Area Code 213

Area code 213 was established on January 1, 1947, as one of the original 77 US NANP area codes and one of California's three original area codes. Over the next 77 years, it underwent five geographic splits, a boundary elimination overlay, and an additional overlay — transforming it from one of the largest NPAs in the nation to one of the smallest, and then back again. Source: NANPA

• 1947: Area code 213 created as one of the 77 original US NANP area codes, covering the entire southern third of California — from the Mexican border to the Tehachapi Mountains. It was one of California's three original codes alongside 415 (Northern CA) and 916 (Central CA). The middle digit "1" in 213 indicated the state would have multiple area codes under pre-1953 NANP rules. Source: CPUC Training
• 1951: First split — Area code 714 created for Orange County and the inland valleys, the first of five splits that would progressively narrow 213's geographic scope. Source: CPUC Training
• 1957: Second split — Area code 805 created for the Central Coast region (Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo counties), restricting 213 to Los Angeles County and surrounding areas. Source: CPUC Training
• 1984: Third split — Area code 818 created for the San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley areas. Source: CPUC Training
• 1991: Fourth split — Area code 310 created for the Westside, South Bay, and beach communities of Los Angeles. Source: CPUC Training
• 1998: Fifth and final split on June 13 — Area code 323 created. Area code 213 retained only three exchanges: 1 (Downtown/Echo Park), 7 (South Park/Exposition Park), and 10 (Westlake/Koreatown). All other exchanges switched to 323, which completely surrounded 213 — making it one of the geographically smallest NPAs in the nation. Source: NANPA
• 2001: CPUC Area Code 213 Report (Decision 99-12-051) found 213 contained 7.9 million usable numbers, with 73% unused — recommending conservation measures rather than further splits. Source: CPUC Report
• 2017: On July 14, 2016, the CPUC approved a boundary elimination overlay (Decision 16-07-014, Docket A.15-11-017), erasing the boundary between 213 and 323. Permissive 1+10-digit dialing began January 14, 2017; mandatory dialing took effect July 8, 2017. This returned 213 to areas that had used it for more than half a century before the 1998 split. Source: CPUC
• 2023: CPUC approves 738 overlay for the 213/323 complex (Decision 23-03-006). NANPA Planning Letter PL-614 authorizes 738 as an all-services distributed overlay. This was the first new area code assigned to Los Angeles County since the 213/323 boundary elimination. Source: NANPA
• November 1, 2024: Area code 738 enters service in the 213/323 region, becoming the third active area code in the Los Angeles metropolitan complex. New 738 codes are assignable in both former 213 and 323 territories following the boundary elimination. Source: NANPA

Area code 213 has undergone nine significant regulatory events over 79 years, involving AT&T, the California Public Utilities Commission CPUC, and NANPA. The FCC delegates numbering authority to state commissions under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(2)), and the CPUC holds primary jurisdiction over California numbering matters. Source: CPUC