Complete Guide to Area Code 323: Everything You Need to Know

Area code 323 is one of Los Angeles’s most recognized area codes, covering neighborhoods like Hollywood, Silver Lake, and East LA. If you’re wondering “What area code is 323?” or need info on its location, time zone, history, overlays, or how to get a 323 number, this guide has you covered.

We’ll also share business tips, explain the 213/323 overlay, and help you detect common 323 area code scams. Whether you’re a local, business owner, or just curious, here’s everything you need to know about the 323 area code.

323 Area Code Overview: Key Facts

The 323 isn’t just an area code—it’s a pop culture icon. From Dr. Dre to Ice Cube and Kendrick Lamar, this slice of Los Angeles has been repped by legends and dropped in lyrics for decades.

What Area Code is 323?

The 323 area code covers central Los Angeles and surrounding cities, including parts of Hollywood, East L.A. and Echo Park. It's known as the digital heartbeat of the city, where culture and creativity collide.

323 Area Code Location

Area code 323 is located in Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States with over 9.7 million residents.

However, the 323 area code only covers a portion of the county, specifically neighborhoods in and around central Los Angeles. It serves an estimated 3.9 million people within this smaller geographic footprint.

Cities in the 323 Area Code

The 323 area code encompasses a diverse range of cities in the heart of L.A., including:

• Alhambra
• Bell
• Bell Gardens
• Beverly Hills
• Commerce
• Cudahy
• Glendale
• Hawthorne
• Huntington Park
• Inglewood
• Los Angeles
• Lynwood
• Maywood
• Montebello
• Monterey Park
• Pasadena
• Rosemead
• South Gate
• South Pasadena
• Vernon
• West Hollywood
• Unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County

Well-Known Neighborhoods

From the glitz of Tinseltown to the indie underground, 323 neighborhoods are central to L.A.'s identity. This bustling metropolis is home to some of the most famous parts of the city that help define Los Angeles:

• Silver Lake
• Echo Park
• Los Feliz
• Koreatown (partial)
• Hollywood (partial)

The 323 code is used for both landlines and mobile phones, making it one of the city’s busiest area codes.

Local Landmarks

Some Southern California's most iconic destinations fall within the 323 area code, such as:

• Griffith Park & Observatory
• Dodger Stadium
• Hollywood Forever Cemetery
• The Greek Theatre
• MacArthur Park

Zip Codes Serviced by Area Code 323

There are dozens of zip codes covered by the 323 area code location, from 90001 to 90099, 90189, 90201, 90202, 90255 90270 90280 90310 90640 91030 91756.

Surrounding Area Codes

Whether you're local to Southern California or doing business in the Golden State, it can be useful to know the 323's neighboring area codes for geographical context:

• 818/747 (San Fernando Valley)
• 562 (Long Beach)
• 626 (San Gabriel Valley)
• 310/424 (Westside and beach cities)
• 562 (Southeast Los Angeles)

323 Time Zone & Business Tips

The 323 area code falls within the Pacific Time Zone (PT), which is UTC-8 during standard time (PST) and UTC-7 during Daylight Saving Time (PDT).

• Pacific Standard Time (PST): November to March
• Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): March to November

Keep this in mind when scheduling business calls with 323 phone numbers—East Coasters should note that L.A. operates 3 hours behind.

The History of Area Code 323

The story behind Los Angeles’s area codes is more interesting than you might think. When area codes were first introduced by the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) in 1948, the entire city of Los Angeles was serviced by the 213 area code.

This new system transformed long-distance calling by allowing for automation rather than operator assistance, offering a solution to the Post-WWII telecommunication boom that expanded faster than America's infrastructure could handle.

323/213 Area Code Overlay

But as L.A. grew and more people needed phone numbers, things had to change. That’s when the 323 area code came onto the scene in 1998, introduced as an overlay to help keep up with the demand. Fast forward to today, and we’ve got the 738 area code joining the mix as yet another overlay, effective as of November, 2024.

This shift—from 213 to 323, and now 738—really shows just how much the city has expanded, both in population and technology. These days, using 10-digit dialing is non-negotiable, and if you’re calling from outside the US, don’t forget to add the +1 country code.

