310 Area Code: West LA Cities, History & Numbers

310 Area Code: A Guide to West LA's Most Recognizable Numbers

Few three-digit codes carry the cultural weight of 310. It signals Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Malibu — the affluent, coastal side of Los Angeles.

That reputation is not an accident. For more than three decades, this code has covered some of the most desirable real estate in the country, and a number bearing it still turns heads.

This guide breaks down which cities the 310 area code actually serves, how it came to be, the 424 overlay that now shares its territory, and what a 310 number can do for a business that wants a Westside identity.

WHERE THE 310 AREA CODE COVERS

The code serves the western and coastal edge of Los Angeles County. Think of the map from Malibu down through the South Bay.

It sits in the Pacific Time Zone and observes daylight saving time, like all of California.

The Core Cities

The 310 footprint includes some of LA's best-known communities:

A Few Surprising Inclusions

The coverage also reaches a small slice of Ventura County and stretches across the water to Santa Catalina Island, about 26 miles offshore.

That mix of dense urban neighborhoods, beach towns, and an island makes 310 one of the more geographically varied codes in the state.

If you are new to cloud calling, our explainer on what a VoIP number is is a useful primer before choosing a code.

HOW THE 310 CODE CAME TO BE

The code was created on November 2, 1991, when it was split from the original Los Angeles code, 213. Rapid population growth had drained the available numbers.

The split gave the Westside and South Bay their own dedicated numbering space — and almost instantly, a prestige association formed around it.

The 1997 Split

Demand kept climbing. On January 25, 1997, part of the 310 region was split off to create area code 562, covering the southeast county and parts of Orange County.

The 424 Overlay Arrives

By 2006, even the trimmed-down 310 ran short of numbers. Rather than another split, regulators added an overlay.

Area code 424 was layered onto the same geographic region on July 26, 2006 — the first overlay in California history. Both codes now serve the identical map.

LIVING WITH THE 424 OVERLAY

Because 310 and 424 share one region, dialing rules changed. Ten-digit dialing has been mandatory here for years.

What This Means for Callers

Every local call needs the full 10 digits — area code plus the seven-digit number. A seven-digit attempt simply will not connect.

What an Overlay Does Not Do

An overlay never forces anyone to give up an existing number. If you have a 310 line, it stays a 310 line. New numbers in the region may simply be issued as 424 instead.

So a 424 number is not a "lesser" Westside number — it covers the exact same Santa Monica-to-Torrance footprint.

WHY A 310 NUMBER STILL CARRIES WEIGHT

Phone numbers are brand assets. In a market crowded with unknown callers and spam, a recognizable local code earns answered calls.

For a Westside business — a law firm in Century City, a studio in Culver City, a boutique in Beverly Hills — a 310 number signals establishment and credibility.

Local Presence From Anywhere

You no longer need a physical Santa Monica office to hold a 310 number. A cloud phone line can ring on any device, anywhere.

This lets a growing company project a premium Los Angeles identity while the team works remotely or across multiple cities. My Country Mobile (MCM) provisions local numbers and routes calls over its global voice network, so a 310 line performs reliably wherever your staff sits.

Industries That Benefit Most

Entertainment, real estate, legal, hospitality, and professional services all trade on location reputation. For them, the right code is part of the pitch.

If you are weighing how a local line fits a multi-region strategy, our overview of business phone numbers shows how teams manage several codes at once.

AVOIDING COMMON PITFALLS

A recognizable code also attracts imitation. A little awareness protects you.

Watch for Spoofed 310 Calls

Scammers often spoof prestigious codes because people are more likely to answer them. Treat unexpected calls demanding payment or personal data with suspicion, even from a familiar code.

Do Not Assume 424 Is Out of Area

Some businesses pass on a 424 number thinking it looks less local. It does not — it serves the same neighborhoods and is fully accepted across the Westside.

Update Old Seven-Digit Listings

Any signage or marketing still printing seven-digit numbers should be corrected to the full 10-digit format.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

The 310 code remains one of the most recognizable identities in American telecom — a genuine asset for any business tied to West Los Angeles.

Your next step is simple: decide whether your current number reflects the market you actually want to win. If you serve the Westside or South Bay, a matching local line is worth securing.

Ready to claim a Los Angeles presence? You can set up a 310 or 424 number with MCM at mycountrymobile.com — quick activation, no long contracts, and call routing built for clarity.

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