Quick answer: Area code 738 is a telephone overlay covering Hollywood, East Los Angeles, and Central Los Angeles — sharing the exact same territory as area codes 213 and 323. Activated on November 1, 2024, it is the newest of three overlapping codes serving downtown LA and the entertainment capital of the world. The territory operates in the Pacific Time Zone, and ten-digit dialing has been mandatory since 2017.
What area code 738 covers in central Los Angeles
Area code 738 does not mark out its own territory — it is layered directly on top of the region already served by 213 and 323. All three codes cover the exact same footprint: downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the dense southeast Los Angeles County cities that ring central LA.
This all-services overlay means new phone numbers issued anywhere in the region can carry a 213, 323, or 738 prefix, regardless of which one a caller's neighbor happens to have. No existing number changed when 738 launched — it simply expanded the pool of numbers available as central Los Angeles's dense population of phones, from smartphones to production-company business lines, kept climbing.
Pairing a 738 number with a 645 area code Miami-Dade presence creates a natural coast-to-coast entertainment and tourism corridor, connecting Hollywood's film and music industry with South Florida's hospitality and international business economy.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Number Plan Area (NPA) | 738 |
| Overlay for | 213 and 323 |
| Location | Central Los Angeles, California |
| Type | All-services overlay |
| Time Zone | Pacific Time (PT) |
| Activated | November 1, 2024 |
| State | California |
| Country Code | +1 |
Hollywood, East LA, and the neighborhoods sharing a 738 number
The 738 territory spans downtown Los Angeles and the dense central neighborhoods radiating outward through Hollywood, East LA, and southeast Los Angeles County.
Hollywood and central neighborhoods:
- Hollywood — The global epicenter of the film, television, and music industries, home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and major studio lots
- Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Los Feliz — Dense, culturally rich neighborhoods known for independent music, art, and food scenes
- West Hollywood — A major entertainment, nightlife, and design-industry hub
East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights:
- East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights — Historic neighborhoods with deep Latino cultural heritage and a strong small-business community
- Hancock Park and Leimert Park — Established residential communities anchoring central LA's cultural diversity
Southeast Los Angeles County cities:
- Huntington Park, Bell, and Maywood — Dense, industrious southeast LA County cities with strong manufacturing and retail bases
- South Gate and Cudahy — Established southeast LA communities
- Montebello — A commercial and residential hub along the eastern edge of the territory
| Sub-region | Key communities |
|---|---|
| Hollywood and central LA | Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, West Hollywood |
| East LA and Boyle Heights | East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Hancock Park, Leimert Park |
| Southeast LA County | Huntington Park, Bell, Maywood, South Gate, Cudahy, Montebello |
213, 323, and now 738: Los Angeles's three-code territory
Area code 213 was one of the original area codes assigned in 1947, covering all of Los Angeles County. Over the following decades, explosive growth split the county into multiple codes, leaving 213 covering only downtown Los Angeles and the immediately surrounding neighborhoods by the late 1990s.
On June 13, 1998, the fifth and final geographic split of 213 carved out area code 323 for Hollywood, East LA, and the southeast Los Angeles County cities, relieving severe number exhaustion driven by the explosion of mobile phones and pagers. In July 2017, the California Public Utilities Commission merged the two codes into a single overlay complex, making ten-digit dialing mandatory across the shared territory.
Even with two codes sharing the load, continued growth pushed the combined territory toward exhaustion again within a decade. The CPUC approved a third code, and area code 738 entered service on November 1, 2024, adding a fresh supply of numbers to the same downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood footprint.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Area code 213 assigned to all of Los Angeles County |
| June 13, 1998 | Area code 323 splits off for Hollywood, East LA, and southeast LA County |
| July 2017 | 213/323 overlay complex created; 10-digit dialing becomes mandatory |
| November 1, 2024 | Area code 738 added as a third overlay for the same territory |
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Ten-digit dialing across the 213, 323, and 738 territory
Because three area codes share one territory, every call placed within the region — even between two phones in the same Hollywood block — must include the area code.
| Calling scenario | Format |
|---|---|
| Any local call within the 213/323/738 territory | 738-XXX-XXXX (ten digits mandatory) |
| Anywhere else in the US or Canada | 1-738-XXX-XXXX |
| International call to a 738 number | +1 738 XXX XXXX |
Time zone: The entire 738 territory observes Pacific Time — the same zone as San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego. Businesses coordinating between Hollywood studios and the rest of the West Coast never need to account for a time difference.
Why Hollywood and Central LA businesses choose a 738 number
A 738 area code number places a business inside the most concentrated entertainment and media economy in the world.