Why a 323 Number Still Turns Heads

Even though there are new overlays, the 323 area code still holds a certain cool factor in Los Angeles—one that existed well before and long after Lauren Conrad was shown with a 323 number on MTV's The Hills. It’s more than just a L.A. area code; it’s part of the city’s identity.

How to Get a 323 Phone Number

When choosing a 323 phone service for personal or business use, there are several routes you can take.

VoIP services like Google Voice and Grasshopper offer a low-cost, highly flexible solution—perfect if you don’t want to be tied down to one location or device. The catch is, they depend on a stable internet connection, which can be a dealbreaker if your Wi-Fi is spotty.

Traditional mobile carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T are the go-to for reliability and simplicity—your phone just works wherever you have cell service—but they don’t offer the same level of customization or number management tools.

Then there are virtual number providers like RingCentral and OpenPhone, which are built with businesses in mind. They come loaded with features and make it easy to manage multiple lines or users, but you’ll usually pay a premium for that convenience.

Each option has its strengths and trade-offs, so the right choice really depends on your needs and how much flexibility you’re after.

Spotting and Blocking 323 Area Code Scams

The 323 area code covers parts of Los Angeles, and like many well-known urban area codes, it’s sometimes used by scammers. Here’s what you should know.

According to the National Do Not Call Registry, Los Angeles ranks #21 out of 56 counties in California for the most complaints (46,691) reported in 2024. 62% (29,988) of those flagged calls came from robo-callers, while 33% (15,632) were from real people attempting to scam the person on the other line.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Scammers often spoof local area codes, like 323, to make calls seem familiar and trustworthy. They can even fake caller IDs to look like real businesses or even your personal contacts. They also might pretend to be from banks, government agencies, tech support, or fake delivery companies.

Other scams include phishing for personal info, threatening legal action or arrest, promising prizes, or requesting payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Based on DNC 2024 data, the top complaints in the 323 area were in regards to:

1. Imposters
2. Debt reduction
3. Medical & prescriptions

If you get a suspicious call from a 323 number (or any unfamiliar number), don’t give out personal information, financial details, or send money. If you’re unsure, hang up and call back using an official number from the company’s website.

How to Block a 323 Number

If you’re getting hammered by unwanted calls from the 323 area code, there are a few practical steps you can take to block them.

1. Check your phone settings: Most smartphones—whether you’re on iOS or Android—let you block or filter specific numbers right from your call history or settings, so you can deal with repeat offenders easily. Your mobile carrier probably has its own call-blocking features too; some are free, others cost a little extra, but they can help filter out known spam or robocalls

2. Download an app for defense: There are third-party apps like Truecaller, Hiya, and RoboKiller that specialize in identifying and blocking spam calls, often using huge crowdsourced databases to recognize scam patterns.

3. Join the National Do Not Call registry: Consider putting your number on the Do Not Call List at donotcall.gov—it won’t stop scammers, but it can cut down on legit telemarketing calls.

4. Forward fraud to the FTC: You can report suspicious texts from 323 numbers by copying the message and forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM) to help your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future.

5. File a complaint: If a scammer keeps slipping through, you can file a complaint with the FTC, which helps regulators track and crack down on persistent offenders.

How to Look Up a 323 Phone Number

Not sure whether to take a call or respond to a text from a 323 number? There are a few ways you can find out more about who is contacting you:

1. Do a free search: Quickly entering the number in a Google search can reveal whether the 323 number contacting you is associated with a local business or organization.
2. Cross-check government databases: The FCC maintains databases of reported scam numbers.
3. Run a reverse phone lookup: If you’re curious about a call from a 323 area code, using a reverse phone lookup tool is one of the easiest ways to get answers. These reports can offer more comprehensive information, potentially including the owner's name, address, and contact details.
   
   Many of these lookup tools are available online, and some even offer free basic information, with more detailed reports for a small fee. Just make sure to use a reputable site to protect your privacy and get the most thorough and up-to-date results.

Services like Intelius let you lookup a 323 number and learn details about the caller, and identify whether the number is linked to a business or a scam.

Need intel on a caller with a 323 area code? Run a reverse number search now to quickly gather key information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Area Code 323