213 Area Code.

The 213 area code is one of the original telephone codes established in 1947 and serves the downtown core of Los Angeles, California. Once covering all of Southern California, the area code has since been narrowed to include central L.A. neighborhoods such as Downtown, Koreatown, Chinatown, and the Fashion District.

The 213 dialing code is now part of an overlay complex shared with area codes 323 and 738, enabling ten-digit dialing across the region. Known for its historic significance and strong business presence, 213 remains a highly recognizable and prestigious code in Los Angeles telecommunications.

What Is Area Code 213?

Area Code 213 is one of the original North American Numbering Plan (NANP) codes introduced in 1947. It identifies telephone lines that serve the historic core of Los Angeles, California.

Where Is Area Code 213 Located?

The 213 area code covers Downtown Los Angeles and nearby neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Koreatown, Pico-Union, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and parts of Vernon, Bell, and Huntington Park. Since 2017 it has shared the same territory with overlay area codes 323 and 738, so every address inside the overlay complex may receive any one of these three codes.

Area Code 213 Map and Location

Below is a map of the 213/323/738 area code overlay footprint:

The 213/323 area code location on map (red zone).

• North boundary: Los Angeles River near Griffith Park
• East boundary: Cities of Vernon and Bell
• South boundary: Florence Avenue corridor
• West boundary: Western Avenue and portions of Beverly Hills

For other visual references, see Area Code 213 on Wikipedia.

Current Coverage of the 213 Area Code

All lines within the overlay must dial ten digits. The code is used for wireline, wireless, VoIP, and machine-to-machine services. Residential towers in the Arts District and South Park absorb many new prefixes, while legacy government and corporate lines retain some of the oldest numbers.

Time Zones of the 213 Area Code

Area Code 213 observes the Pacific Time Zone. Standard time is UTC − 8. Daylight Saving Time shifts to UTC − 7 from March to November.

Historical Timeline of the 213 Area Code

Dialing Rules and Numbering Facts for Area Code 213

• Local calls require ten-digit dialing.
• Long-distance within the U.S. uses 1 + 213 + seven-digit number.
• NANPA projects enough inventory to last well beyond 2038.
• Regulator: California Public Utilities Commission.

Major Prefixes and Landmarks in Area Code 213

Who Is Calling Me and Texting Me from Area Code 213?

Common legitimate 213 numbers that could be calling you:

• City of Los Angeles Offices – 213-473-XXXX, 213-978-XXXX (e.g., Planning Department, Housing, City Council lines).
• Los Angeles County Superior Court – 213-830-XXXX (jury services, clerk’s office, court notices).
• L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP) – 213-367-XXXX (customer support, outage updates, appointment confirmations).
• University of Southern California (USC) – 213-740-XXXX, 213-821-XXXX (admissions, clinics, department outreach).
• Cal State LA Downtown – 213-780-XXXX (program advisors, continuing education calls).
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – L.A. Field Office – 213-576-XXXX (case-related contact).
• LAPD Central Division – 213-486-XXXX (non-emergency calls, detective follow-ups).
• Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) – 213-922-XXXX (public transit services, TAP card support).
• California Hospital Medical Center (Dignity Health) – 213-748-XXXX (scheduling, billing, patient services).
• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) – 213-241-XXXX (district administration, school board offices).
• Los Angeles Times – 213-237-XXXX (subscription services, newsroom, editorial outreach).
• Los Angeles Convention Center – 213-741-XXXX (event bookings, exhibitor services).

Common 213 area code scam themes:

• Fake “police fundraiser” robocalls
• Social Security or IRS impersonation threats demanding payment
• Tech-support pop-ups urging you to call a 213 number
• Delivery-service texts with malicious tracking links
• Romance-scam texts that quickly request money or gift cards
• Zelle or Cash App transfer requests from unknown contacts

Pop-Culture Significance of the 213 Area Code

Rappers Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and Warren G formed the group “213.” Many hip-hop lyrics reference the code as shorthand for Los Angeles street culture. Movies and TV shows set in downtown L.A. often display 213 phone numbers as an authenticity cue.

Getting a Number in the 213 Area Code Today

1. Ask your mobile carrier if any 213 numbers are left in its inventory.
2. Acquire a 213 virtual line through VoIP providers or cloud-PBX services.
3. Port an existing 323 or 738 number to a 213 vanity number broker, if available.
4. Expect premium rates for memorable “word” numbers, which are scarce.

