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1545-1549 California St

Downtown, SF 94109 0645019 5 units · 3 fl · 1906

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
3
FewerMore

This building has 3 novs (7y), at or below the Downtown average of 6.9.

This building's 80% risk is high in absolute terms; it still rates lower-risk here because buildings in Downtown generally score worse. The colour is relative to the neighborhood, the percentage is not.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 1545-1549 California 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 1906
2 or more units
5 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
POLK
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 1906
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
Units5
Floors3
Year built1906
Total area5,814 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0645019
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
1528 S El Camino Real #307 San Mateo CA 94402
Last sale
August 26, 2014

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.

1549 California St, San Francisco, CA 94109
1545 California St, San Francisco, CA 94109
1547 California St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

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.

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

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Risk rating

How 1545-1549 California 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
55thpercentile

Out of 448 buildings in this neighborhood, 202 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
20%
No DBI
violation
80%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

Number of units

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

Property class: apartment building

Apartment building — this property classification influences expected violation rates.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 80%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

1545-1549 California St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

1545-1549 California St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Jul 08
Other illegal parking
Parking Enforcement
Planning RecordMay 26
The project involves interior renovation and potential legalization review associated with existing ground floor residential units at 1549A and 1549B California Street. The scope includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, replacement of fixtures and cabinetry in kind, installation of new ceiling lighting, and review of existing residential use conditions associated with Planning Enforcement Case No. 2026-004296ENF.

See all 23 events

Full history back to 2022 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 1545-1549 California St apartments

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

Side by side

How 1545-1549 California 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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