Area code 310 — Westside, South Bay and the Los Angeles coast
Split from 213 in 1991 to take the Westside and South Bay, which handed it Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu in a single stroke. It is the only Los Angeles code with a genuine status association, and unlike Manhattan’s 212 that reputation comes from the addresses it covers rather than from being impossible to obtain.
New numbers available in 310Area code 310 covers the Westside and South Bay — the coastal strip from Malibu down through Santa Monica and Venice to Torrance and Redondo Beach, plus Beverly Hills and the airport.
It shares that territory with the 424 overlay, added in 2006 rather than splitting the area again.
Area code 310 at a glance
- State
- California
- County
- Los Angeles County
- Region
- Westside, South Bay and the Los Angeles coast
- Time zone
- Pacific Time (PT)
- In service since
- 1991
- Type
- Geographic code
How a 310 number is built
Every North American number has four parts. Knowing where the seams fall answers most of what people ask about 310.
Cities and areas served by 310
- Santa Monica
- Beverly Hills
- Malibu
- Torrance
- Redondo Beach
- El Segundo
- Venice
- Inglewood
Nearby area codes
Bordering California and the surrounding region. A number in one of these is close to 310 but not in it.
How 310 came about
A single split in 1991, then an overlay fifteen years later rather than a second division.
- Before 1991The Westside is part of 213Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and the South Bay all dial 213, along with downtown and central Los Angeles. 818 has already left for the Valley, but the coast is still attached to the original code.
- 1991The coast separates310 is split from 213 to serve the Westside and South Bay. In one boundary change it acquires Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu — the concentration of addresses that gives the code its later reputation.
- 1997The South Bay edge is trimmed562 is split off to serve Long Beach and the southeastern edge, tightening 310 onto the Westside and the immediate South Bay.
- 2006An overlay instead of another split424 is overlaid across the whole 310 territory. Nobody changes a number; ten-digit dialling becomes mandatory. By this point the split has fallen out of favour across Los Angeles as a way of handling shortage.
Which code should you choose?
Two codes cover the Westside and South Bay, and they are the same place.
| Code | Since | How it reads |
|---|---|---|
| 310 | 1991 | The Westside. Carries the coastal and Beverly Hills association |
| 424 | 2006 | Same ground, newer. Far more numbers available |
| 213 | 1947 | Downtown — a different part of the city entirely |
| 818 | 1984 | Over the hills, in the San Fernando Valley |
If the association is the reason you want a Westside number, 310 is the one that carries it. If you simply need a number in the area, 424 covers identical ground with a much deeper pool.
What people get wrong about 310
Is 310 used for spam calls?
310 is spoofed with a particular angle: its association with wealth makes it useful for investment, prize and property pitches, where a caller wants to sound like they are phoning from an affluent part of Los Angeles rather than a call centre. Caller ID is a display field rather than proof of origin, so a 310 number establishes nothing about who is calling or from where. Any unexpected approach about money — an opportunity, a refund, an outstanding balance — deserves the same treatment regardless of the prefix: hang up and call back on a number you looked up yourself.
Area code 310 FAQ
What area code is 310?
310 covers the Westside and South Bay of Los Angeles — Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Venice, El Segundo, Torrance and Redondo Beach, along with LAX. It shares that territory with the 424 overlay.
Is 310 Beverly Hills?
Beverly Hills sits inside 310, yes, but so does a large stretch of the coast and the South Bay. The code covers far more than its best-known neighbourhoods.
What is the difference between 310 and 424?
Nothing geographic. 424 was overlaid on the entire 310 territory in 2006, so both cover the same ground. 310 is the older and more recognisable; 424 has many more numbers available.
Why is 310 considered a prestigious area code?
Because of what the 1991 split enclosed — Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu ended up inside one code. Unlike Manhattan’s 212, the association comes from the addresses rather than from the code being unobtainable.
Can I still get a 310 number?
Yes, though it is the more sought-after of the two codes serving the area. If a memorable ending matters more than the prefix, 424 covers the same streets with a much larger pool of unassigned numbers.
What time zone is the 310 area code in?
Pacific: UTC−8 in winter and UTC−7 in summer.
Is 310 the same as 213?
No. 310 was split from 213 in 1991 and covers the Westside and South Bay, while 213 covers downtown and central Los Angeles. They are neighbouring but separate territories.
How do I get a 310 business number?
Search the 310 pool and expect it to be picked over — this is the Westside code people ask for by name. 424 is the fallback on identical ground.
Why do I have to dial ten digits in the 310 area?
Because 424 overlays the same territory. Once two codes share the same streets the seven-digit local number no longer identifies which one you mean, so ten-digit dialling became mandatory when 424 arrived in 2006.
Does LAX use the 310 area code?
Yes. Los Angeles International sits within the 310 territory, along with El Segundo and the businesses clustered around the airport.
Getting a 310 business number
310 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 310 number
- Recording & SMSOn the same line, no add-on