Area code 213 is associated with Los Angeles, California, especially downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding Los Angeles County area. It is one of California’s original area codes, dating to 1947. Today, 213 shares its geographic service area with 323 and 738 under an overlay system, so people in the same part of Los Angeles can have any of these three area codes.
If you received a call from a 213 number, the number is associated with the Los Angeles region. However, the area code alone cannot prove that the caller is physically in Los Angeles. People can keep phone numbers after moving, and caller ID information can also be spoofed.
Where Is Area Code 213 Located?
The 213 area code is in California and primarily serves the Los Angeles area. Historically, 213 became strongly associated with central and downtown Los Angeles as other area codes were split from its original territory.
The current 213/323/738 overlay region includes downtown Los Angeles and numerous surrounding communities in Los Angeles County. These include Alhambra, Bell, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Commerce, Cudahy, Glendale, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, South Gate, South Pasadena, Vernon, and West Hollywood, along with portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County.
This distinction matters when looking up a phone number. A 213 number indicates an association with the broader numbering region, but it does not necessarily pinpoint a caller to downtown Los Angeles or any particular neighborhood.
| Area code detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Area code | 213 |
| State | California |
| Primary metro area | Los Angeles |
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Country | United States |
| Country calling code | +1 |
| Time zone | Pacific Time |
| Overlay area codes | 323 and 738 |
What Cities and Communities Use the 213 Area Code?
Because 213 now operates as part of an overlay, it is more accurate to discuss the 213/323/738 numbering region than to assume each area code has its own exclusive set of cities.
The combined service territory includes downtown Los Angeles and communities such as Alhambra, Bell, Bell Gardens, Beverly Hills, Commerce, Cudahy, Glendale, Hawthorne, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, South Gate, South Pasadena, Vernon, and West Hollywood.
It also includes unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County.
A key point is that these places are not necessarily served exclusively by 213. Because 213, 323, and 738 overlay the same geographic region, different customers within that territory can receive different area codes.
Area Code 213, 323, and 738 Explained
The relationship among 213, 323, and 738 can be confusing because all three can now serve the same geographic area.
Area code 323 was originally created from 213 in 1998. In 2017, the boundary separating the two numbering areas was eliminated, creating the combined 213/323 overlay region. This allowed both area codes to be assigned throughout the combined territory.
Demand for telephone numbers eventually required another expansion. 738 was approved as an additional overlay area code in 2023 and became available in the 213/323 region beginning November 1, 2024.
The change did not require existing customers to give up their 213 or 323 numbers. The overlay also does not inherently change a customer’s geographic service area simply because a different area code is assigned.
In practical terms, two people or businesses located near each other in Los Angeles could have numbers beginning with 213, 323, or 738.
What Time Zone Is Area Code 213 In?
Area code 213 serves Los Angeles, which uses the Pacific Time Zone.
Los Angeles observes Pacific Standard Time (PST) during standard time and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) while daylight saving time is in effect.
For someone calling Los Angeles from another U.S. time zone, the usual differences are:
| U.S. time zone | Difference from Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Mountain Time | 1 hour ahead |
| Central Time | 2 hours ahead |
| Eastern Time | 3 hours ahead |
For example, when it is 9:00 a.m. in Los Angeles, it is normally noon in New York when both locations are following their corresponding standard or daylight-saving schedules.
International callers should check the current Los Angeles time before calling because daylight-saving rules can create temporary differences with countries that change clocks on different dates or do not observe daylight saving time.
How to Call a 213 Phone Number
Within the United States and the North American Numbering Plan, a 213 number is commonly written as:
(213) XXX-XXXX
Because 213 is part of an overlay region, callers should use the full area code and telephone number when dialing.
A number may therefore appear as:
1-213-555-XXXX
Someone calling a 213 number internationally generally uses the United States country calling code +1, followed by 213 and the seven-digit local number:
+1 213 XXX XXXX
The exact international dialing procedure can depend on the caller’s country and telephone provider.
Is 213 a Los Angeles Area Code?
Yes. 213 is a Los Angeles area code, and it has a particularly long association with the city.
