Introduction
Most people think 424 is the consolation prize — the area code you get when 310 ran out of numbers. They're wrong.
The 424 area code is an active, equal partner in serving one of the most economically dense regions in the United States: West Los Angeles, the South Bay, and Silicon Beach. From Snap's Santa Monica headquarters to SpaceX in Hawthorne, from venture firms in El Segundo to entertainment law offices in Beverly Hills, the 424 area code carries the dial tone of a region where one phone call can move billions of dollars.
Whether you're a Silicon Beach founder, an investor, or an out-of-state company opening a West LA office, this guide answers every question about the 424 area code.
- What makes the 424 area code distinct from other LA codes
- Which communities the 424 and 310 overlay serves together
- How 310 + 424 work as equal partners — practical effects today
- Silicon Beach — the tech industry behind the 424 area code
- The full history from 213 to 310 to 424
- How to get a 424 number whether you're in LA or out of state
What Makes the 424 Area Code Different
Most American area codes are tied to a specific geographic region first and a brand identity second. The 424 area code is different. It serves the same geographic region as 310 — but it carries an entirely separate set of business signals.
The 424 area code is not a fallback for 310. It is half the dial tone of one of America's most influential business regions — and California's first-ever overlay area code, setting the regulatory template the CPUC still uses today.
- It is an overlay, not a separate region. 424 was introduced in 2006 as an overlay on top of 310 — both share the exact same geographic footprint
- It is California's first-ever overlay. 424 paved the way for 747 (over 818), 657 (over 714), and others
- It serves the most economically dense zip codes in the western US. West LA's concentration of venture capital, talent, and entertainment revenue per square mile is among the highest in the country
Where the 424 Area Code Operates
The 424 area code covers the western half of Los Angeles County, sharing its territory entirely with the 310 area code. Together they serve LA's coastal and west side.
The 424 area code does NOT cover the San Fernando Valley, downtown LA, Pasadena, or East LA. It is dedicated to LA County's western coastal and inland communities.
- Communities: Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Culver City, West Hollywood, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Marina del Rey, Venice, Westwood
- State: California (CA) · County: Los Angeles County (western portion)
- Combined population with 310: approximately 3 million
- Neighboring codes: 818/747 (San Fernando Valley), 626 (Pasadena), 213/323 (Central LA), 562 (Long Beach)
- Approximate footprint: 280 square miles
The 310 + 424 Overlay: How They Work Together
The 310 area code came first. When LA's original 213 was split in 1991, the western and southern portions of LA County were assigned the new 310 code.
By the mid-2000s, mobile-phone proliferation and West LA's tech and entertainment growth pushed 310 toward exhaustion. The California Public Utilities Commission introduced 424 as an overlay in July 2006, governed by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator.
Today, 310 and 424 operate as equal partners across West LA and the South Bay.
- All calls within the region require 10-digit dialing
- New mobile numbers and business lines often receive 424 by default since 310 inventory is tighter
- Existing 310 numbers were not renumbered
- Vanity-grade 310 numbers command a significant premium over equivalent 424 patterns
- 424 numbers work identically to 310 — same routing, quality, and E911
Silicon Beach: The Tech Industry Behind 424
Silicon Beach is the tech corridor running roughly from Santa Monica through Venice, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, and into El Segundo. The 424 area code sits at the center of it — and so do many of the most consequential tech companies operating in Los Angeles.
A 424 phone number signals proximity to the people who fund and build the next wave of consumer tech. Out-of-state startups regularly request 424 numbers when expanding LA business development teams.
Businesses can provision 424 DIDs through wholesale VoIP origination within minutes, routing to any cloud PBX or SIP endpoint.
- Snap Inc. (Santa Monica) — social media and AR
- SpaceX (Hawthorne) — aerospace and satellite communications
- Hulu (Santa Monica) and Activision Blizzard (Santa Monica) — streaming and gaming
- Riot Games (West LA) and Headspace (Santa Monica)
- Google offices in Venice and Playa Vista
A Brief History: From 213 to 310 to 424
The 424 area code lineage starts with 213 — California's original Los Angeles area code, assigned in 1947. By 1991, LA's growth forced the first split: the western and southern portions of LA County became 310.
In 1997, Long Beach and Southeast LA moved to 562. In 2006, the 424 overlay went live across the remaining 310 footprint.
The 424 introduction was significant beyond just LA — it was the first overlay area code ever introduced in California. Businesses connecting West LA lines today can use SIP trunking to integrate 424 numbers seamlessly into any existing phone system.
“The 424 area code is not a backup for 310. It is half the dial tone of one of America's most influential business regions — West Los Angeles, Silicon Beach, and the South Bay.”
How to Get a 424 Area Code Phone Number
Securing a 424 area code phone number is straightforward whether you're based in West LA or expanding into Silicon Beach from another state.
For LA-based businesses: Local landline providers (Spectrum, AT&T, Lumen) offer 424 business lines. Mobile carriers assign 424 numbers locally and increasingly default to 424 since 310 inventory is tighter.
For out-of-state businesses wanting West LA virtual presence: Wholesale VoIP providers issue 424 DIDs nationally and globally. Numbers route to any SIP endpoint, cloud PBX, mobile phone, or contact center platform.
Calls present a West LA local presence even when answered remotely. E911 must be registered to a real responder-reachable address.
Teloz wholesale origination delivers 424 area code DIDs within minutes through our portal or API. Whether you need a single number for a Silicon Beach sales line, a 50-number block for a startup expansion, or a fully integrated cloud PBX for an entertainment-adjacent business, the same self-serve provisioning applies.
Conclusion
From its 2006 launch as California's first overlay area code to today's role anchoring the next wave of consumer tech and entertainment companies, the 424 area code carries real local signal in a region where the right phone number opens doors. Whether you're a Silicon Beach startup scaling fast or an out-of-state company opening LA operations, a 424 number is a fully equal, fully functional West LA presence.
