323 Area Code: Hollywood, Inglewood & South Los Angeles

323 · Los Angeles

What is the area code for Los Angeles?

The area code for Los Angeles, California is 323, with overlay codes 213, 738 sharing the same geographic footprint. The 323 area code is a North American Numbering Plan geographic code assigned in 1998, covering the South/Central Los Angeles region. It serves approximately 2,000,000 residents on the Pacific Time (PT) (UTC-8 / UTC-7 DST).

The 323 area code has 786 assigned central-office prefixes (NXX codes, the three digits after the area code) across 12 rate centers, with numbers allocated to roughly 41 carriers.

At 786 of the ~792 usable central-office prefixes, the 323 area code has about 99% of its numbering capacity assigned, and that near-exhaustion is part of why overlay codes 213, 738 were added to the region. See how 323 compares in our NXX prefix allocation analysis across 338 US area codes. (Prefix data: localcallingguide.com / NANPA, 2026.)

Where is area code 323? Location and map area

Area code 323 is located in California, the United States. Its coverage area centers on Los Angeles and spans the South/Central Los Angeles region. If you received a call from a 323 number, the caller's number was assigned in this area — though with number porting and virtual numbers, the person may be calling from anywhere.

The 323 location sits in Pacific Time (PT), so local business hours run roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m. PT. Neighboring California area codes include 209, 213, 279.

For the full story — every city covered, overlay history, and local scam patterns — read the complete Los Angeles area code guide.

All Los Angeles area codes

Los Angeles is served by 3 area codes across the metro area. 323 is the 1998 addition; the others were added as overlays or for surrounding suburbs.

• 213 — Los Angeles — 1947 original
• 323 (current page) — Overlay on the same metro, assigned 1998
• 738 — Overlay on the same metro, assigned 2024

Cities served by the 323 area code

The 323 area code covers 5 major cities and towns across the South/Central Los Angeles region (CA):

Businesses across Hollywood and surrounding cities use 323 numbers to project local presence and lift call answer rates. Industry studies of local presence dialing consistently report answer-rate gains of 20–40% over toll-free or out-of-area numbers — a caller ID that matches the recipient's region looks familiar and gets picked up.

323 area code time zone and business hours

The 323 area code is in the Pacific Time (PT) zone (UTC-8 / UTC-7 DST). Standard business hours in 323 run 9 AM to 5 PM PT.

If you're calling into 323 from a different time zone, factor in the offset. For example, an Eastern Time business calling 323 at 9 AM ET reaches Los Angeles at 6 AM PT — likely outside standard business hours.

History of the 323 area code

The 323 area code was introduced in 1998 when the North American Numbering Plan was first deployed. As Los Angeles grew and number demand increased, overlay codes 213, 738 were added to serve the same geographic region — a common solution that avoids forcing existing subscribers to change their numbers.

• 1947 213 added to serve the same region
• 1998 323 entered service
• 2024 738 added to serve the same region

Is the 323 area code safe? Spam and scam calls

323 is a legitimate geographic area code for Los Angeles — it is not a scam code or a premium-rate prefix, and a call from a 323 number is most likely a genuine local caller. The risk is not the area code itself but a tactic called neighbor spoofing: scammers fake their caller ID so an unwanted call appears to come from your own area code, because people answer familiar numbers more readily.

If you get an unexpected 323 call, a few signals point to a likely scam — a pre-recorded message, urgent pressure to act now, a demand for payment by gift card or wire transfer, or anyone asking for passwords, Social Security, or account numbers. Let suspicious calls go to voicemail, never share personal information, and report fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

The FCC consumer guide on spoofing explains your rights under the Truth in Caller ID Act. A real Los Angeles business will leave a clear voicemail and will not pressure you.

US carriers verify caller ID with the STIR/SHAKEN framework, which flags many spoofed numbers as "Spam Likely" before they ring. DialPhone 323 numbers are registered for STIR/SHAKEN attestation, so calls from your business are verified as genuine and reach customers without a false spam label. See the DialPhone guide to VoIP security for more.

