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721 Bush St

Union Square, SF 94108 0284023 20 units · 4 fl · 1912

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Renters here report frequent, slow-to-fix problems. Get repair promises in writing and check the unit before signing.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Union Square
At or below average
avg 6.9
2
FewerMore

This building has 2 novs (7y), at or below the Union Square average of 6.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 721 Bush 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
20 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RC4
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
Units20
Floors4
Year built1912
Total area10,924 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0284023
Ownership

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

Owner name
Murphy San Francisco Lp
Mailing address
Bartholomew Murphy 1355 Valencia St San Francisco CA 94110
Last sale
070706

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 20-unit apartment building at 721 Bush Street in Union Square, owned by Murphy San Francisco Lp, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues since its construction in 1912. Most recently, there have been multiple concerns regarding the building's boiler system, including a 2024 complaint about an operating permit violation for boiler serial number G-405, though the issue was abated by February 12, 2024. The property has a history of mechanical system problems, particularly with the elevator, which has been frequently reported as out of service between 2006 and 2007, and again in 2021. Heating system reliability has also been an ongoing issue, with multiple complaints about inadequate heat during the 2006-2007 period.

The building has experienced recurring fire safety concerns, with multiple violations and complaints over recent years. In 2024 alone, there were two fire alarm system complaints and two fire code violations, while 2023 saw multiple issues related to sprinkler/standpipe systems and blocked exits. Historical issues from 2006-2007 included concerns about egress obstruction, elevator functionality, and various other maintenance violations. The most recent plumbing work includes a steam boiler replacement completed in December 2023 and a backflow device replacement from January 2021, suggesting some efforts to address infrastructure issues. The building's older plumbing and mechanical systems, combined with its history of maintenance violations and safety concerns, indicate ongoing challenges with maintaining basic building systems, though recent permit activity shows some attempts at system upgrades and compliance with safety requirements.

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

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Risk rating

How 721 Bush 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 38 buildings in this neighborhood, 11 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
15%
No DBI
violation
85%
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 severity forecast
No violation 15.9%
Moderate concern 74.0%
Severe concern 10.1%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

721 Bush St event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Feb 24
Fire Escape
Citation Issued

See all 11 events

Full history back to 2021 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 721 Bush 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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