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120 Trenton St

Nob Hill, SF 94133 0179033 12 units · 3 fl · 1923

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 Nob Hill — not a forecast
Above average
avg 2.4
18
FewerMore

This building has 18 novs (7y), above the Nob Hill average of 2.4.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 120 Trenton 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 1923
2 or more units
12 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
CRNC
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 1923
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
Units12
Floors3
Year built1923
Total area7,950 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0179033
Ownership

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

Mailing address
1859 29th Ave San Francisco CA 94122
Last sale
March 04, 2010

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 12-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building at 120 Trenton St in Nob Hill, owned by Chinatown Properties LLC, has a significant history of maintenance and safety issues since its construction in 1923. Most recently, in October 2023, there was a fire safety violation issued regarding exit maintenance, though this was resolved within days. The building has undergone several major improvements over the past decade, including the installation of a comprehensive fire sprinkler system in 2015-2016 (costing over $50,000 total) and a reroofing project in 2019 costing $14,000. There have been recurring fire safety concerns, with multiple violations for extinguishers (2018, 2021, 2023), alarm systems (2008, 2018), and blocked exits (2006). The building experienced significant maintenance issues in 2016-2019, including problems with heating systems, plumbing, and electrical systems, though many of these issues appear to have been addressed through subsequent repairs and upgrades.

Historical documents reveal a pattern of electrical and safety concerns, particularly in the 2010-2016 period, including multiple complaints about electrical shutdowns, safety hazards in units 6 and 7 (2014), and multiple fire safety violations. The building underwent substantial renovation in 2013-2014, including basement improvements and unit reconfigurations valued at over $180,000, along with extensive electrical work including the installation of a 400-amp service panel. Earlier maintenance history shows instances of water heater replacement, bathroom renovations, and various code compliance upgrades dating back to the 1980s. The property has had one documented case of illegal short-term rentals (2019) involving multiple units, though this situation was investigated and addressed. Recent maintenance issues reported through 311 calls have primarily related to building exterior conditions and general sanitation matters rather than internal systems, suggesting some improvement in recent years.

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

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Risk rating

How 120 Trenton 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
5thpercentile

Out of 1125 buildings in this neighborhood, 1069 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
17%
No DBI
violation
83%
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 83%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

120 Trenton St apartment reviews

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The story over time

120 Trenton St event timeline

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

2026
Building Violation (NOV) Jun 18 Serious
Building violation
120 trenton street #6 and all common areas.
Building Violation (NOV)Jun 18
Building violation

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 120 Trenton St apartments

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

Side by side

How 120 Trenton 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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