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555-557 Fell St

Hayes Valley, SF 94102 0830023A 2 units · 2 fl · 1900

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years, and our model puts it at a low risk of maintenance problems over the next 12 months. No public enforcement record to go on. Walk the building, ask the current tenants how repairs get handled, and get any promises in writing.

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 555-557 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 1900
2 or more units
2 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 1900
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
Units2
Floors2
Year built1900
Total area2,444 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0830023A
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Richard E Couch 559 Fell St San Francisco CA 94102
Last sale
—

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.

555 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
557 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit residential building at 555-557 Fell Street in Hayes Valley, constructed in 1900, has undergone several significant maintenance and repair projects over the past decades. Most recently, in September 2024, a comprehensive roof replacement was completed at a cost of $18,850, following a previous 1998 roofing project which has since expired. The building's foundation received attention in December 1994 with repairs completed for a 12-foot section at the front. The property has experienced a series of emergency service calls related to fire safety between 2017 and 2021, primarily for unintentional detector activations including false alarms and a malfunctioning carbon monoxide detector, though none resulted in injuries.

The surrounding area has seen recurring street maintenance issues, with multiple 311 calls between 2019 and 2024 reporting garbage and debris on or near the property, though most were resolved without requiring additional work. Two instances of overgrown tree maintenance were recorded, with the most recent being resolved in November 2024. The property underwent a plumbing address correction in 2008, when the address was clarified from 559 to 557 Fell Street. Although the building itself has maintained safety compliance with no record of serious violations, it's worth noting the surrounding area has had occasional reports of encampments and general urban maintenance challenges, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls for street cleaning in recent years.

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

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Risk rating

How 555-557 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
72ndpercentile

Out of 1027 buildings in this neighborhood, 288 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
81%
No DBI
violation
19%
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.

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

Dollar value of permits pulled at this address — large recent spend can signal deferred-maintenance catch-up.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 19%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

555-557 Fell St event timeline

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

2025
Plumbing Permit May 01
Work category: 1m; gas furnace like to like replacement
Complete

See all 2 events

Full history back to 2024 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 555-557 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 555-557 Fell St compares to the neighborhood

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