536 Mason St
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.
This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Union Square average of 6.9.
Is 536 Mason 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.
Based on SF Assessor records. Not legal advice — confirm with the SF Rent Board.
| Units | 28 |
|---|---|
| Floors | 6 |
| Year built | 1916 |
| Total area | 14,945 sq ft |
| Property type | Multi-Family Residential |
| Tax status | None |
| Blocklot | 0296012 |
Registered owner per SF Assessor-Recorder (secured roll).
Landlord portfolio
Other SF properties this owner holds, with risk grades for each.
Unlock complete reportThe 536 Mason Street building, owned by Kwan Roger C P & Gin B Y, is a 5-story, 25-unit multi-family residential structure built in 1916 in Union Square. The building has a concerning recent history of fire safety issues, with multiple fire code violations recorded in 2024 alone, including problems with alarm systems and various fire safety requirements. There is also a persistent pattern of elevator problems, with the building's only elevator being frequently out of service, causing significant accessibility concerns. Recent maintenance work has included the installation of fire sprinklers in unit #23 and common areas, boiler replacement, and various unit renovations. A significant complaint about a strong odor in the first floor common area was filed in November 2023. The building's fire safety systems have required multiple updates and repairs, including a 2021 fire alarm system upgrade initiated in 2017 and various sprinkler system modifications. The property has experienced issues with unauthorized units, most notably a 2017 complaint regarding an illegal unit (unit #27) on the first floor which prompted a $48,000 legalization permit. Recent inspections have revealed multiple fire safety violations requiring permits, focusing on areas such as emergency lighting, extinguisher requirements, and storage clearance. There have also been recurring issues with garbage and debris management outside the building, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls in January 2025 regarding overflowing city garbage cans.
AI-generated · may contain errors · check the source data tables below
How 536 Mason 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.
Out of 38 buildings in this neighborhood, 27 are predicted to be safer.
violation
likely
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.
536 Mason St apartment reviews
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536 Mason St event timeline
Violations, complaints, fire incidents, permits, and buyouts — most recent records in order.
See all 22 events
Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.
Unlock complete timelineFull data for 536 Mason St apartments
13 SF public datasets for this parcel — permits, violations, complaints, fire records, 311 calls, planning records, and buyouts.
What this is
Permits issued by the SF Department of Building Inspection for new construction, alterations, and repairs. Includes estimated cost and current permit status.
| Permit # | Description | Cost | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Plumbing permit applications filed with the SF Department of Building Inspection. Covers plumbing installation, repair, and replacement work.
| Permit # | Description | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Electrical permit applications filed with the SF Department of Building Inspection. Covers electrical wiring, panel upgrades, and related work.
| Permit # | Description | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Notices of Violation issued by the SF Department of Building Inspection for code violations. Unresolved notices can escalate to legal action.
| Date Filed | Complaint # | Description | Item | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Complaints filed with the SF Department of Building Inspection about code violations. Tracks the complaint lifecycle from filing through abatement or referral.
| Complaint # | Date Filed | Date Abated | Division | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Planning Department project entitlements — discretionary review, conditional use, variances, and environmental review for this parcel.
| Address | Opened | Closed | Status | Description | Applicant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Planning Department administrative and compliance records that are not full project entitlements — pre-application meetings, code violations, and referrals.
| Address | Opened | Closed | Status | Description | Applicant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
SFFD fire incidents geo-joined to this parcel. Covers structure fires, alarms, and emergency responses with injury and fatality counts.
| Date | Situation | Civilian Injuries | Civilian Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Fire code violations issued by the SFFD. Tracks corrective actions required and resolution status for fire safety code enforcement.
| Violation Date | Description | Corrective Action | Status | Close Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Fire code complaints received by the SF Fire Department geo-joined to this parcel. Includes complaint type, disposition, and outcome.
| Received | Description | Disposition Date | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
SF 311 service requests geo-joined to this parcel. Includes maintenance complaints, street/sidewalk issues, and quality-of-life requests.
| Opened | Type | Agency | Category | Details | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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What this is
Buildings subject to SF's mandatory soft-story seismic retrofit program. Unreinforced multi-story wood-frame buildings must meet compliance tiers.
| Tier | Status |
|---|---|
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What this is
Tenant buyout (Ellis Act pre-cursor) agreements recorded with the SF Rent Board. Tracks amounts paid to tenants to vacate rent-controlled units.
| Disclosure Date | Buyout Date | Amount | Tenants |
|---|---|---|---|
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