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524 Central Ave

North Panhandle, SF 94117 1198022 4 units · 2 fl · 1925

This building has a substantial enforcement record over the last seven years, and our model predicts continuing maintenance failures over the next 12 months. Read the records below before you sign. Ask which issues were resolved, get repair commitments in writing, and inspect the unit yourself.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in North Panhandle — not a forecast
Above average
avg 1.7
35
FewerMore

This building has 35 novs (7y), above the North Panhandle average of 1.7.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 524 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 1925
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 1925
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 built1925
Total area3,440 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1198022
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
P O Box 4443 Burlingame CA 94011
Last sale
February 08, 2018

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-story, 4-unit apartment building at 524 Central Avenue, constructed in 1925 and currently owned by Zita LLC, has undergone numerous significant renovations and faced several ongoing maintenance challenges in recent years. Most notably, there are active complaints about non-code compliant back stairs with a history of tenant falls, and issues with a broken front door and lock malfunction filed in late 2024. The building has implemented several safety upgrades, including the installation of a new fire sprinkler system and fire alarm system in 2023-2024, though concerns about blocked exits have been reported multiple times, most recently in October 2024.

The property has seen substantial renovation work in recent years, including an extensive electrical upgrade in 2024 to 400-amps with six meters, comprehensive rewiring of all apartments, and various plumbing improvements including new furnaces, ductwork, and bathroom remodels. Multiple building permits indicate ongoing maintenance and improvement work, such as stucco restoration, window replacement, and the conversion of a garage to an ADU. Historical building violations from 2018-2019 documented various habitability issues including heating problems, mold, and plumbing concerns, though most of these appear to have been addressed by 2021. The building's maintenance history reveals recurring issues with heating systems, water damage, and contractor-related concerns during renovation work, suggesting some challenges with past project oversight and building systems reliability, though recent permits indicate significant infrastructure upgrades.

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

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Risk rating

How 524 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
1stpercentile

Out of 797 buildings in this neighborhood, 789 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
18%
No DBI
violation
82%
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.

Notices of Violation (past 7 years)

DBI issued Notices of Violation at this address over the last 7 years — a direct record of code enforcement activity.

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.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 82%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

524 Central Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

524 Central Ave event timeline

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

2026
Plumbing Permit Jul 17
Work category: 1m; permit for refrigeration piping only.
Issued
Building PermitJan 23
Revision to pa 202404260881 remove structural work @ 3rd fl front unit; front unit layout to remain unchanged. structural work removed was approved under voluntary seismic strengthening, ref (202404260881 and 202111303291)

See all 30 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 524 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 524 Central Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in North Panhandle. 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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