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900 Powell St

Nob Hill, SF 94108 0224013 14 units · 3 fl · 1909

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 900 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 1909
2 or more units
14 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM4
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 1909
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
Units14
Floors3
Year built1909
Total area9,220 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0224013
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Daniel L Scher, Trustee 1569 Solano Ave #300 Berkeley CA 94707
Last sale
December 31, 2008

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 14-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building at 900 Powell Street in Nob Hill, constructed in 1909, has undergone several significant improvements and encountered various compliance issues over its history. Most recently, in 2021, the building received a fire alarm system upgrade to meet San Francisco Fire Code requirements, including new detectors and notification devices. The property has experienced recurring fire alarm system challenges, with violations recorded in 2019 and 2021, though these were subsequently corrected. A notable recent mechanical update occurred in 2022 with the removal of a hydronic boiler system, and in 2016, the building transitioned from a commercial water heater to multiple residential units. The building has undergone various major improvements over the years, including a substantial $750,000 kitchen and bathroom remodel in 2000, and an attempted unit legalization project in 2019.

Historical records show a series of building violations from 2005 related to fire safety, plumbing, and security, all of which were abated by August 2005. The property has maintained active compliance with building codes since then, with periodic inspections and necessary updates. Recent 311 calls from 2024-2025 have mainly concerned street-level issues such as garbage overflow and sidewalk conditions, which are municipal rather than building-specific concerns. The building's history includes multiple fire alarm system-related incidents, though none resulted in civilian injuries or significant damage. The most recent fire complaints in 2023 and 2021 were resolved promptly, indicating responsive maintenance of safety systems.

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

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Risk rating

How 900 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
6thpercentile

Out of 1125 buildings in this neighborhood, 1058 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
18%
No DBI
violation
82%
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 82%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

900 Powell St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

900 Powell St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Aug 04
Garbage and debris
mattress
311 RequestApr 04
Garbage and debris

See all 18 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 900 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 900 Powell 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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