Why get a 323 area code number for your business?

Getting a 323 number gives your business three measurable advantages over a toll-free or out-of-area number:

1. Local trust signal. Customers in Los Angeles recognize 323 as their home area code. Caller ID matching builds immediate credibility for service businesses, sales outreach, and patient communication.
2. Higher answer rate. Calls from a familiar local area code are answered far more often than unknown or toll-free numbers — industry measurements of local presence dialing put the lift at 20–40%, which matters most for outbound sales, appointment confirmations, and time-sensitive service callbacks.
3. Targeted marketing. Businesses serving Los Angeles and the broader South/Central Los Angeles can advertise a local number across print, radio, billboards, and digital channels for higher conversion than a national 800 number.

For businesses in Los Angeles and surrounding cities, top industries that benefit from local 323 presence include Tech, Entertainment, and Healthcare. DialPhone's AI receptionist is available for every 323 number — never miss a call, even after standard business hours.

How to get a 323 area code number

Setting up a 323 business number with DialPhone takes under 10 minutes:

1. Sign up for a DialPhone plan. Choose any plan starting at $24/user/month. Free 14-day trial, no credit card required.
2. Search available 323 numbers. Filter the DialPhone number inventory by area code, city, or pattern.
3. Choose your number and configure. Assign your new 323 number to a user or team, set up call routing, voicemail, AI receptionist, and business SMS.
4. Port your existing number (optional). Already have a 323 number? Free number porting in 2 to 5 business days with zero service interruption.

New to local numbers? The complete guide to getting a local phone number covers choosing the right area code, porting an existing line, and avoiding spam flags.

323 area code overlay codes

The South/Central Los Angeles region is served by multiple overlay area codes:

Area Code	Coverage
323	Primary area code for South/Central Los Angeles, assigned 1998
213	Overlay — same geography (assigned 1947)
738	Overlay — same geography (assigned 2024)

All overlay codes serve the same Los Angeles region. New subscribers may be assigned any available code; existing numbers retain their original prefix.

AI receptionist for 323 area code businesses

Every DialPhone 323 number includes optional AI receptionist coverage, available 24/7. The AI handles calls when your team is unavailable — answering common questions, booking appointments, routing urgent callers to on-call staff, and capturing voicemail with full transcription and intent tagging.

For businesses in Los Angeles that handle high call volume, run extended hours, or need bilingual support (especially valuable in multilingual metros like Los Angeles), the AI receptionist reduces voicemail backlog and improves first-call resolution.

All area codes in California

California has 40 active geographic area codes. The 323 area code is part of the same numbering plan as the codes listed below — calls between them are typically local within the state, depending on the carrier.

Nearby area codes

Related area codes in California and the Pacific Time (PT) region:

• 209 area code — Stockton, California
• 213 area code — Los Angeles, California
• 279 area code — Sacramento, California
• 310 area code — Los Angeles, California
• 341 area code — Oakland, California
• 408 area code — San Jose, California

All California area codes → · Browse all US area codes →

More area codes: ← 321 Orlando · 324 Jacksonville →

How this page is verified

DialPhone re-verifies every area code page every 90 days. Area code geography, timezone, and overlay data come from the official North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) database. Pricing reflects the published DialPhone plan tiers — see the pricing page for current details. Number availability varies; check the DialPhone signup flow for live inventory in the 323 region.

What to know before getting a 323 number

• Number availability is finite. Popular Los Angeles area codes can be inventory-constrained — request specific vanity patterns early.
• Porting timing varies. Most 323 ports complete in 2-5 business days; complex multi-line legacy contracts can take 7-10.
• HIPAA tier required for healthcare. The Core $24 plan doesn't include a BAA — healthcare users need Advanced ($34) or above.

How to get a Los Angeles phone number →