The 738 Area Code Explained — California Phone Numbers

Area code 738 covers Los Angeles and surrounding areas in California. It was activated in 2024 as an overlay of area code 323. Today it shares its territory with overlay codes 213 and 323. For the full picture, see all California area codes.

History of Area Code 738

Area code 738 was activated on November 1, 2024 in connection with area code 323. The decision was driven by population growth and the exhaustion of available phone numbers in the original numbering plan area.

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

• 2017 — area code 213 activated as an overlay
• 2017 — area code 323 activated as an overlay
• 2024 — area code 738 activated as an overlay

Cities and Areas Served by 738

Area code 738 serves Downtown Los Angeles, central Los Angeles, and surrounding southeast Los Angeles County cities, including the following cities and communities:

• Los Angeles
• Hollywood
• West Hollywood
• Beverly Hills
• Glendale
• Pasadena
• Huntington Park
• South Gate

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 213, 323, 310, 818, 626, 562.

Overlay Codes for 738

Area code 213 shares the same geographic territory as 738 (added in 2017). New phone numbers in the region may be assigned either code.

Area code 323 shares the same geographic territory as 738 (added in 2017). 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 738 Number

Area code 738 is the newest member of one of the most storied telephone numbering regions in the United States. The overlay complex it joins — built around area code 213, one of California’s three original 1947 codes — has served the core of Los Angeles through decades of population growth, five geographic splits, and the eventual reunification of 213 and 323 as a single overlay in 2017. The California Public Utilities Commission approved 738 on March 16, 2023, citing exhaustion pressure on the 213/323 numbering pool, and NANPA activated it on November 1, 2024, making it the 470th area code in North American service and California’s 39th. Ten-digit dialing (1 + area code + number) is required throughout the 213/323/738 overlay complex.

The territory covered by 738 encompasses some of the most culturally loaded geography in American life. Downtown Los Angeles — home to the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), Little Tokyo, Chinatown, and the Arts District — sits at its core, alongside Hollywood, the Fairfax District, Koreatown, and Leimert Park. Films from Chinatown (1974) to Collateral (2004) have dramatized these very streets; area code 213 (the numeric ancestor of 738’s territory) has been name-checked in hip-hop from Dr. Dre to YG. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers, and Clippers all play in or near this footprint. Adding 738 to this mix preserves the supply of local numbers for a region whose demand for connectivity shows no signs of slowing.

How to Get a Phone Number with Area Code 738

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 738 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 738 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 738 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 738 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 738 number. If you already have a 738 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 738 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 738 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 738 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 738 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 738 area code still in use?
Yes. 738 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Downtown Los Angeles, central Los Angeles, and surrounding southeast Los Angeles County cities.

What is the difference between 738 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 738?
Area code 738 is an overlay of 323. Both codes serve the same region of California.

Can I get a 738 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 738 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 738 a scam area code?
No. 738 is a legitimate, active area code for Downtown Los Angeles, central Los Angeles, and surrounding southeast Los Angeles County cities. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 738 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real California businesses, government offices, and residents.

Is 738 a real Los Angeles area code or a scam?
It is a legitimate area code. The California Public Utilities Commission approved it in March 2023 and NANPA activated it on November 1, 2024, as an overlay to the existing 213/323 region. New customers and new lines in the area may be assigned 738 numbers.

Will my existing 213 or 323 number change to 738?
No. Existing telephone numbers are not reassigned. Only new service requests and additional lines in the 213/323/738 overlay region may receive a 738 number once 213 and 323 resources are exhausted.

Do I need to dial differently for 738 calls?
Ten-digit dialing (1 + area code + seven-digit number) is already required throughout the 213/323/738 overlay complex, so no new dialing habits are needed. Local call pricing and coverage do not change.

What cities does area code 738 serve?
738 covers the same geography as 213 and 323: downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Bell, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, Inglewood, South Gate, Monterey Park, and unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, among others.

Related Reading

• Most Desirable Area Codes
• How Do Area Codes Work?
• How Are Area Codes Assigned?
• Why the Right Area Code Matters