensure your area code is updated on your Google Business Profile and Apple Maps Connect to avoid "Dead Air" routing errors.
- Update Auto-Dialers: If you have a home security system or gate buzzer, ensure it is programmed with the full 10-digit number, or it will fail to connect in the LA overlay zones.