---
title: "Area code 213: California, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/213.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/213"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 213 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California."
---

# Area code 213: California, United States

Area code 213 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California.

NANPA lists 786 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 213, held by 44 holders across 16 rate centers.
The largest rate center is LSAN DA 01, with 362 prefixes (46%).
Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 137 (17%). 73% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 6,625 complaints on file for 3,907 numbers in 213, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Pacific (P)
- Assigned overlays: 323 (1998-06-13), 738 (2024-11-01)
- Prefixes in use: 786
- Pooled prefixes: 577 (73%)
- Rate centers: 16
- Companies holding prefixes: 44
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-04-16 to 2025-09-04 (417 prefixes)

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LSAN DA 01 | 362 | 46% |
| LSAN DA 10 | 113 | 14% |
| LSAN DA 07 | 84 | 11% |
| LSAN DA 09 | 35 | 4% |
| LSAN DA 13 | 21 | 3% |
| LSAN DA 14 | 21 | 3% |
| MONTEBELLO | 21 | 3% |
| LSAN DA 04 | 20 | 3% |
| 8 other rate centers | 109 | 14% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pacific Bell | 137 | 17% |
| T-Mobile USA | 120 | 15% |
| Onvoy | 65 | 8% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 58 | 7% |
| Verizon Wireless | 44 | 6% |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC | 41 | 5% |
| 38 other carriers | 321 | 41% |

A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company.

## History

- 1947-01-01: Area code 213 went into service.
- 1951-01-01: Area code 714 went into service and names 213 as its parent.
- 1957-01-01: Area code 805 went into service and names 213 as its parent.
- 1984-01-07: Area code 818 went into service and names 213 as its parent.
- 1991-11-02: Area code 310 went into service and names 213 as its parent.
- 1998-06-13: Area code 323 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 213.

## Complaints on file

6,625 complaints for 3,907 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 254
- 2024: 310
- 2025: 202

## Questions

### Where is area code 213?

NANPA assigns area code 213 to California, United States.

### In which state does area code 213 sit?

California. 213 is one of 41 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Who owns area code 213?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 213, Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 137 prefixes or 17%.

### Which time zone does 213 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 213 as Pacific (P).

### What year did 213 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 213 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 213 have an overlay?

Yes. 323 (in service 1998-06-13) and 738 (in service 2024-11-01) share the same area with 213, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### How many prefixes does area code 213 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 786 prefixes in service in 213, spread over 16 rate centers and 44 holders.

### Are there complaints about 213 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 6,625 complaints for 3,907 numbers in 213. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.

Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).