Key reasons to establish a 738 area code number:
- Hollywood film and television industry — Major studios, production companies, talent agencies, and post-production houses anchor an enormous ecosystem of creative, legal, and technical services businesses
- Music industry presence — Record labels, recording studios, and live-music venues across Hollywood and Silver Lake support a deep entertainment-adjacent service economy
- Downtown Los Angeles business district — Corporate headquarters, law firms, and financial services companies anchor a substantial professional-services base alongside the entertainment sector
- Diverse small-business communities — East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, and southeast LA County support a dense network of Latino-owned small businesses across retail, food service, and manufacturing
- UCaaS virtual Hollywood presence — Businesses targeting the entertainment, media, or downtown LA markets from outside California can establish immediate local credibility through a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform, provisioning a 738 number with cloud-hosted voice, video, messaging, and analytics routed to any device worldwide; pairing a 738 number with a 629 area code Nashville presence creates a natural entertainment-industry corridor connecting Hollywood's film and TV economy with Music City's recording industry
Solar panel scams and other 738 area code fraud calls
Area code 738 is a legitimate telephone prefix serving Hollywood and Central Los Angeles residents and businesses — but California leads the nation in FTC scam-call complaints, and scammers actively spoof 738 numbers to appear local.
Most frequently reported 738 scam types:
- Debt relief robocalls — Now the single most reported scam nationally, with prerecorded calls offering to erase credit card or loan debt in exchange for upfront fees
- Solar panel scams — A fast-growing California-specific category, with high-pressure calls pushing unnecessary or fraudulent solar installations tied to fake government rebate promises
- Tech support impersonation — Callers pose as Apple or major tech companies, claiming a device has been compromised to extract remote access or payment information
- Government agency and family emergency impersonation — Callers pose as government agencies, a trusted business, or a family member in distress to pressure immediate payment or personal information
Staying protected: No legitimate government agency, tech company, or solar contractor demands immediate payment or remote device access over an unsolicited call. Report suspected 738 scam calls to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or complaints.donotcall.gov.
738 area code: the fast facts
- Area code 738 overlays 213 and 323 across Hollywood, East LA, and Central Los Angeles
- It was activated on November 1, 2024, as the third overlay code for the shared territory
- Ten-digit dialing is mandatory for every call, local or long-distance
- The entire territory observes Pacific Time — aligned with San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego
- Major economic anchors include Hollywood film and TV studios, the downtown LA business district, and the region's recording industry
- The most reported 738 scam types are debt relief robocalls, solar panel scams, tech support impersonation, and government agency impersonation
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 738 area code?
Area code 738 is a telephone overlay code serving Hollywood, East Los Angeles, and Central Los Angeles. Activated on November 1, 2024, it shares the exact same territory as area codes 213 and 323, meaning new numbers issued anywhere in the region can carry any of the three prefixes.
Where is the 738 area code located?
Area code 738 covers downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, and central Los Angeles neighborhoods including Silver Lake, Echo Park, West Hollywood, East Los Angeles, and Boyle Heights, along with southeast Los Angeles County cities such as Huntington Park, Bell, South Gate, and Montebello.
Is 738 the same as the 213 or 323 area code?
Not exactly the same code, but the same territory. Area code 738 is an overlay, meaning it covers the identical geographic footprint as 213 and 323 rather than a separate region. A 738 number is just as local to Hollywood and downtown LA as a 213 or 323 number.
When was the 738 area code created?
Area code 738 was activated on November 1, 2024. It followed area code 213, assigned in 1947 to all of Los Angeles County, and area code 323, which split off in 1998 before the two codes were merged into a single overlay complex in 2017.
What time zone is the 738 area code in?
Area code 738 is in the Pacific Time Zone. The entire territory observes Pacific Standard Time (UTC−8) in winter and Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−7) during daylight saving time, the same zone as San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego.
Why does central Los Angeles have three area codes?
Central Los Angeles shares three overlapping area codes, 213, 323, and 738, because regulators repeatedly chose overlays over geographic splits to relieve number exhaustion. Adding a new overlay code preserves existing numbers for millions of residents and entertainment-industry businesses rather than forcing another disruptive split.
Can I get a 738 number for a business outside California?
Yes. Virtual phone providers and UCaaS platforms offer 738 area code numbers to businesses and individuals regardless of physical location. A virtual 738 number establishes authentic Hollywood and Los Angeles presence, routes all calls to any device anywhere in the world, and connects your business with the region's entertainment, media, and downtown business markets without a physical California office.
Is the 738 area code associated with scam calls?
Area code 738 is a legitimate telephone prefix for Hollywood and Central Los Angeles, but California leads the nation in FTC scam-call complaints, and scammers actively spoof 738 numbers to appear local.
The most heavily reported fraud types include debt relief robocalls, solar panel scams, tech support impersonation, and government agency impersonation. Any unsolicited call demanding immediate payment or personal information is a scam regardless of caller ID.
