1545-1549 California St, San Francisco, CA 94109

The property at 1545-1549 California Street is a three-story, multi-family residential building with five units and retail space, constructed in 1906 and currently owned by Labatt LLC. The building has undergone several significant improvements in recent years, including window replacements in 2018 (cost: $23,875) involving 12 aluminum wood clad windows in the front and 27 vinyl windows in the back, and various kitchen remodels in 2022 and 2017.

However, the building has experienced persistent fire safety and maintenance challenges, with multiple fire code violations between 2022 and 2024 related to alarm systems, fire escape maintenance, and sleeping area requirements. Recent building activity includes a vacant storefront violation in 2023 that was abated in July 2023, following similar violations in 2022, suggesting ongoing issues with the commercial space occupancy.

The building has a documented history of fire alarm system activations (seven incidents recorded), false alarms, and various maintenance issues dating back to 2002, including a 2002 complaint regarding fire alarm malfunction, steeper-than-normal exterior stairs, garbage disposal problems, and maintenance concerns. Recent 311 calls between December 2024 and January 2025 indicate persistent issues with encampments and debris around the property, though these exterior conditions are not directly related to the building's internal systems or maintenance. While the property has received numerous building permits for improvements, the recurring nature of violations and complaints suggests ongoing challenges with building maintenance, particularly regarding fire safety systems and commercial space occupancy.