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255-261 Hickory St

Hayes Valley, SF 94102 0832009A 6 units · 3 fl · 1911

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 Hayes Valley
Above average
avg 2.3
7
FewerMore

This building has 7 novs (7y), above the Hayes Valley average of 2.3.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 255-261 Hickory 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 1911
2 or more units
6 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
HAYES
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
Units6
Floors3
Year built1911
Total area3,765 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot0832009A
Ownership

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

Owner name
Bowen Fmly Revoc Trust
Mailing address
Bowen Robert E & Mary C Tru 1267 42Nd Ave San Francisco CA 94122
Last sale
082009

Landlord portfolio

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

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Multiple entrances & addresses

Included addresses

All street addresses sharing this blocklot that are covered by this report.

255 Hickory St, San Francisco, CA 94102
257 Hickory St, San Francisco, CA 94102
259 Hickory St, San Francisco, CA 94102
261 Hickory St, San Francisco, CA 94102
255 A Hickory St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story, six-unit multi-family residential building at 255-261 Hickory Street in Hayes Valley, built in 1911 and currently owned by Bowen Fmly Revoc Trust, has undergone several significant maintenance and safety events over its history. Most recently, in September 2023, the building received a complete reroofing with a cost of $22,900. The building underwent major electrical system improvements in 2005, including a new overhead service installation for seven meters and extensive electrical work in all units, though some permits from this period are now expired. The property has had three routine safety inspections (2003, 2011, and 2018) and one health and safety inspection in 2009, which revealed various safety issues including fire extinguisher maintenance, smoke detector placement, and security requirements, all of which were subsequently resolved.

A notable incident occurred in February 2005 when there was an electrical fire, and reports of persistent lighting issues in all apartments were documented. The most recent building complaint from March 2023 was resolved by May 2023 and involved multiple safety concerns including fire extinguisher maintenance, gas utility shutoff instructions, and compliance documentation. The property has experienced recurring issues with public areas requiring attention as evidenced by multiple 311 calls throughout late 2024 and early 2025, primarily related to garbage and debris on surrounding streets, though these exterior issues are not directly related to the building's internal conditions. While the building has had various safety and maintenance issues over the years, most violations were promptly addressed within reasonable timeframes, indicating active management of the property.

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

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Risk rating

How 255-261 Hickory 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
37th percentile

Out of 1027 buildings in this neighborhood, 647 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
59%
No DBI
violation
41%
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.

NOV rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building NOV rate across everything this owner manages — high rates signal pattern neglect.

Number of units

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

Neighborhood (ZIP code)

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

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 38.1%
Moderate concern 22.5%
Severe concern 39.3%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

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The story over time

255-261 Hickory St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Apr 23
Homelessness and supportive housing
housing homeless request for service
311 RequestFeb 28
Garbage and debris

See all 17 events

Full history back to 2023 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 255-261 Hickory St apartments

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

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

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