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1801 Larkin St

Nob Hill, SF 94109 0596007 5 units · 2 fl · 1908

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Nob Hill
At or below average
avg 2.4
1
FewerMore

This building has 1 novs (7y), at or below the Nob Hill average of 2.4.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1801 Larkin 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 1908
2 or more units
5 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM1
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
Units5
Floors2
Year built1908
Total area4,350 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0596007
Ownership

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

Owner name
Ma John K
Mailing address
1801 Larkin St San Francisco CA 94109
Last sale
091900

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 5-unit, 2-story multi-family residential building at 1801 Larkin Street in Nob Hill, owned by Ma John K, was constructed in 1908 and has a complex history of maintenance and compliance issues. Most recently, in December 2024, the building has undergone reroofing work valued at $22,000, while several concerning issues persist. An active violation from 2018 (originally noted in 2007) remains unresolved, documenting the presence of an unauthorized fifth dwelling unit in the basement, along with serious safety concerns including unapproved plumbing and electrical work, inadequate fire separation, and lack of proper fire-rated materials. The building's history shows periodic maintenance and renovation work, including various plumbing, electrical, and structural improvements from 2000-2001, though many of these permits expired without completion.

The property has experienced multiple code compliance challenges, including a series of violations in 2012 related to fire safety and building maintenance, though most were eventually abated. There have been recurring issues with unauthorized modifications, as evidenced by a 2020 complaint about unpermitted construction between the building and fence. The building's systems have undergone various upgrades over the years, including water main replacement and interior renovations, but the persistent issues regarding the illegal basement unit and associated code violations remain the most significant concern. Recent 311 calls from late 2024 have primarily concerned exterior maintenance issues like graffiti and debris, though these are not directly related to the building's habitability concerns. While there have been several fire department responses to the building, these were mostly for false alarms or routine assistance calls, with no reported injuries.

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

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Risk rating

How 1801 Larkin 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
40th percentile

Out of 1125 buildings in this neighborhood, 675 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
55%
No DBI
violation
45%
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.

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 35.8%
Moderate concern 26.9%
Severe concern 37.3%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
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The story over time

1801 Larkin St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request May 16
Garbage and debris
other bagged boxed contained garbage
311 RequestApr 22
Garbage and debris

See all 16 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 1801 Larkin St apartments

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

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