This guide covers where 310 is, how it was created, how the 424 overlay fits in, and what caller ID can and can't tell you. It also covers spotting spoofed calls and getting a 310 virtual number.
Key Takeaways
- 310 is a California area code covering western and coastal Los Angeles County, shared with overlay code 424.
- It was split from 213 in 1991; 424 was added in 2006.
- A 310 caller ID proves neither location nor identity.
- You can get a 310 number through a carrier, a VoIP provider, or porting.
What Is the 310 Area Code and Where Is It Located?
What "310" means in a phone number
North American phone numbers have ten digits: area code, exchange (or prefix), and line number. In 310-NXX-XXXX, 310 is the area code, NXX is the exchange, and the last four digits identify the subscriber line. NANPA administers this system.
The area code gives broad geographic context. It can't tell you a neighborhood, an address, a business, or a person.
Where the 310 area code serves
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) lists 310/424 as an overlay: 424 was added to the same region 310 already covered. An earlier CPUC split plan named these communities in the 310 portion:
- Santa Monica
- Beverly Hills
- Malibu
- West Los Angeles
- Culver City
- Marina del Rey
- Mar Vista
- Most of Inglewood
The same plan named these communities for 424:
- El Segundo
- Hawthorne
- Compton
- Redondo Beach
- Torrance
- Lomita
- San Pedro
The overlay replaced that split, so treat both lists as examples from the shared footprint, not city-by-city assignments. Beverly Hills is one community in the region, not a synonym for 310. Check the CPUC's current records for exact coverage.
Time zone and dialing
The region is in the Pacific Time Zone. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November.
- Within the US, dial 1 + area code + seven digits.
- From abroad, dial +1 310 followed by the seven-digit number.
- Since the overlay, seven-digit local dialing no longer works.
How the 310 Area Code Developed and How 424 Fits In
How 310 was created
The CPUC's final report says 310 was created in 1991 by splitting the 213 area code. The Los Angeles Times reported that 310 service began at 2 a.m. on November 2, 1991. An older CPUC page says 1992, so official sources differ. The contemporaneous reporting supports 1991.
Splits like this add number capacity by dividing a region. One side keeps the old code and the other gets a new one.
Later geographic changes
310 itself was split again in the late 1990s. NANPA scheduled the split and permissive dialing for January 25, 1997, with permissive dialing ending July 26, 1997. Some nearby areas moved to 562. Published timelines cite different milestones, so no single date marks the change cleanly.
The 424 overlay
The CPUC approved the overlay on August 25, 2005. Mandatory 1 + 10-digit dialing began July 26, 2006, and 424 numbers were issued from August 26, 2006. Existing 310 numbers stayed unchanged.
What 310 and 424 mean for number seekers
Functionally, the two codes are identical: same region, same calling and texting. The difference is reputation. A 2021 Los Angeles Times feature called 310 numbers "extremely rare," though that is qualitative reporting, not a measured scarcity figure.
Why Get a 310 Number and How to Get One
Why individuals and businesses choose a 310 number
A Los Angeles number can feel familiar to customers in that market. It suits entertainment and media professionals, e-commerce sellers, real estate agents, creators, and marketers. One caution: don't imply a physical California location you don't have.
Beyond local presence, privacy is another common reason:
- Online selling on marketplaces
- Property management
- Travel or living abroad
- Remote work and teaching
- Separating work from personal calls
Ways to obtain a 310 number
You have three main routes:
- Request a new number from a carrier or VoIP provider. The FCC notes that VoIP providers may let you pick an area code different from where you live.
- Port an existing 310 number to a new provider.
- Check specialist inventory for particular numbers.
Availability varies by provider and changes over time.
Porting, per FCC guidance, generally works like this:
- Confirm your number is eligible to move.
- Contact the new provider and give your ten-digit number and required account details.
- Authorize the transfer.
- Keep your old service active until the port completes.
Moving to a new geographic area can prevent you from keeping a number.
