The 818 Area Code Explained — California Phone Numbers

Area code 818 covers Burbank and surrounding areas in California. It was activated in 1984 as an overlay of area code 213. Today it shares its territory with overlay code 747. For the full picture, see all California area codes.

History of Area Code 818

Area code 818 was activated on January 7, 1984 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 818 has been reshaped by the following splits:

• 1984 — area code 818 split off to cover Area code 818 created on January 7, 1984, as a geographic split from area code 213, assigned to serve the San Fernando Valley as Los Angeles became one of the first major cities split into multiple numbering plan areas.
• 1997 — area code 626 split off to cover On June 14, 1997, area code 818 was reduced in size when area code 626 was created to serve most of the San Gabriel Valley, which had previously been part of the 818 territory.

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

• 2009 — area code 747 activated as an overlay

Cities and Areas Served by 818

Area code 818 serves San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County and portions of Ventura County, including the following cities and communities:

• Burbank
• Glendale
• North Hollywood
• Van Nuys
• San Fernando
• Sherman Oaks
• Studio City
• Calabasas

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 213, 323, 310, 424, 626, 661, 805.

Overlay Codes 818

Area code 747 shares the same geographic territory as 818 (added in 2009). 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 818 Number

Area code 818 entered service on January 7, 1984, when the California Public Utilities Commission split the San Fernando Valley out of the original 213 numbering plan area — making Los Angeles one of the first major American cities divided into multiple area codes. The new code assumed jurisdiction over a territory that was already the operational backbone of the U.S. entertainment industry: Burbank, sometimes called the “Media Capital of the World,” is home to the main production campuses of Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, and NBCUniversal, while Universal Studios Hollywood sits in the adjacent Universal City enclave. When demand pressed the code again, the 818 territory shed its eastern San Gabriel Valley footprint in June 1997 to create area code 626. A decade later, rather than force another disruptive geographic split, the CPUC chose to overlay 818 with area code 747, effective May 18, 2009 — a decision driven in part by public preference to let existing customers retain their 818 numbers. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory for all local calls within the region from that date forward.

The 818 prefix accumulated genuine cultural weight almost from the moment it launched. The 1996 film Swingers used the code as social shorthand: when a friend asks if a new girl’s number is “818,” the protagonist’s answer of “310” draws immediate approval — a joke that only lands because the Valley-versus-Westside hierarchy was already legible to audiences. Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994) places Jules’s contact Jimmy in Toluca Lake, with Jules hoping he’s home because he has no other partners in 818. The 1999 film Go has a character warn a friend not to “get 818 on me” when caution seems suburban rather than bold. Jennifer Lopez name-dropped the code in her song “Louboutins,” singing about leaving behind a part-time lover who lives in the area. Beyond cinema and music, the Valley gave American pop culture the “Valley Girl” archetype — crystallized in Frank Zappa’s 1982 song “Valley Girl,” recorded with his daughter Moon Unit — and neighborhoods such as North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, Studio City, and Encino have remained recurring settings for film and television production. The Los Angeles Rams and Chargers train and hold facilities in the broader Los Angeles metro, while the Burbank-headquartered studios produce a substantial share of global screen content, keeping 818 inseparable from the working machinery of Hollywood.

How to Get a Phone Number with Area Code 818

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 818 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 818 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 818 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 818 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 818 number. If you already have a 818 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 818 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 818 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 818 numbers for Burbank, 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 818 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 818 area code still in use?
Yes. 818 is actively assigned to new phone lines in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County and portions of Ventura County.

What is the difference between 818 and 747?
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 818?
Area code 818 is an overlay of 213. Both codes serve the same region of California.

Can I get a 818 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 818 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 818 a scam area code?
No. 818 is a legitimate, active area code for San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County and portions of Ventura County. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 818 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real California businesses, government offices, and residents.

What cities are covered by area code 818?
Area code 818 serves the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County and extends into portions of Ventura County. Major cities and neighborhoods include Burbank, Glendale, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, San Fernando, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Encino, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Reseda, Tarzana, and Canoga Park, among others.

Do I need to dial 10 digits for local calls in the 818 area code?
Yes. Since area code 747 was overlaid onto the same geographic territory effective May 18, 2009, all local calls within the 818/747 region require ten-digit dialing — the area code plus the seven-digit number. Seven-digit dialing no longer works for local calls.

Why was area code 747 added to the 818 region?
By 2009, NANPA projected that the supply of available 818 numbers would be exhausted. The California Public Utilities Commission approved an all-services overlay on April 24, 2008, adding area code 747 to the same geographic area. This approach let existing customers keep their 818 numbers while providing a new pool of numbers for incoming service.

Is area code 818 the same as Hollywood?
Not exactly. The famous Hollywood neighborhood itself falls under area codes 213 and 323. Area code 818 serves the San Fernando Valley — the area north of the Santa Monica Mountains — which includes the working studios of Burbank (Warner Bros., Walt Disney, NBCUniversal) and communities like North Hollywood, Studio City, and Glendale. It is closely tied to the production side of the entertainment industry rather than the Hollywood address itself.

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