When the North American area-code system was established in 1947, 213 was one of California’s original three area codes. At the time, its territory was considerably larger than it is today.
Population growth and increasing demand for telephone numbers resulted in repeated changes to the original 213 territory. Area codes created through splits over the decades included 714, 805, 818, 310, and 323.
The numbering system eventually shifted toward overlays rather than requiring customers in particular geographic sections to change their existing numbers. That is why 213 now coexists with 323 and 738.
Does a 213 Number Mean Someone Is Actually in Los Angeles?
Not necessarily.
A legitimate 213 telephone number is associated with the Los Angeles numbering region, but seeing 213 on caller ID does not establish the caller’s current physical location. A person may retain the number after moving elsewhere.
Caller ID can also be manipulated. Scammers sometimes use caller ID spoofing to make an incoming call appear to originate from a familiar or local number.
Therefore, an unexpected call displaying 213 should not automatically be considered legitimate simply because you know people or businesses in Los Angeles.
If an unknown caller claims to represent a bank, government agency, delivery service, or another organization and requests sensitive information or payment, verify the organization independently rather than relying solely on the displayed telephone number.
Can You Still Get a 213 Phone Number?
213 remains an active area code, but a new customer in the region is not guaranteed to receive one.
Because 213, 323, and 738 serve the same overlay territory, the area code assigned to a new line depends on available numbering resources and the telephone provider.
The 738 overlay was introduced to provide additional telephone-number capacity as available numbers in the 213/323 region became more limited.
This means a business opening in downtown Los Angeles could receive a 323 or 738 number rather than 213. Having a different overlay code does not, by itself, mean the business is located in a different service region.
Why the 213 Area Code Is Unusual
The history of 213 illustrates how telephone numbering in Los Angeles has changed alongside the region’s population and telecommunications needs.
It began in 1947 with a territory covering a much larger portion of Southern California. Successive splits dramatically reduced that territory.
California later eliminated the geographic boundary between 213 and 323, allowing both codes to coexist across a common region. The addition of 738 further expanded the supply of available numbers without requiring existing customers to replace their numbers.
That history explains why asking “What city is area code 213?” has a simple first answer, Los Angeles, but determining exactly where an individual 213 caller is located requires more information than the area code itself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Area Code 213
What state is area code 213 in?
Area code 213 is in California. It is associated with Los Angeles and forms part of the combined 213/323/738 overlay region in Los Angeles County.
What city uses the 213 area code?
Los Angeles is the principal city associated with area code 213, particularly downtown Los Angeles. The combined overlay territory also covers numerous surrounding communities.
Are 213 and 323 the same area?
They now serve the same combined geographic numbering region. The previous boundary between 213 and 323 was eliminated, allowing both area codes to serve customers throughout the combined territory.
What is the new area code for the 213 region?
738 is the newer overlay area code for the 213/323 region. It became available for assignment in the region in November 2024.
Is a call from area code 213 a scam?
Not necessarily. Legitimate residents, businesses, and organizations use 213 numbers. However, scammers can spoof caller ID, so the area code alone cannot establish whether a call is genuine.
What country code do I use before 213?
The United States uses country calling code +1, so an internationally formatted 213 number generally begins +1 213, followed by the seven-digit telephone number.
Conclusion
Area code 213 is a Los Angeles, California area code with roots going back to 1947. Today, it operates within a shared 213/323/738 overlay region covering downtown Los Angeles and surrounding Los Angeles County communities.
Existing 213 numbers remain active, while new customers in the same region may receive 213, 323, or 738 numbers depending on availability. If you are identifying an unfamiliar caller, 213 can tell you the number’s associated numbering region, but it cannot confirm the caller’s current location or identity.
Thinking effortInstant
To pick up a draggable item, press the space bar. While dragging, use the arrow keys to move the item. Press space again to drop the item in its new position, or press escape to cancel.
To pick up a draggable item, press the space bar. While dragging, use the arrow keys to move the item. Press space again to drop the item in its new position, or press escape to cancel.
For more helpful guides please visit RoyalSprinter.
