---
title: "Area code 323: California, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/323.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/323"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 323 serves California, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in California."
---

# Area code 323: California, United States

Area code 323 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 323, held by 29 holders across 12 rate centers.
Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 265 (34%). 67% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 6,325 complaints on file for 4,219 numbers in 323, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1998-06-13
- Time zone: Pacific (P)
- Assigned overlays: 213 (1947-01-01), 738 (2024-11-01)
- Prefixes in use: 786
- Pooled prefixes: 524 (67%)
- Rate centers: 12
- Companies holding prefixes: 29
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-23 to 2025-04-02 (236 prefixes)

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LSAN DA 14 | 160 | 20% |
| MONTEBELLO | 110 | 14% |
| LSAN DA 06 | 80 | 10% |
| LSAN DA 09 | 72 | 9% |
| LSAN DA 13 | 70 | 9% |
| LSAN DA 02 | 57 | 7% |
| LSAN DA 03 | 56 | 7% |
| LSAN DA 05 | 45 | 6% |
| 4 other rate centers | 136 | 17% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pacific Bell | 265 | 34% |
| Metropcs Networks | 85 | 11% |
| T-Mobile USA | 64 | 8% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 52 | 7% |
| Verizon Wireless | 45 | 6% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 39 | 5% |
| 23 other carriers | 236 | 30% |

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, named as the parent of 323 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1998-06-13: Area code 323 went into service.
- 2024-11-01: Area code 738 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 323.

## Complaints on file

6,325 complaints for 4,219 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 216
- 2024: 225
- 2025: 137

## Questions

### Where is area code 323?

NANPA assigns area code 323 to California, United States.

### In which state does area code 323 sit?

California. 323 is one of 41 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Who owns area code 323?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 323, Pacific Bell holds the most prefixes, 265 prefixes or 34%.

### Which time zone does 323 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 323 as Pacific (P).

### What year did 323 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1998-06-13, so 323 has been in use since 1998.

### Does area code 323 have an overlay?

Yes. 213 (in service 1947-01-01) and 738 (in service 2024-11-01) share the same area with 323, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.

### How many prefixes does area code 323 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 786 prefixes in service in 323, spread over 12 rate centers and 29 holders.

### Are there complaints about 323 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 6,325 complaints for 4,219 numbers in 323. 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).