Area code 213 — Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding neighbourhoods
One of the original 1947 area codes and, for a time, the number for essentially all of Southern California. It was split five times over fifty years until it covered little more than downtown Los Angeles — then in 2017 the code that had been carved off it was recombined with it. It is the only code here whose territory shrank repeatedly and then grew back.
New numbers available in 213Area code 213 covers downtown Los Angeles and the neighbourhoods immediately around it, sharing that ground with 323 and, since 2024, 738.
Its history is the opposite of most codes on this site: rather than being created by a split, it is what was left after five of them.
Area code 213 at a glance
- State
- California
- County
- Los Angeles County
- Region
- Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding neighbourhoods
- Time zone
- Pacific Time (PT)
- In service since
- 1947
- Type
- Geographic code
How a 213 number is built
Every North American number has four parts. Knowing where the seams fall answers most of what people ask about 213.
Cities and areas served by 213
- Downtown Los Angeles
- Koreatown
- Echo Park
- Silver Lake
- Boyle Heights
- Westlake
- Chinatown
Nearby area codes
Bordering California and the surrounding region. A number in one of these is close to 213 but not in it.
How 213 came about
Assigned at the start of the numbering plan, cut down repeatedly for half a century, and then partially reassembled.
- 1947Among the original codesThe first North American numbering plan assigns 213 to Los Angeles and a large stretch of Southern California around it. At this point almost every number in the region begins with these three digits.
- 1951–1982Four decades of trimmingSuccessive splits carve away the outer parts of the territory as Southern California grows. Each one leaves 213 covering a smaller area than before.
- January 7, 1984The Valley leaves818 is split off to serve the San Fernando Valley — eight months before New York performed the equivalent operation with 718. Los Angeles was among the first major cities to be divided into multiple numbering areas.
- 1991The Westside leaves310 is split off for the Westside and South Bay, taking Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and the coast with it.
- 1998Reduced to downtown323 is split from 213, taking everything except downtown Los Angeles and its immediate surroundings. After five splits, the code that once covered Southern California is one of the smallest numbering areas in the state.
- 2017The split is undoneRather than run two adjacent codes short, regulators recombine 213 and 323 into a single overlay complex covering both territories. 213 effectively regains the ground it lost in 1998 — an unusual reversal in a system that normally only subdivides.
- November 2024738 joins the complex738 is activated as an additional overlay across the same 213/323 territory, adding capacity without any further boundary change.
Which code should you choose?
Downtown Los Angeles is now served by three codes covering identical ground.
| Code | Since | How it reads |
|---|---|---|
| 213 | 1947 | The original. Strongly associated with downtown and old LA |
| 323 | 1998 | Established; covers the same complex since 2017 |
| 738 | 2024 | Brand new. The deepest pool of free numbers |
| 310 | 1991 | Wrong side of town — Westside and South Bay |
213 carries the most recognition of the three, and for a business trading on a downtown Los Angeles address that recognition is the whole reason to prefer it.
What people get wrong about 213
Is 213 used for spam calls?
213 is spoofed heavily because it is instantly recognisable as Los Angeles and specifically as downtown — the financial and civic core rather than a residential suburb. That reads as institutional, which lifts answer rates in exactly the way a fraudster wants. Caller ID is a display field rather than proof of origin, so a 213 on screen establishes nothing about where a call started or who placed it. Treat unexpected requests for payment or personal details as suspect — so treat any surprise demand as unverified until you have called back independently.
Area code 213 FAQ
What area code is 213?
213 covers downtown Los Angeles and the neighbourhoods immediately around it, including Koreatown, Echo Park, Silver Lake and Boyle Heights. It shares that territory with 323 and 738.
Is 213 still downtown Los Angeles only?
Not strictly. It was reduced to downtown by the 1998 split, but in 2017 the 213 and 323 territories were recombined into a single overlay complex, so a 213 number can now be issued across the wider area as well.
What is the difference between 213 and 323?
Since 2017, nothing geographic — they cover the same overlay complex. The difference is history: 323 was split off from 213 in 1998 to take everything outside downtown, and the two were reunited nineteen years later.
Is 213 the original Los Angeles area code?
Yes. It was assigned in 1947 as one of the original North American area codes and once covered a large part of Southern California. Every other Los Angeles code — 818, 310, 323 and their overlays — traces back to a split from it.
Can I still get a 213 number?
Yes, though it is the most sought-after of the three codes serving the area. If a specific pattern or memorable ending matters more than the prefix, 738 has by far the largest pool of unassigned numbers.
What time zone is the 213 area code in?
Pacific. Los Angeles runs UTC−8 in winter and UTC−7 under daylight saving.
What does a 213 number signal to people in Los Angeles?
Downtown, and longevity. Because 213 is the original code and was reduced to the civic and financial core for two decades, it reads as an established central-LA presence rather than a suburban one.
How do I get a 213 business number?
Search the 213 pool early: it is the most contested of the three downtown codes. Have routing configured before you publish the number anywhere.
Why does Los Angeles have so many area codes?
Because 213 originally covered most of Southern California and had to be divided as the region grew. Five splits produced 818, 310, 323 and others, and overlays have since been added on top of several of those.
Is 738 a Los Angeles area code?
Yes. It was activated in November 2024 as an additional overlay on the 213/323 complex, covering exactly the same ground rather than a new area.
Getting a 213 business number
213 numbers are still being issued, so a business anywhere can hold one and route it to wherever its team actually works — you do not need an address in California.
- STIR/SHAKENAttested, so calls are less likely to show as spam
- AI receptionistCover for the hours nobody is at a desk
- Free portingIf you already hold a 213 number
- Recording & SMSOn the same line, no add-on