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1159 Clay St

Nob Hill, SF 94108 0222029 11 units · 3 fl · 1912

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
7
FewerMore

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

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1159 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 1912
2 or more units
11 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.

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 1912
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
Units11
Floors3
Year built1912
Total area7,596 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0222029
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
1159 Clay St Apt 6 San Francisco CA 94108
Last sale

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 11-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building at 1159 Clay Street in Nob Hill, owned by Janice Fong, has undergone several significant structural and safety improvements since its 1912 construction. The property successfully completed a required soft-story retrofit in 2019 (with associated work completed in 2021), bringing it into compliance with San Francisco's earthquake safety requirements. Maintenance work has included a reroofing project completed in 2013 and a sewer line replacement from the house trap to the light-well in 2021, though this plumbing permit has since expired.

The building has experienced various safety and maintenance issues over the years, particularly regarding fire safety. Multiple building violations were recorded in 2000, including problems with smoke enclosure doors, fire proofing, and combustible storage, all of which were officially abated in 2021. Fire emergency equipment such as extinguishers and alarm systems has been the subject of complaints in 2015-2017, though these issues were generally corrected promptly. Recent concerns have focused on exterior maintenance, with multiple 311 calls in 2024 regarding graffiti and debris removal, and one fire safety violation regarding extinguishers in 2022 that was later corrected. The most recent building activity indicates attention to street space management, with permits issued in 2017-2018 and multiple 311 calls regarding sidewalk cleaning and urban maintenance. The building is currently listed as having completed its soft-story retrofit work with a Certificate of Final Completion issued.

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

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Risk rating

How 1159 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

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
26thpercentile

Out of 1125 buildings in this neighborhood, 832 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
32%
No DBI
violation
68%
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 68%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1159 Clay St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1159 Clay St event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Apr 27
Exit Maintenance

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 1159 Clay St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1159 Clay 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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