Where is Area Code 310?
Area Code 310 serves a significant portion of southwestern Los Angeles County, California, and includes various major coastal and urban communities. Individuals or businesses located within this region may have telephone numbers beginning with the 310 prefix. Major cities and areas in this region include:
- Santa Monica
- Beverly Hills
- El Segundo
- Inglewood
- Hawthorne
- Westchester
- Torrance
- Palos Verdes Peninsula
Additionally, a small segment of Ventura County also falls under this area code. For official guidelines on telephone numbering in these counties, residents may refer to the public utilities commission guidelines provided by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), located at 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. To learn more about overall national telephone regulations, consult the federal telecommunications policies issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), headquartered at 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
What time zone is 310 area code in the USA?
The 310 area code adheres to the Pacific Time Zone (PT). This time zone is officially recognized as UTC - 08:00. Like much of California, residents and businesses using the 310 area code observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). From mid-March until early November, clocks spring forward by one hour (to UTC - 07:00) in accordance with state and federal guidelines. For additional information regarding time zone regulations, please visit the official time standards reference provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
History of the 310 Area Code
The 310 area code has undergone multiple changes since its inception, reflecting the growing population and expansion of telecommunication services in the region:
- Year Created: Area Code 310 was established in 1991 as a split from the existing 213 area code. The decision to create this area code was overseen by the CPUC, found at 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, in coordination with the FCC.
- Splits and Overlays:
- In 1997, portions of the 310 area were separated to create Area Code 562 in response to continued population growth.
- To alleviate number exhaustion, an overlay of Area Code 424 was introduced in 2006, allowing both 310 and 424 to serve many of the same regions.
- Reasons for Changes: Rapid population increase and burgeoning phone usage (including pagers, cell phones, fax machines, and other communication devices) prompted the creation of new area codes and implementation of overlays to ensure sufficient numbering resources.
For official historical records and data on area codes, individuals may consult the history of telephone numbering provided by the FCC, located at 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
How Many People Use the 310 Area Code?
Although comprehensive population coverage varies, the 310 area code generally serves millions of residents and businesses throughout Southwestern Los Angeles County and parts of Ventura County. The CPUC estimates that a large segment of households and commercial entities in these coastal and urban areas rely on numbers within 310 or its overlay, 424. The following factors contribute to usage volume:
- Dense population centers such as Santa Monica and Beverly Hills
- Significant commercial development in cities like El Segundo and Torrance
- High demand for new telecommunications services in technology and entertainment hubs
For precise statistical data and official demographic reports, reference the California demographic statistics portal from the Department of Finance. Additional national-level data on area code utilization can be found via the telecom industry statistics at the FCC.
Is the 310 Area Code Toll-Free?
The 310 area code is a geographic area code and not toll-free. Traditional toll-free codes in the United States include 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833. Since 310 is not among those prefixes, local calls within the 310/424 region may be subject to standard dialing rules and telephone provider rates. Specific regulations under the CPUC govern intrastate calls, while the FCC oversees interstate communication rules. Refer to the official toll-free guidelines from the FCC at 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554 for more details regarding toll-free services and numbering policies.