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735 Ofarrell St

Tenderloin, SF 94109 0321037 23 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
At or below average
avg 12.0
1
FewerMore

This building has 1 novs (7y), at or below the Tenderloin average of 12.0.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 735 Ofarrell 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
23 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 1923
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
Units23
Floors4
Year built1923
Total area13,519 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0321037
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Steven C. Thrower 1 Bush St Ste 900 San Francisco CA 94104
Last sale
052421

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 23-unit, 4-story apartment building at 735 O'Farrell Street in the Tenderloin, owned by 735 Ofarrell 17 Lp, has undergone extensive renovation work in recent years. Between 2021 and 2024, multiple units (21, 22, 24, 36, and 42) received significant upgrades including kitchen and bathroom rehabilitation, closet conversions, and washer/dryer installations, with associated costs ranging from $12,000 to $60,000 per unit. The building has also faced several maintenance and safety challenges, particularly concerning fire safety systems, with violations recorded in 2023 (alarm systems), 2022 (sprinkler systems), and 2017 (multiple fire code violations). More recently, there have been documented mold issues in 2023, primarily related to inoperable windows affecting ventilation, and earlier water damage complaints in 2015-2011.

The property has a history of compliance issues, as evidenced by multiple building complaints and violations. In 2015, there were complaints about unauthorized work in Unit 34, while soft-story retrofit compliance was questioned in 2016. The building's infrastructure has received attention, with permit work in 2024 involving the removal of fire sprinkler heads from an unused garbage chute. Regular maintenance and upgrading of individual units have been ongoing, with plumbing and electrical permits showing consistent modernization efforts. The building's systems have experienced various incidents, including a gas leak and multiple cooking-related fire incidents, though with no reported civilian injuries. The property has also generated numerous 311 calls regarding exterior conditions, including reports of garbage, encampments, and public health concerns in the surrounding area, particularly evident in recent months (2024).

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

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Risk rating

How 735 Ofarrell 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
66th percentile

Out of 172 buildings in this neighborhood, 58 are predicted to be safer.

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.

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 severity forecast
No violation 8.4%
Moderate concern 86.0%
Severe concern 5.6%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

735 Ofarrell St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

735 Ofarrell St event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Jun 15
Alarm Systems
DBI ComplaintMar 04
Date last observed: 03-mar-26; identity of person performing the work: otis; exact location: main bldg; building type: residence/dwelling ; additional information: the elevator has been out for a month although they keep sending emails saying it's fixed and i can't get my scooter up and down which means i can't work. doordash.;

See all 27 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 735 Ofarrell 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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