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230-234 Pierce St

Hayes Valley, SF 94117 0847024 5 units · 2 fl · 1900

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 230-234 Pierce 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
5 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
Units5
Floors2
Year built1900
Total area3,930 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot0847024
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Martin Mcgrath Trustee 234 Pierce St Apt 4 San Francisco CA 94117
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.

234 Pierce St, San Francisco, CA 94117
232 Pierce St, San Francisco, CA 94117
230 Pierce St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The property at 230-234 Pierce Street is a two-story, five-unit multi-family residential building located in Hayes Valley, built in 1900 and currently owned by the Martin Mcgrath Living Trust. The building has undergone several significant improvements in recent months, with permits issued in 2024 for replacing nine front windows with aluminum wood clad material and upgrading windows and entry doors in Unit #5. However, there are active complaints from June 2024 regarding unpermitted construction work involving the removal of stairs accessing the back cottage (Unit A) and issues with a non-functioning doorbell. The building's maintenance history shows regular updates to windows throughout the years, with the most recent work continuing a trend of window improvements dating back to 1997.

The property has experienced some safety and security concerns in the past, particularly a notable cluster of violations in 2002 related to security requirements, fire escape obstructions, and security viewer installations, though these were all abated within a month. Historical permits indicate various maintenance work, including rear stair replacement with firewall installation in 1992 and stucco repairs in 1990. The building's 311 call history shows typical urban maintenance issues, including graffiti, parking concerns, and sidewalk cleaning needs, with no recent calls indicating serious problems. The property's records suggest regular upkeep of critical systems, though the recent complaints regarding unauthorized construction and stair removal raise current concerns about building modifications.

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

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Risk rating

How 230-234 Pierce 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
40thpercentile

Out of 1027 buildings in this neighborhood, 616 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
62%
No DBI
violation
38%
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.

Number of units

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

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
Moderate failure risk 38%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

230-234 Pierce St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

230-234 Pierce St event timeline

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

2026
Building Permit Apr 07
Remodel kitchen & 1 bathroom.
$65,000 · Issued
Plumbing PermitApr 07
Remodel kitchen and bathroom, new shower pan

See all 10 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 230-234 Pierce St apartments

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

Side by side

How 230-234 Pierce 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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