747 to join 818 as Valley area code

The decision by the California Public Utilities Commission will also add a new area code to a number of communities north of San Diego.

Beginning in May 2009, all new telephone numbers issued in the 818 area will take a 747 area code. Customers who already have 818 telephone numbers will be allowed to keep them, however, they and everyone else in the zone will be required to dial 11 digits to make a local call -- even if they're calling the house next door.

Also, next April, residents in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Fallbrook and Oceanside and other areas north of San Diego will have 442 numbers instead of 760.

Like other recent Southern California area code changes, officials said the new prefixes were necessary to deal with a looming number shortage.

The new Valley prefix will possibly prompt a cultural shift in how people think about the region. Hardest hit will be those who are especially fond of the 24-year-old 818 -- such as the Granada Hills resident with an "LA818" tattoo who was among hundreds of folks who e-mailed officials and implored them not to change their prefix.

Valley residents largely supported the overlay. Many attended public hearings sponsored by state regulators and said they didn't want the hassle of changing business cards and stationery to reflect a new area code.

Since it announced its intention last fall to create a new Valley area code, the utilities commission received 741 comments, with 442 supporting an overlay, 199 favoring splitting the region into two area codes, and 100 with no preference.

Los Angeles City Council representatives said the proliferation of cellphones, BlackBerrys and fax machines has given officials little choice but to add a new area code.

"We have very few options available to us," said Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, who represents the eastern half of the Valley. "If we had our druthers, we would rather not have to have an overlay."

State regulators said allowing businesses to hang onto 818 numbers played a crucial part in their decision to use 747 for new numbers, rather than splitting the region between the two area codes.