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1556 Clay St

Nob Hill, SF 94109 0217010 6 units · 3 fl · 1910

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Nob Hill
At or below average
avg 2.4
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Nob Hill average of 2.4.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1556 Clay 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 1910
2 or more units
6 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM3
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.

Building characteristics
Units6
Floors3
Year built1910
Total area4,191 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0217010
Ownership

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

Owner name
Ray F Wong/Pansy L Chin Cr
Mailing address
C/o Dierdre Chin 709 Westbrook Ct Danville CA 94506
Last sale
000000

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
AI summary

The three-story, six-unit multi-family residential building at 1556 Clay Street in Nob Hill was constructed in 1910 and has undergone numerous significant modifications and repairs over the past decades, with mixed compliance regarding permits and safety requirements. The most recent major proposed renovation, filed in November 2020, seeks to convert the existing basement into a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and laundry room, though this permit remains in filed status as of 2023. The building has experienced recurring maintenance issues, particularly between 2009-2010, when multiple violations were documented regarding unauthorized modifications, including the conversion of storage space into an illegal apartment, water damage in Unit 5, and problems with secondary exit stairs which required a $20,000 repair. Fire safety concerns were also prominent during this period, with complaints about blocked exits and an inoperable alarm system in late 2009, though these violations were subsequently corrected.

Earlier maintenance history shows several significant issues, including a 2000 complaint regarding inadequate heating for a 91-year-old tenant, and multiple routine inspections revealing various maintenance deficiencies. Building systems upgrades have been undertaken, including reroofing in 2012, window replacement and electrical system improvements in 2010, though some work has occurred without proper permits, as noted in multiple complaints. The 2013 inspection raised concerns about interior surfaces and weather stripping, which were ultimately abated. More recent records from 2024 indicate ongoing issues with parking violations in the vicinity of the building, though these are external to the property's physical condition. The building's maintenance history reflects a pattern of reactive repairs and modifications, with some improvements to building systems and living conditions, though periodic violations and maintenance deficiencies have been recorded throughout its history.

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Risk rating

How 1556 Clay 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

Grade A–B — Low risk

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

Grade C — Moderate risk

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

Grade D–F — High risk

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

Neighborhood percentile
71th percentile

Out of 1125 buildings in this neighborhood, 326 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
76%
No DBI
violation
24%
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.

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

The ZIP code captures local housing market and enforcement patterns that affect all buildings in the area.

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 43.0%
Moderate concern 17.9%
Severe concern 39.1%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
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The story over time

1556 Clay St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request May 08
Garbage and debris
other loose garbage debris yard waste
311 RequestMar 01
Garbage and debris

See all 7 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 1556 Clay St apartments

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

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

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