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701-709 Union St

North Beach, SF 94133 0118001 9 units · 3 fl · 1924

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model predicts a high risk of further maintenance problems in the next 12 months. A few records worth reading before you sign. Check whether they were closed out, and ask what was actually fixed.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in North Beach — not a forecast
Above average
avg 2.2
3
FewerMore

This building has 3 novs (7y), above the North Beach average of 2.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 701-709 Union St rent-controlled?

San Francisco's Rent Ordinance caps rent increases and provides eviction protection for most residential units built before 1979 with 2+ units. Here's how this building scores.

Built before 1979
Built 1924
2 or more units
9 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
NBEACH
Likely rent-controlled. Building age and unit count suggest this property falls under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance.

Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.

Statewide backstop · AB 1482

California Tenant Protection Act of 2019

Even when a building isn't covered by local rent stabilization, the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) may still apply. It caps annual rent increases and requires the landlord to state a legal reason to end most tenancies.

15+ years since occupancy
Built 1924
Annual rent increase cap
5% + CPI, max 10%
Just-cause eviction
After 12 months
Local rent control likely takes priority. This building appears to fall under the local ordinance above, which is stronger than AB 1482. Where a local just-cause ordinance applies, its rules govern instead of the state cap.

AB 1482 does not apply to single-family homes and condos unless owned by a corporation, REIT, or an LLC with a corporate member; to owner-occupied duplexes; or to deed-restricted affordable housing. The Act is in effect until January 1, 2030. Not legal advice — see the California landlord–tenant guide.

Building characteristics
Units9
Floors3
Year built1924
Total area8,436 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0118001
Ownership

Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).

Mailing address
Fong Ronnie Lee Esq 39536 Platero Pl Fremont CA 94539
Last sale

Landlord portfolio

Other SF properties this owner holds, with a risk rating for each.

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

701 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133
709 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133
705 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story, 9-unit multi-family residential building at 701-709 Union Street in North Beach, built in 1924, has undergone several significant improvements and faced various maintenance challenges over recent years. Most notably, there is currently an active permit filed in August 2023 for a fire system replacement and mandatory low frequency horn upgrade to meet 2022 fire code requirements. The building has seen substantial renovation work in recent years, including a $130,000 ground floor tenant improvement project in 2021, and comprehensive unit renovations in 2020 including plumbing, electrical, and interior improvements in units 1 and 3. Critical infrastructure upgrades include water line replacements in 2022, a new boiler installation in 2020, and soft-story seismic retrofitting which has been completed with a Certificate of Final Completion issued.

The property has experienced several maintenance and compliance issues over the years, particularly regarding heating systems, with multiple complaints about inadequate heat between 2016 and 2018, and a March 2023 complaint about no heat that has since been closed. There were significant concerns about lead paint hazards in 2006, which were resolved, and a 2019 complaint regarding a loose fire escape that was addressed. The building has also faced challenges with building systems, including multiple fire system violations between 2009 and 2021 related to blocked exits and alarm systems, though all have been marked as corrected. Recent complaints from 2020 indicate concerns about construction work during health lockdowns, though these were eventually closed. Planning records show various approved uses, including a full-service restaurant establishment, and the property has maintained active compliance with soft-story retrofit requirements. A current active complaint from December 2024 regarding boiler permit renewal is under investigation by the Plumbing Inspection Division.

AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below

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Risk rating

How 701-709 Union St's risk score is calculated

We trained a model on 7 years of SF DBI inspection data — notice of violation filings, complaint history, and owner track records. It estimates the probability that DBI inspectors will issue a Notice of Violation at this address in the next 12 months. Lower % = safer.

What the score means for you

Lower risk — safer than most nearby

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Typical — about average for the neighborhood

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Higher risk — riskier than most nearby

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
6thpercentile

Out of 362 buildings in this neighborhood, 340 are predicted to be safer. The band is relative to this neighborhood, so a share of every neighborhood falls in each colour.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
19%
No DBI
violation
81%
DBI violation
likely
Model explanation

What's driving this score

The three data points that most influenced this building's risk rating — ranked by the weight the model placed on each one.

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

Building size

Total floor area — a proxy for building scale and the number of systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) that can fail.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 81%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

701-709 Union St apartment reviews

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The story over time

701-709 Union St event timeline

Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.

2026
311 Request Jul 18
Missing side sewer vent cover
Street Defect
311 RequestMay 15
Not offensive

See all 32 events

Full history back to 2019 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 701-709 Union St apartments

13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.

Side by side

How 701-709 Union St compares to the neighborhood

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Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

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