Area Code 323

California

Area code 323 serves California, primarily Los Angeles, in the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 213.

Overlay Area Code

This area code is part of an overlay region, meaning the same geographic area is served by multiple area codes. Overlay codes were introduced to meet growing demand for phone numbers without requiring existing customers to change their numbers.

This area code shares its geographic region with: area code 738 (Los Angeles).

In service since: 13-Jun-1998

Learn more about overlay and split area codes →

Demographics & Economics

Total Population: 2,400,544
Population Density: 2,426 people/sq mi
above U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
Median Household Income: $87,760
above U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
Poverty Rate: 13.6%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
Unemployment Rate: 7.0%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
Education Attainment: Bachelor's Degree+
35.5%
near U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)
High School or Lower
31.9%

Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates. Population figures are approximate — see Sources & Methodology for details on how area code populations are derived.

See how this area code compares to all US area codes in the Statistics dashboard.

Time Zone

Pacific Time (PT)

NANPA Relief Status

According to the latest NANPA analysis (July 2026), this area code is not currently listed as exhausting within the next 36 months. No relief planning is in progress for this NPA.

Source: NANPA NPA Relief Planning Reports · See all relief planning statuses

Current Time

Pacific Time (PT)

Prefix Utilization

Geographic Coverage

State

Major Cities

Los Angeles
East Los Angeles
Inglewood
South Gate
Hawthorne
Lynwood
Florence-Graham
Montebello
Monterey Park
Huntington Park
Bell Gardens
West Hollywood
Westmont
Bell
South Pasadena
Maywood
West Rancho Dominguez
Cudahy
Willowbrook
Walnut Park
Commerce
View Park-Windsor Hills
West Athens
Ladera Heights

and 1 more city

Area Code 323 geographic coverage map (light mode)

Historical Timeline of Area Code 323

Area code 323 was created on June 13, 1998, as the fifth and final geographic split from California's original area code 213, which had been in service since 1947. The split was authorized by CPUC Decision D.97-02-017 and announced via NANPA Planning Letter PL-062. The central portion of Los Angeles retained 213 while the surrounding areas transferred to 323. Source: NANPA PL-062

Key milestones:

1997: CPUC Decision D.97-02-017 authorized the geographic split of 213 to create 323. NANPA Planning Letter PL-062 was issued May 19, 1997, announcing the split per the CPUC decision. Source: NANPA PL-062
1998: Area code 323 activated June 13, 1998 at 2:00 AM PDT. 213 retained downtown LA (exchanges 1, 7, 10); 323 received surrounding areas including Hollywood, East LA, and neighboring cities. Test number 323-999-0323 was available from April 18, 1998. Permissive dialing ended January 16, 1999. Source: NANPA PL-062
2015: NANPA filed relief application A.15-11-017 requesting a boundary elimination overlay. As of October 2015, 323 had 752 assigned NXXs with only 33 available (5% remaining) and demand at 1.6 codes per month. Source: NANPA Relief Application
2016: CPUC Decision D.16-07-014 (July 14, 2016) approved a boundary elimination overlay merging 213 and 323 into a single overlay complex. Source: CPUC Decision D.16-07-014
2017: Boundary elimination overlay took effect July 8, 2017. Permissive 1+10-digit dialing began January 14, 2017. Either 213 or 323 can now be assigned anywhere in the combined region. Source: Wikipedia
2022: NANPA filed Application A.22-08-009 requesting a new overlay (area code 738) for the 213/323 region. Only 123 prefixes (7.7%) remained; projected exhaust by June 2025. Source: Wikipedia
2024: Area code 738 activated November 1, 2024 as additional relief for the 213/323 complex. Source: CPUC

Area code 323 serves the central Los Angeles metropolitan area, including Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Inglewood, South Gate, and numerous surrounding cities. The code has undergone one of the most rapid exhaustion cycles in California numbering history, requiring three separate regulatory actions within a 27-year span.

Regulatory History

Area code 323 has been affected by six significant regulatory actions spanning from 1997 to 2024, covering the original 213 split authorization, the boundary elimination overlay, and the subsequent 738 overlay approval. Source: CPUC Decision D.16-07-014

Year	Event	Docket	Regulatory Action & Impact
1997	213 Split Authorized	D.97-02-017	CPUC approved geographic split of 213 NPA, creating area code 323. Central LA retained 213; surrounding areas transferred to 323. Source: NANPA PL-062
1997	NANPA Planning Letter	PL-062	NANPA announced split per CPUC D.97-02-017. Split date: June 13, 1998 at 2:00 AM PDT. Permissive dialing ended January 16, 1999. Source: NANPA PL-062
2015	Relief Application Filed	A.15-11-017	NANPA filed relief application requesting boundary elimination overlay. 323 had 752 assigned NXXs with only 33 available (5% remaining); demand at 1.6 codes per month. Source: NANPA Relief Application
2016	Boundary Elimination Approved	D.16-07-014	CPUC approved boundary elimination overlay merging 213 and 323 into a single overlay complex. Either code can now be assigned anywhere in the combined region. Source: CPUC Decision
2016	Implementation Announced	PL-494	NANPA announced implementation of boundary elimination overlay. Permissive dialing: January 14, 2017. Mandatory dialing: July 8, 2017. Source: Wikipedia
2022	738 Overlay Application	A.22-08-009	NANPA filed application requesting new overlay for 213/323. Only 123 prefixes (7.7%) remained; projected exhaust by June 2025. Source: Wikipedia
2023	738 Overlay Approved	CPUC Decision	CPUC approved area code 738 as overlay on 213/323. Activated November 1, 2024. Source: CPUC

County Coverage

Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 323).

County	Population	Share
Los Angeles, CA	2,400,544	100.0%

Area Code 323 Family Tree

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Total Codes

Splits

Overlays

Max Depth

All Descendants

Code ▲	State	Type	In Service	Parent
738	CA	overlay	01-Nov-2024	323

Area code 323 was originally assigned in 13-Jun-1998 to serve CA. Over the years, it has generated 1 descendant area code through a combination of geographic splits and overlays as demand for telephone numbers grew.