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624-626 Ellis St

Tenderloin, SF 94109 0321012 14 units · 4 fl · 1923

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 Tenderloin
Above average
avg 12.0
28
FewerMore

This building has 28 novs (7y), above the Tenderloin average of 12.0.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 624-626 Ellis 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 1923
2 or more units
14 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
Units14
Floors4
Year built1923
Total area6,560 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0321012
Ownership

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

Owner name
Strange Brian R
Mailing address
Marcus Gaetani 4444 Geary Blvd Ste 100 San Francisco CA 94118
Last sale
091919

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

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

626 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94109
624 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 14-unit, 4-story multi-family residential building at 624-626 Ellis Street in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, owned by Brian R. Strange, has a concerning pattern of maintenance and safety issues that have intensified in recent years. Most critically, as of May 301924, there are multiple active violations regarding fire safety systems that require immediate attention, including a malfunctioning fire escape drop ladder, damaged walls and ceilings, problems with the central alarm system, and compliance issues with smoke/carbon monoxide detection requirements. The building has also been experiencing persistent plumbing issues, with numerous reports of sewage back-ups between January-April 2024, and maintenance problems including a history of hot water outages since late 2022. Recent inspections have revealed additional concerns such as lead paint hazards, egress obstructions, and exterior concrete wall damage.

The property has documented multiple fire safety violations in 2024 alone, particularly related to alarm systems, sprinklers, and extinguishers, all of which have been referred to hearings for resolution. Historical records show recurring problems with security (including broken locks and doors) and various building system malfunctions, though some issues were resolved through permits and repairs. The building's age (constructed in 1923) and location in the Tenderloin neighborhood should be taken into account when considering the overall maintenance challenges presented in the inspection history. Multiple recent 311 calls from late 2024 indicate ongoing concerns with the surrounding area, though these are external to the building itself.

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

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Risk rating

How 624-626 Ellis 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
56th percentile

Out of 172 buildings in this neighborhood, 76 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
12%
No DBI
violation
88%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

NOV rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building NOV rate across everything this owner manages — high rates signal pattern neglect.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 9.4%
Moderate concern 44.4%
Severe concern 46.2%
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

624-626 Ellis St event timeline

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

2026
Building Permit Feb 19
Non illuminated awning with vinyl letters 30" ht x 156" wd. (a); awning name as: middle east - asia
$880 · Issued
Planning RecordFeb 19
To legalize an awning including sign on awning per PCS 187.3 amnesty program.

See all 22 events

Full history back to 2023 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 624-626 Ellis 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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