The 818 area code covers the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles — Burbank, Glendale, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and dozens more cities. This guide covers its history, the cities it serves, business benefits, dialing format, and how to get an 818 virtual number.
Los Angeles is one of the most recognized cities in the world — and its phone numbers carry that recognition everywhere. While 213 and 310 often get the spotlight, the 818 area code is the backbone of one of the most economically powerful regions in California: the San Fernando Valley.
The 818 area code covers a vast stretch of the LA metro including Burbank, Glendale, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Chatsworth, and Woodland Hills. It is home to major film studios, aerospace companies, healthcare systems, and millions of small businesses that drive the Southern California economy.
Whether you are a local business wanting to strengthen your Valley presence or a company anywhere in the world looking to establish an LA-area identity, an 818 virtual number gives you instant local credibility in one of the most valuable markets in the United States.
The 818 area code is a North American Numbering Plan (NANP) area code assigned to the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities in Los Angeles County, California. It covers the northern and northwestern portions of the greater LA metro area.
The 818 area code operates in the Pacific Time Zone (PT) — PST (UTC−8) in winter and PDT (UTC−7) in summer.
The 818 service area spans over 500 square miles across the San Fernando Valley and nearby mountain communities, covering a population of more than 2 million residents.
When the North American Numbering Plan launched in 1947, the entire state of California was divided into just a few area codes. Los Angeles and the surrounding region were all assigned 213. For decades, 213 covered everything from Downtown LA to the San Fernando Valley to the South Bay.
On November 14, 1984, the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas split from 213 and were assigned the new 818 area code. This was one of the major California splits of the 1980s, driven by explosive growth in phone demand from the Valley's booming entertainment, aerospace, and residential sectors.
As the Valley continued to grow, the 818 number pool came under pressure. In 1997, the 626 area code was split off to cover the San Gabriel Valley, reducing 818's territory. Then in 2009, the 747 area code was introduced as an overlay for the 818 geography — meaning new phone numbers in the same area began receiving 747 codes while existing 818 numbers were kept intact.
Today, both 818 and 747 serve the same San Fernando Valley geography. Existing 818 numbers remain active and carry significant local prestige as the original Valley code.
The 818 area code covers a wide range of cities and neighborhoods across the San Fernando Valley and nearby areas:
Through modern VoIP technology, you can get a virtual phone number with an 818 area code and route calls to any device — no physical San Fernando Valley office required.
Burbank alone is home to Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company, and NBCUniversal. A 818 number immediately signals to entertainment industry contacts that you operate in their world. For agencies, production companies, talent managers, and vendors, this is a significant competitive advantage.
Customers in the San Fernando Valley are significantly more likely to answer and trust a call from a local 818 number than an unknown out-of-state code. A local number increases answer rates by 30–50% compared to unfamiliar area codes — directly impacting your sales and service performance.
| Feature | Traditional Landline | 818 Virtual Number |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Days/weeks | Minutes |
| Hardware | Required | None |
| Remote use | Limited | Full |
| Scalability | Complex | Instant |
| SMS support | Rare | Included |
Since the 747 overlay was introduced in 2009, 10-digit dialing is mandatory for all calls in the 818 area — even local calls within the same neighborhood.
Format: 818-XXX-XXXX
When calling an 818 number from another country, use your country's international exit code, followed by the US country code +1, then the full 10-digit number.
Format: [Exit Code] + 1 + 818 + 7-digit number
Example from UK: 00 1 818 555 0100
Format: 011 + [country code] + [local number]
Example to Canada: 011 1 416 XXX XXXX
The 818 area code is used across a wide range of industries tied to the San Fernando Valley economy:
Los Angeles has multiple area codes each associated with a distinct part of the city. If you have read our 213 area code guide, here is how 818 fits into the broader LA picture:
| Area Code | Area Covered | Known For | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 818 | San Fernando Valley | Entertainment, aerospace, Valley identity | Valley-based businesses, studios |
| 213 | Downtown LA (original) | Historic prestige, financial district | Finance, law, corporate |
| 323 | Central/East LA | Hollywood, creative industries | Media, arts, entertainment |
| 310 | West LA, Beverly Hills | Luxury, tech, beach cities | High-end brands, tech firms |
| 747 | San Fernando Valley (overlay) | Modern Valley numbers | New lines in the same 818 area |
Bottom line: Choose 818 for authentic San Fernando Valley presence and entertainment industry credibility. If you specifically need a Downtown LA or Beverly Hills association, 213 or 310 may serve better.
The widespread recognition of the 818 area code across LA makes it a target for caller ID spoofing — where scammers display a fake 818 number to trick people into answering.
If your own 818 number is being spoofed, contact your VoIP provider immediately and file reports with both the FTC and the FCC.
Getting an 818 virtual number with Ajoxi takes under five minutes:
Already have an 818 number from another carrier? Ajoxi supports number porting — transfer your existing number with zero downtime.
The 818 area code is the defining phone prefix of the San Fernando Valley — established in 1984 and still the most recognized identifier for Burbank, Glendale, North Hollywood, and dozens of Valley communities. With over 2 million residents and a powerful mix of entertainment, aerospace, healthcare, and retail industries, the 818 service area represents one of California's most valuable business markets.
With modern VoIP technology, any business can get an 818 virtual number and establish instant local credibility across the entire Valley — no California office required. Set yours up in minutes and connect your business to one of the most iconic area codes in Los Angeles.
The 818 area code covers the San Fernando Valley including Burbank, Glendale, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Reseda, and Northridge in northwestern Los Angeles County.
818 is the original 1984 San Fernando Valley code. 747 was added in 2009 as an overlay when 818 numbers ran low. Both cover the same geography — 818 numbers are older and carry more local prestige.
The 818 area code is in the Pacific Time Zone — PST (UTC−8) in winter and PDT (UTC−7) in summer.
Yes. Through a VoIP provider like Ajoxi, you can get an 818 virtual number from anywhere in the world and route calls to any device.
The 818 area code was created on November 14, 1984, when the San Fernando Valley split from the original 213 area code.
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