The 323 Area Code Explained — California Phone Numbers

Area code 323 covers Los Angeles and surrounding areas in California. It was activated in 1998 as an overlay of area code 213. Today it shares its territory with overlay codes 213 and 738. For the full picture, see all California area codes.

History of Area Code 323

Area code 323 was activated on June 13, 1998 in connection with area code 213. The decision was driven by population growth and the exhaustion of available phone numbers in the original numbering plan area.

Since its activation, the geographic area covered by 323 has been reshaped by the following splits:

• 1998 — area code 323 split off to cover On June 13, 1998, area code 323 was split from 213, taking over central Los Angeles neighborhoods including Hollywood, Silver Lake, East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, and adjacent southeast LA County cities, while 213 was retained for downtown Los Angeles and immediately adjoining neighborhoods.
• 2017 — area code 213 split off to cover Effective July 8, 2017, the California Public Utilities Commission eliminated the geographic boundary between 213 and 323, converting the region to an overlay complex. Numbers from either code can now be assigned anywhere within the combined territory; ten-digit dialing became mandatory for all local calls.
• 2024 — area code 738 split off to cover Area code 738 was approved by the CPUC on March 16, 2023 and activated November 1, 2024 as an all-services overlay on the 213/323 region to provide additional numbering capacity.

Overlay codes have been added to the same geographic territory in:

• 2017 — area code 213 activated as an overlay
• 2024 — area code 738 activated as an overlay

Cities and Areas Served by 323

Area code 323 serves Central Los Angeles and southeast Los Angeles County, including Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Boyle Heights, Hancock Park, Leimert Park, and gateway cities such as Bell, Huntington Park, and Montebello, including the following cities and communities:

• Los Angeles
• Hollywood
• East Los Angeles
• West Hollywood
• Huntington Park
• Montebello
• Bell
• South Gate

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 213, 310, 424, 818, 747, 562, 626.

Overlay Codes for 323

Area code 213 shares the same geographic territory as 323 (added in 2017). New phone numbers in the region may be assigned either code.

Area code 738 shares the same geographic territory as 323 (added in 2024). New phone numbers in the region may be assigned either code.

Because multiple area codes serve the same area, ten-digit dialing is mandatory for all local calls. A call from any of these codes originates from the same geographic region in California.

The Cultural Weight of a 323 Number

Area code 323 was carved out of the original 213 on June 13, 1998 — the fifth and final geographic split of 213 since 1951 — to relieve severe number exhaustion driven by the explosion of mobile phones and pagers across central Los Angeles. At launch, 323 ringed the much-reduced 213 footprint, absorbing Hollywood, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, Hancock Park, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, South Central, and a string of southeast county gateway cities including Bell, Huntington Park, and Montebello. By 2017, 213 itself had numbers to spare while 323 faced exhaustion, prompting the California Public Utilities Commission to dissolve the boundary entirely on July 8, 2017, creating the 213/323 overlay complex and requiring ten-digit dialing for all local calls. Continued growth then prompted approval of a third code, 738, which the CPUC authorized on March 16, 2023 and NANPA activated on November 1, 2024, forming today’s 213/323/738 overlay. The region’s landmarks — Paramount Pictures Studios, Dodger Stadium, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Wiltern Theatre, Griffith Observatory, and Hollywood Forever Cemetery — sit squarely inside the 323 footprint, as do institutions including Cal State Los Angeles and Los Angeles City College.

Few area codes carry as much street-level identity as 323. The code covers the neighborhoods that shaped West Coast hip-hop: South Central, Hyde Park, and Leimert Park — a lineage audible in tracks such as Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But a G Thang,” Ice Cube’s “Friday,” and Kendrick Lamar’s “m.A.A.d City,” each of which references the Los Angeles geography the 323 overlay now unifies. The film Swingers used a 323 number to establish its LA authenticity, and John Goodman’s character in The Big Lebowski dialed a recognizable 323 line. On television, HBO’s Entourage treated a 323 number as a status symbol for its Hollywood characters, while The Hills used it as a marker of Lauren Conrad’s LA identity. In literature, Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch detective series leans on 323 numbers to ground readers in a specific, working-class stretch of the city distinct from the tourist-facing Strip. Beyond media, the code anchors neighborhoods defined by cultural plurality: the Armenian enclave of East Hollywood, the Mexican-American community of Boyle Heights, Koreatown, and the artist colonies of Silver Lake and Echo Park — a mosaic that gives the 323 a gritty authenticity that newer overlay codes cannot replicate.

How to Get a Phone Number with Area Code 323

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 323 area code, each suited to a different need:

1. Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 323 number directly, often with a one-time fee and ownership transferred to you (no recurring carrier fees). This is the option for picking a specific memorable number, or for getting an area code that most carriers won’t let you request. Browse our 323 inventory.
2. Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 323 number on request, especially for active overlay codes. You won’t usually get to pick the specific number, but you’ll get a working line in the area code. This is the cheapest option for anyone who doesn’t need a particular number.
3. Port an existing 323 number. If you already have a 323 phone number with another carrier, you can transfer it (port it) to a new service provider while keeping the number. This works for landlines, cell phones, and VoIP services, though landlines outside of California sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 323 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 323 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 323 numbers for Los Angeles, California — choose your number, port it to any carrier in 3–5 business days, and pay a one-time fee with no monthly charges. Browse available 323 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 323 area code still in use?
Yes. 323 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Central Los Angeles and southeast Los Angeles County, including Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Boyle Heights, Hancock Park, Leimert Park, and gateway cities such as Bell, Huntington Park, and Montebello.

What is the difference between 323 and 213?
Today they share the same geographic territory in California. New phone lines in the area may be assigned either code. The two codes work identically for calling, billing, and service.

What is the parent area code of 323?
Area code 323 is an overlay of 213. Both codes serve the same region of California.

Can I get a 323 number if I don't live in California?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 323 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 323 a scam area code?
No. 323 is a legitimate, active area code for Central Los Angeles and southeast Los Angeles County, including Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Boyle Heights, Hancock Park, Leimert Park, and gateway cities such as Bell, Huntington Park, and Montebello. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 323 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real California businesses, government offices, and residents.

What cities does the 323 area code cover?
Area code 323 covers central Los Angeles neighborhoods including Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, Hancock Park, Leimert Park, West Hollywood, and South Central, along with southeast Los Angeles County cities such as Bell, Huntington Park, Montebello, South Gate, Maywood, and Cudahy.

Is 323 the same area as 213?
Since July 8, 2017, yes — the California Public Utilities Commission merged the 213 and 323 territories into a single overlay complex. Either code can be assigned to any new number in the region. A third overlay, 738, was added November 1, 2024. All local calls require ten-digit dialing.

When was area code 323 created, and what did it split from?
Area code 323 was put into service on June 13, 1998, as a split from area code 213. It was the fifth and final geographic split of 213, which had originally covered all of Southern California starting in 1947.

Do I need to dial ten digits for local calls in the 323 area?
Yes. Because 323 is part of the 213/323/738 overlay complex, ten-digit dialing (area code + seven-digit number) is required for every local call within the region, whether you are dialing another 323 number, a 213 number, or a 738 number.

Related Reading

• What States Have the Most Area Codes?
• Most Desirable Area Codes
• How Do Area Codes Work?
• How Are Area Codes Assigned?