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720 Central Ave

North Panhandle, SF 94117 1176020 4 units · 2 fl · 1905

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 North Panhandle — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.7
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the North Panhandle average of 1.7.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 720 Central Ave 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 1905
2 or more units
4 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 1905
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
Units4
Floors2
Year built1905
Total area2,582 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusHome Owners
Blocklot1176020
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
720 Central Ave Apt 4 San Francisco CA 94117
Last sale
October 15, 2002

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 4-unit, 2-story multi-family residential building at 720 Central Avenue in Park North, owned by Myrna Newcomb, has undergone several significant renovations and maintenance work since its construction in 1905. Most recently, in 2023, substantial updates were made including kitchen and bathroom renovations in Unit 1, addition of laundry facilities in the garage area, and electrical improvements. The property has seen consistent maintenance of its windows, with replacements completed in 2019 and 2022, showing attention to preserving the building's character. Structural and safety improvements have been addressed over the years, including foundation work in 2018, rear stair repairs in 2017, and various plumbing and electrical upgrades including furnace replacement in 2020.

The building had a notable period of violations in 2003, with multiple fire safety and security issues identified during a routine inspection, including problems with fire escape ladders, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and security requirements. However, all these violations were promptly addressed and abated by February 2004. Earlier tenant complaints from the 1990s indicated recurring issues with heat and water damage, though these appear to have been resolved. The property's maintenance record shows regular upkeep and modernization efforts, with all recent permits either issued or completed successfully, and no active violations or complaints on record in recent years. While there have been occasional 311 calls regarding the property's exterior and surrounding area, these were primarily related to parking issues and street cleaning matters rather than building-specific concerns.

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

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Risk rating

How 720 Central Ave'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
60thpercentile

Out of 797 buildings in this neighborhood, 319 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
79%
No DBI
violation
21%
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.

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 21%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

720 Central Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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8 found
The story over time

720 Central Ave event timeline

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

2026
Building Permit Mar 09
To obtain final inspection for work approved under pa# 202209132335. all work is complete
$1 · Issued
Plumbing PermitJan 07
Work category: 1m; install 1 ductless mini split heat pump

See all 9 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 720 Central Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 720 Central Ave compares to the neighborhood

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