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609-613 Fell St

Hayes Valley, SF 94102 0829027 3 units · 2 fl · 1875

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model sees a moderate chance of more 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 Hayes Valley — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 2.2
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Hayes Valley average of 2.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 609-613 Fell 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 1875
2 or more units
3 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH3
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 1875
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
Units3
Floors2
Year built1875
Total area4,900 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0829027
Ownership

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

Mailing address
791 Lakeview Ave San Francisco CA 94112
Last sale
August 15, 2005

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.

611 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
613 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
609 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 609-613 Fell Street in Hayes Valley is a two-story multi-family residential building containing three units, constructed in 1875 and currently owned by Sammy Lai and Lena Choy. The building has undergone several significant maintenance and compliance issues over the years, with the most recent substantial work being the $75,000 permeation grouting project initiated in 2019. In 2017-2018, the property faced serious compliance challenges related to unpermitted construction work in the rear yard, which involved concrete and wood retaining walls with fencing systems between 6 to 11 feet high. This resulted in multiple housing code violations including concerns about fire safety, egress obstruction, and general maintenance. The violation case was eventually closed in March 2018 after the owners completed required repairs and complied with a $10,000 notice of violation to address fence repair and parking area concrete replacement.

The building has a history of various maintenance and safety issues, particularly in the 2008-2010 period when multiple violations were recorded concerning interior maintenance, security, heating systems, and plumbing. Recent activity includes a routine safety inspection in 2022 (currently active) and there have been several 311 calls regarding the property, most recently in 2024 for excessive noise and a water leak. The property's maintenance history shows a pattern of addressing required repairs, though these have often followed code violations or complaints. The building's permit history indicates ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the property, with the most recent significant work being the permeation grouting project intended to address potential structural or foundation concerns. The property has also had various 311 calls regarding street conditions, illegal postings, and waste removal in the vicinity, suggesting ongoing attention to exterior maintenance and neighborhood concerns.

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

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Risk rating

How 609-613 Fell 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
50thpercentile

Out of 1027 buildings in this neighborhood, 514 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
66%
No DBI
violation
34%
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.

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

The ZIP code captures local housing market and enforcement patterns that affect all buildings in the area.

DBI complaints, owner's portfolio

Complaints across all of this owner's buildings over 7 years.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 34%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

609-613 Fell St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

609-613 Fell St event timeline

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

2025
311 Request May 07
Garbage and debris
furniture

See all 2 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 609-613 Fell St apartments

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

Side by side

How 609-613 Fell St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Hayes Valley. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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Cancel anytime · Data sourced from SF Open Data, DBI, SFFD, SF Rent Board & Planning

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