How to evaluate a 310 phone-number provider
Compare these before paying:
- Whether a 310 number is actually in stock
- Setup and monthly fees
- SMS support, voicemail, and call forwarding
- Mobile and web access
- Call recording and robocall protection
- Porting in and out
- Cancellation terms and support quality
Businesses should also look for number groups or multiple identities, IVR, analytics, API access, and ad-campaign tracking.
Tossable Digits as a virtual-number option
Tossable Digits, operated by Telusion, Inc. since 2005, offers Los Angeles virtual numbers in the 213, 310, and 323 area codes, subject to inventory. Calls and texts forward to any existing phone, and no second device or hardware is needed.
Features include:
- SMS-to-email and voicemail-to-email
- Voicemail access by web, phone, or email
- Call recording, screening, and robocall blocking
- A mobile app
- Separate personal and business identities
The service is month-to-month with no contract, and every feature is included in every plan. US numbers require no registration.
Existing Los Angeles numbers can be ported at no fee, and ports typically finish in one to five business days. Check live inventory before assuming a 310 number is available.
Local-number SMS is limited to person-to-person messaging, so businesses sending promotional or transactional texts should consider toll-free numbers.
How to Use and Respond to 310 Numbers Safely
Understanding who may be behind a 310 caller ID
An area code can't reveal who's calling. A 310 number may belong to a resident, a business, a mobile user, a VoIP customer, a reassigned number, or someone outside California entirely.
A reputable reverse-lookup site can add context. Treat results as hints, since they're often incomplete and prove nothing.
Recognizing spoofed or suspicious 310 calls
The FCC defines caller ID spoofing as deliberately falsifying the information displayed. Scammers can make any call look like a familiar or prestigious area code. Spoofing isn't always illegal, but it is when done with intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain value.
Complaint data shows what scammers favor. The FCC's 2025 complaint rankings put debt relief and loan assistance first at 27%, then insurance and healthcare at 11% and government imposters at 7%. These are complaint shares, not totals of all calls.
Red flags:
- Urgent demands for payment
- Requests for verification codes
- Threats of arrest or account closure
- Unexpected links by text
If something feels off:
- Share nothing sensitive.
- Hang up and contact the organization through its published number.
- Block the number and use your carrier's call-blocking tools.
- Report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or file an unwanted-call complaint with the FCC.
STIR/SHAKEN authentication helps verify caller-ID claims, but it doesn't prove a caller's purpose is honest.
Best practices for businesses using a 310 number
- Publish the full ten-digit number everywhere.
- Record a professional voicemail greeting.
- Test call forwarding and SMS delivery regularly.
- Keep caller-ID information accurate.
Mind the rules, too:
- California Penal Code 632 bars recording confidential communications without all parties' consent, so announce recordings
- Federal rules require prior express written consent for covered marketing texts, and you must honor STOP requests
- Never use a local-looking number to mislead people
Conclusion
310 is a legitimate California area code with a long Los Angeles association. But the code alone doesn't establish a caller's identity, exact location, or trustworthiness.
Verify current coverage and availability, compare features and costs, and judge calls by their behavior. If you need flexible calls, texts, voicemail, or separate personal and business lines, a privacy-focused virtual-number provider like Tossable Digits is worth a look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is area code 310 located?
310 is a California code tied to western and coastal Los Angeles County. Consult the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) current records for exact communities.
What does 310 mean in a phone number?
It's the area code, a numbering plan area, not a personal identifier. The next three digits identify the exchange and the last four the subscriber line.
Who is calling from a 310 phone number?
The area code can't say. The number may be mobile, VoIP, reassigned, or spoofed, so verify cautiously or use a reputable lookup service.
Where is area code 424 located?
424 is an overlay covering the same general West Los Angeles region as 310. Both require ten-digit dialing.
Is the 310 area code a scam?
No, it's an active, legitimate code, but scammers can spoof it. Judge the call by its behavior and never share sensitive information just because the number looks local.
Can I get a 310 phone number without living in California?
Often yes. Carriers and virtual-number providers, including Tossable Digits, offer 310 numbers to customers anywhere, subject to availability. Holding one doesn't prove California residence or a business location there.
