213 Area Code Location: Cities, Time Zone & Map (Los Angeles, CA)

Area code 213 is one of the most iconic and original telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). It primarily serves the downtown core of Los Angeles, California, and its immediate surrounding neighborhoods. Established in 1947, it was one of the first three area codes assigned to California and originally covered the entire southern third of the state. Today, due to population growth and increased demand for phone numbers, its geographic reach is much smaller, concentrated heavily on the bustling urban centers of L.A.

Due to high demand, area code 213 has multiple "overlays"—other area codes that serve the exact same region. The primary overlay is 323, and a new overlay, 738, was implemented in late 2024.

Location and Coverage

Area code 213 is geographically small but densely populated. It covers the heart of Los Angeles, including key cultural and financial districts like Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Financial District, and the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center).

Below is a table of the top cities and neighborhoods served by area code 213.

Top Cities and Neighborhoods

Time Zone Information

Area code 213 is located in the Pacific Time Zone.

Current Local Time: Depends on the time of year (Daylight Saving Time is observed).

History & Evolution

Area code 213 has a rich history as one of the original 86 area codes created by AT&T in 1947.

1947 (Creation): 213 originally covered all of Southern California, from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican border.
1951 (First Split): To accommodate growth, the southern and eastern portions (including San Diego and Orange County) were split off to create area code 714.
1957 (Second Split): The northern and western portions (including Bakersfield and Santa Barbara) were split off to form area code 805.
1984 (Third Split): The San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley were split off to create area code 818.
1991 (Fourth Split): Western Los Angeles and the South Bay (including Beverly Hills and Santa Monica) were split off to create area code 310.
1998 (Fifth Split & Overlay): The remaining 213 area was split again, creating area code 323. 213 was reduced to a very small area covering just downtown L.A.
2017 (Overlay Expansion): The boundary between 213 and 323 was erased, and they became "overlays," meaning both codes now cover the entire central L.A. region.
2024 (New Overlay): A new code, 738, was added as an overlay to provide more numbers for the region.

Timeline of Area Code 213 Changes

Dialing Instructions

Because multiple area codes (213, 323, 738) serve the same geographic area, you must use 10-digit dialing (or 1+10 digits) for all calls, even local ones.

Correct: 213-555-0199
Incorrect: 555-0199 (7-digit dialing does not work)

Notable Facts

Pop Culture: The "213" is often referenced in West Coast hip-hop and rap music, symbolizing Los Angeles culture.
Low Pulses: In the original rotary dial system, "213" was chosen for Los Angeles because it required very few "pulses" (clicks) to dial (2+1+3 = 6 pulses). This made it faster to dial than codes with larger numbers (like 916), reflecting L.A.'s importance even in 1947.

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