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1544-1550 Powell St

North Beach, SF 94133 0130026 8 units · 3 fl · 1922

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
At or below average
avg 2.2
1
FewerMore

This building has 1 novs (7y), at or below the North Beach average of 2.2.

The bar and the rating point different ways because they measure different things: the bar counts DBI violations already on file, the rating forecasts the next 12 months.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1544-1550 Powell 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 1922
2 or more units
8 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 1922
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 built1922
Total area6,678 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0130026
Ownership

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

Mailing address
C/o Ken Tam 60 Yerba Buena Ave San Francisco CA 94127
Last sale
August 23, 2004

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.

1550 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
1548 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
1544 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
1546 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story, six-unit multi-family residential building at 1544-1550 Powell Street in North Beach, currently owned by Toto Investment LLC, has undergone significant improvements since 2013. The property, built in 1922, completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2017 (Tier 3) with a Certificate of Final Completion issued, addressing seismic safety concerns. Major safety upgrades were implemented in 2021, including a new fire alarm system installation ($20,000) in compliance with San Francisco Fire Code requirements and the installation of 17 new sprinklers throughout the basement ($8,000) in accordance with NFPA standards.

In 2019, the building underwent substantial modifications to the basement area, legalizing an existing unit and adding a new ADU, with permits totaling $40,000. The property has seen consistent maintenance and upgrades, including kitchen and bathroom renovations in multiple units (2018-2014; $45,000 and $32,800 respectively), electrical system improvements (new sub-panels and rewiring) in 2004 and 2014, and various plumbing upgrades including fixture replacements and water heater installations. A serious complaint in 2013 regarding multiple habitability issues (including mold, rodent problems, and lack of heat) was addressed and abated by October 2013. The building's recent history shows regular maintenance and compliance with city requirements, though there are some ongoing issues requiring attention, including an active cat task force complaint from 2023 and recurring graffiti incidents (most recently reported in 2024).

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

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Risk rating

How 1544-1550 Powell 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
12thpercentile

Out of 362 buildings in this neighborhood, 319 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
30%
No DBI
violation
70%
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.

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 70%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1544-1550 Powell St apartment reviews

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The story over time

1544-1550 Powell St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Jun 18
Public utilities commission
billing request for service

See all 15 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 1544-1550 Powell St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1544-1550 Powell St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in North Beach. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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

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