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1221 Union St

Russian Hill, SF 94109 0123062 8 units · 3 fl · 1908

This building has a substantial enforcement record over the last seven years, and our model predicts continuing maintenance failures over the next 12 months. Read the records below before you sign. Ask which issues were resolved, get repair commitments in writing, and inspect the unit yourself.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Russian Hill — not a forecast
Above average
avg 1.9
4
FewerMore

This building has 4 novs (7y), above the Russian Hill average of 1.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1221 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 1908
2 or more units
8 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH3
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 1908
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
Units8
Floors3
Year built1908
Total area8,652 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0123062
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
1517 North Point St #529 San Francisco CA 94123
Last sale
December 09, 2015

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 8-unit, 3-story apartment building at 1221 Union Street, built in 1908 and currently owned by Ejm Union Llc, has undergone significant improvements over the past decade, with substantial investment in safety systems and unit renovations. Most notably, a comprehensive fire alarm system upgrade was completed in 2023 to comply with San Francisco fire code requirements, including the installation of low-frequency sounders in sleeping areas. The building has seen extensive unit renovations between 2010-2014, including complete remodels of units 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, featuring new kitchens, bathrooms, electrical systems, and safety upgrades such as smoke detectors. The property has also received major infrastructure improvements, including a new roof in 2019 and structural enhancements to the foundation and walls in 2010.

The building's maintenance history shows regular attention to building systems, though there were some historical compliance issues that have since been resolved. These include a 2013 incident regarding an unpermitted boiler operation that was abated within two months, and lead paint concerns noted in 2003 that were addressed by 2005. The property has maintained active compliance with building codes since these earlier violations were resolved. Recent 311 calls primarily relate to street-level issues such as parking and noise disturbances, which are typical for urban environments, rather than building-specific concerns. The majority of units have received comprehensive upgrades, suggesting proactive property management and commitment to maintaining building systems and resident amenities.

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

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Risk rating

How 1221 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
18thpercentile

Out of 1133 buildings in this neighborhood, 929 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
39%
No DBI
violation
61%
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.

Building size

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

Number of units

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

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 61%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1221 Union St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1221 Union St event timeline

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

2025
DBI Complaint Jun 23
Date last observed: 22-jun-25; time last observed: 9:00am; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling fire safety/fire escape; ; additional information: building fire alarm has been non functional for over a week per sf fire marshall postings with no repair;
Building Inspection Division
Fire ComplaintJun 20
Alarm Systems

See all 16 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 1221 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 1221 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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