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531-545 Geary St

Downtown, SF 94102 0317027 63 units · 10 fl · 1922

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model predicts a high risk of further maintenance problems in the next 12 months. A few records worth reading before you sign. Check whether they were closed out, and ask what was actually fixed.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Downtown — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 6.9
1
FewerMore

This building has 1 novs (7y), at or below the Downtown average of 6.9.

The bar and the rating point different ways because they measure different things: the bar counts DBI violations already on file, the rating forecasts the next 12 months.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 531-545 Geary 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 1922
2 or more units
63 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.

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 1922
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
Units63
Floors10
Year built1922
Total area48,340 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0317027
Ownership

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

Mailing address
2308 Edwards St Berkeley CA 94702
Last sale

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

541 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
545 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
535 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
537 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
46 Shannon St, San Francisco, CA 94102
533 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
48 Shannon St, San Francisco, CA 94102
20 Shannon St, San Francisco, CA 94102
54 Shannon St, San Francisco, CA 94102
531 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
52 Shannon St, San Francisco, CA 94102
539 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 10-story, 63-unit apartment building at 531-545 Geary Street, owned by Ballyhallinan Family LP and constructed in 1922, has undergone several significant upgrades and faced various challenges over recent years. Most notably, there have been multiple fire safety concerns, with violations recorded in 2024, including issues with sleeping area requirements and fire safety documentation. The building has experienced recurring fire alarm system problems between 2018-2024, though most fire-related incidents have been false alarms or system malfunctions with no reported injuries. Major infrastructure improvements include a 2019 electrical service upgrade to 120/208 volt 3-phase service, replacement of fire safety systems, and elevator recalls, as well as plumbing upgrades such as steam boiler replacement in 2020 and hot water tank replacement in 2021.

Recent building history shows ongoing maintenance and improvements, including the conversion of a retail space to a take-out cafe in 2021 and several apartment unit renovations. However, the building has faced recurring issues with accessibility and safety, as evidenced by several complaints about elevator functioning between 2014-2021, emergency exit obstructions in 2021, and hoarding concerns in 2018. The property has maintained active compliance with most building codes, with recent attention to fire safety requirements including kitchen hood cleaning, electrical safety, and door maintenance. While many historical violations have been abated, the building's recent history shows persistent attention required for fire safety systems and periodic maintenance issues.

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

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Risk rating

How 531-545 Geary 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
15thpercentile

Out of 448 buildings in this neighborhood, 381 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
8%
No DBI
violation
92%
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.

Building size

Total floor area — a proxy for building scale and the number of systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) that can fail.

Number of units

The number of units affects how the model reads complaint and violation totals — more units means more potential sources.

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 92%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

531-545 Geary St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

531-545 Geary St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Jul 08
Garbage and debris
human waste or urine
311 RequestJun 05
Garbage and debris

See all 26 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 531-545 Geary St apartments

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

Side by side

How 531-545 Geary 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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