Few area codes are as closely tied to a single place as area code 818 is to the San Fernando Valley. Known locally simply as “the Valley,” this part of Los Angeles has its own identity, and its phone code has become a shorthand for it.
Where Area Code 818 Is Used
Area code 818 covers the San Fernando Valley and several nearby communities in Los Angeles County. Familiar names within or close to the territory include Burbank, Glendale, Van Nuys, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Northridge and Woodland Hills. Parts of the City of Los Angeles itself fall within the Valley, so you can live inside the city limits and still have an 818 number.
The Valley is also strongly associated with the entertainment industry. Major studio lots are based in Burbank and the surrounding area, and many people who work in film, television and animation live in neighborhoods covered by this code.
The Story of Area Code 818
The 818 code arrived in 1957, when it was carved out of the large Los Angeles area then served by 213. At the time, the Valley was growing quickly as new housing spread across former farmland and orchards, and the original code could not keep up. The new code let the region have its own pool of numbers.
Decades later, the same pressure returned. In 2009 a second code, 747, was added as an overlay, meaning it covers the same territory as 818 rather than splitting it. People who already had 818 numbers kept them, while new customers might be assigned either code.
What to Know When You Receive a Call From 818
A call from 818 usually means the person is, or once was, in the San Fernando Valley area. It could be a coworker in a production office, a school, a local business or a relative. As with all area codes, mobile numbers travel, so someone with an 818 number may now live in another state.
Because the region is home to many media and customer-service businesses, you may also receive calls from companies and agencies using local numbers. Be thoughtful with unfamiliar callers. If someone asks for money, gift cards or sensitive information, hang up and call the organization back through an official number you find independently. A local-looking code is not proof of anything, since caller ID can be faked.
Dialing Tips for 818 Numbers
With 747 sharing the same map, ten-digit dialing applies for local calls. You must include the area code even for a neighbor.
- Enter the area code plus seven digits for every call within the region.
- Calls to nearby codes such as 213, 310, 323 and 626 may be local or long distance depending on your plan, so check before assuming.
- Save contacts with full ten-digit numbers so they work from anywhere.
Local Context in the Valley
The Valley is a patchwork of distinct neighborhoods, from busy commercial boulevards to quiet residential streets lined with single-family homes. It stretches between mountain ranges, and summers can be noticeably warm. Many residents commute over passes into other parts of Los Angeles, though plenty work close to home.
The code has also entered popular culture. Songs, films and television shows have used the Valley as a setting, and the number itself sometimes appears in business names, from local shops to service companies, as a proud local marker.
Anyone planning a move to the area should know that a number is easy to port. Phone companies let customers keep their existing numbers in most cases, which is why new neighbors may arrive with codes from all over the country. Your own number will not need to change simply because you moved to or within the Valley.
Business owners sometimes ask whether 818 or 747 looks better on a sign. In truth, both are equally local, and customers will treat them the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is area code 818 in Los Angeles?
Yes, in part. The San Fernando Valley includes a large portion of the City of Los Angeles, and 818 also serves cities such as Burbank and Glendale.
What is the 747 area code?
It is an overlay for the same area as 818. Both codes serve the same region, so either can appear on a local number.
Is 818 a Hollywood area code?
Not exactly. Much of Hollywood proper uses other Los Angeles codes, but many studios and entertainment workers are located in the 818 area.
When an unfamiliar number shows up on your screen, a quick check can give some peace of mind. The areascode.us area code lookup helps you find where a code is from in seconds.
