323 Area Code — Hollywood & Central LA: Neighborhoods, History & Scam Risk
Area code 323 covers Hollywood, Silver Lake, East LA, South LA, and central Los Angeles. Overlay with 213 & 738, history since 1998, entertainment scams, and dialing guide.
The 323 area code is the Hollywood area code — serving central Los Angeles including Silver Lake, Koreatown, East LA, Boyle Heights, South LA, Highland Park, and the entertainment capital of the world. Created in 1998 when it split from 213, it merged back as an overlay in 2017 and now shares its territory with 213 and 738.
323 Area Code at a Glance
Location: Central Los Angeles (Hollywood, East LA, South LA)
Year Created: June 13, 1998 (split from 213)
Overlay Codes: 213, 738
Timezone: Pacific (UTC-8/UTC-7)
Key Area: Hollywood
Metro Population: ~10 million (LA County)
Neighborhoods in the 323 Area
When 323 split from 213 in 1998, it received the majority of central LA's neighborhoods. Since the 2017 overlay merger, these neighborhoods share the 213/323/738 numbering complex:
Hollywood
~87,000Entertainment capital — studios, Walk of Fame, Hollywood Sign
Silver Lake
~39,000Trendy arts & dining scene, indie music history
Los Feliz
~33,000Griffith Observatory, Greek Theatre, upscale residential
East Los Angeles
~120,000Vibrant Latino community, historic Whittier Blvd
Boyle Heights
~92,000Historic LA neighborhood, mariachi music scene
Koreatown
~120,000Densest neighborhood in LA — Korean BBQ, nightlife
South LA
~400,000Crenshaw, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Hyde Park
Highland Park
~57,000Revitalized arts corridor along York Blvd and Figueroa
Eagle Rock
~35,000Charming village feel, Occidental College
Echo Park
~43,000Echo Park Lake, Dodger Stadium adjacent
Hancock Park
~21,000Historic mansions, Wilshire Country Club
Fairfax District
~24,000The Grove, LACMA, Farmers Market
Adjacent Cities
These incorporated cities within the 213/323/738 overlay complex are also served by these area codes:
| City | Population | County |
|---|---|---|
| Glendale | 196,543 | Los Angeles |
| Pasadena | 138,699 | Los Angeles |
| Alhambra | 82,868 | Los Angeles |
| Huntington Park | 58,114 | Los Angeles |
| South Gate | 94,396 | Los Angeles |
| Bell | 35,477 | Los Angeles |
| Maywood | 27,395 | Los Angeles |
| Vernon | 222 | Los Angeles |
History of the 323 Area Code
Area code 213 created for all of Southern California — one of the original 86 codes.
San Fernando Valley split from 213, receiving area code 818.
West LA and South Bay split from 213, receiving area code 310.
June 13 — Area code 323 split from 213. 213 kept downtown; 323 received Hollywood, East LA, South LA, and surrounding neighborhoods.
July 8 — The boundary between 213 and 323 was erased. Both codes now overlay the same territory. 10-digit dialing mandatory.
November 1 — Area code 738 activated as third overlay for central LA.
Central LA Area Codes
| Code | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 213 | 1947 | Original — now serves central LA (overlay with 323, 738) |
| 323 | 1998 | Split from 213 — Hollywood, East LA, South LA |
| 738 | 2024 | Newest overlay — additional number capacity |
See also: 213 Area Code — Downtown Los Angeles
How to Dial a 323 Number
| Calling From | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Within LA (local) | 323 + 7-digit number | 323-555-0100 |
| Within US | 1 + 323 + 7-digit number | 1-323-555-0100 |
| Cell phone (anywhere) | +1 323 + 7-digit number | +1 323 555 0100 |
| From UK | 00 + 1 + 323 + number | 00-1-323-555-0100 |
| From Mexico | 00 + 1 + 323 + number | 00-1-323-555-0100 |
Major Companies & Landmarks
Paramount Pictures
Major Studio
Film & Television (founded 1912)
Hollywood
Netflix (LA Campus)
Fortune 500
Streaming — major LA production campus
Hollywood (Sunset Bronson)
Capitol Records Building
Landmark/Music
Iconic 1956 building — Universal Music Group
Hollywood
Dodger Stadium
Sports
Home of the LA Dodgers (MLB) — largest stadium by capacity
Echo Park/Elysian Park
LACMA (LA County Museum of Art)
Culture
Largest art museum in the western US
Miracle Mile
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Major Medical
Nationally ranked hospital — 886 beds
Beverly Grove
Kaiser Permanente LA Medical Center
Healthcare
Major HMO hospital
East Hollywood
Los Angeles City College
Education
Community college — 18,000 students
East Hollywood
Griffith Observatory
Landmark
Free astronomy museum on Mt. Hollywood
Los Feliz
The Grove
Retail
Outdoor shopping center — 20M visitors/year
Fairfax District
Scam & Spam Risk from 323 Numbers
Entertainment scams
Fake casting calls, talent agency fraud, and pay-to-audition schemes — unique to Hollywood area
Auto warranty scams
Robocalls about expiring vehicle warranties
IRS/tax scams
Fake IRS agents threatening arrest for unpaid taxes
Rental scams
Fake apartment listings exploiting LA's competitive rental market
Immigration scams
Fake USCIS calls targeting East LA and South LA immigrant communities
Check suspicious 323 numbers with our spam number checker.
Time Zone
Pacific Time (PT)
Standard (PST): UTC-8 (November–March)
Daylight (PDT): UTC-7 (March–November)
9 AM in LA = 12 PM ET = 5 PM London = 9:30 PM Mumbai
Business hours: 9 AM – 5 PM PT
Related Area Codes
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