Future Outlook for Area Code 213

Densification of downtown residential towers, continued entertainment growth, and new IoT deployments will keep demand strong. The recent addition of overlay code 738 supplies roughly eight million extra numbers, delaying further relief planning for more than a decade.

Arrording to NANPA’s website, a new 738 area code is planned for this area.

Top 1 Counties in Area Code 213

Top 24 Cities in Area Code 213

Largest Telephone Carriers

213 Area Code Prefixes: Telecom Carriers, City and Type.

Area Code 213 – FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions About Area Code 213.

Why does Area Code 213 have overlays?

The reason Area Code 213 has overlays—namely 323 (1998) and 738 (2024)—is to add millions of new numbers without forcing long-time customers to change their existing 213 lines. Overlay relief is the least disruptive way for regulators to expand numbering capacity in densely populated regions like Los Angeles.

Is a 213 number better than 323 or 738?

Whether a 213 number is “better” than 323 or 738 really comes down to perception: 213 is the original 1947 code and is marketed as prestigious, so vanity-number brokers sometimes charge extra for it. Functionally, all three codes route calls the same way inside the overlay complex.

Do I need to dial the leading “1” inside California?

You usually must dial “1” before 213 from a landline in California, because the Public Utilities Commission treats all calls that cross an area-code boundary as “1 + 10 digits.” Most mobile phones, however, complete local calls with just the ten-digit 213 number.

Can I keep my 213 number if I move out of state?

You can keep your 213 number after moving out of state because FCC number-portability rules allow any NANP subscriber to transfer their line between carriers nationwide. The only limitation is that some small rural carriers may decline to port-in numbers outside their rate center.

How can I avoid 213 text-message scams?

You can avoid 213 text-message scams by ignoring unsolicited links, blocking unfamiliar senders, and enabling your carrier’s free spam-filtering service (e.g., AT&T ActiveArmor or Verizon Call Filter). If you receive a message claiming to be from LAPD, the IRS, or a courier, verify through the agency’s official website before replying.

What cities and neighborhoods fall under Area Code 213?

The 213 area code covers Downtown Los Angeles and nearby neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Koreatown, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Pico-Union, South Park, and portions of Vernon and Huntington Park. Since it shares territory with 323 and 738, any address inside that footprint can be assigned any of the three codes.

When did Area Code 213 first shrink to downtown LA?

Area Code 213 first shrank to the downtown core on June 13, 1998, when the 323 overlay was introduced and the original boundary line between “213” and “323” was removed. Before that date, 213 had already lost large swaths of Southern California through earlier splits (818, 310, 562, etc.).

How do I get a new 213 phone number today?

You can get a new 213 phone number by asking your wireless or VoIP carrier if any 213 prefixes remain in inventory; supplies are limited, so not every provider has them. Business users often secure 213 numbers through cloud-PBX firms or vanity-number brokers that recycle disconnected lines.

Is Area Code 213 limited to landlines?

Area Code 213 is not limited to landlines; it can be assigned to mobile phones, VoIP lines, Internet-of-Things devices, and even fax-to-email services. The choice of line type depends on which carrier activates the number, not on the area code itself.

What time zone does Area Code 213 observe?

Area Code 213 observes Pacific Time, which is UTC-8 during Standard Time and UTC-7 when Daylight Saving Time is in effect from March to November. All phone systems and caller-ID time stamps within the overlay follow these offsets.

Is Area Code 213 toll-free?

Area Code 213 is not toll-free; it is a geographic code, so long-distance charges may apply if you call it from outside your carrier’s local-calling area. Toll-free U.S. area codes always start with 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, or 888.

What are common 213 robocall themes?

Common 213 robocall themes include fake police-charity fundraisers, Social-Security “suspension” warnings, tech-support pop-ups urging you to call a 213 number, and delivery texts with bogus tracking links. Scammers use 213 because it lends an air of local authority in Los Angeles.

Does Area Code 213 cover Beverly Hills?

Area Code 213 does not cover Beverly Hills; Beverly Hills uses the 310 and 424 overlay codes. The western boundary of 213 generally stops at Western Avenue, so calls originating in Beverly Hills will not display a 213 prefix.

What happens if 213, 323, and 738 run out of numbers?

If 213, 323, and 738 exhaust their numbering pool, regulators can add yet another overlay or implement number-pooling to reclaim unused blocks. Current NANPA forecasts show the complex has sufficient capacity until at least the late 2030s.