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2140 Fell St

North Panhandle, SF 94117 1213003A 12 units · 3 fl · 1926

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model predicts a high risk of further maintenance problems 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 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.

The bar and the rating point different ways because they measure different things: the bar counts DBI violations already on file, the rating forecasts the next 12 months.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 2140 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 1926
2 or more units
12 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM3
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 1926
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
Units12
Floors3
Year built1926
Total area9,825 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1213003A
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Arthur J Zanello 1869 Market St San Francisco CA 94103
Last sale

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 12-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building at 2140 Fell Street in Park North, constructed in 1926, has undergone significant safety improvements and maintenance over the past decade. Most recently, in August 2023, the building completed a fire alarm system upgrade costing $35,400 to meet current fire code requirements. The property achieved important seismic safety milestones by completing a mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2015 (cost: $93,000) and related structural improvements. Critical systems have been updated or replaced, including the main water line (2016), steam boiler (2012), sewer line (2011), and hot water storage tank (2009). The building has had recurring fire system maintenance requirements, with multiple fire alarm and sprinkler system inspections showing "Condition Corrected" status, though there have been occasional system malfunctions requiring attention.

The property experienced some resident concerns in recent years, including a 2020 complaint regarding unpermitted construction and COVID-19 safety practices, though this complaint was marked as not active. A routine safety inspection in 2016 noted elevated noise levels during garage work. The building's history includes several 311 calls regarding sidewalk cleaning and debris removal, with the most recent clustering around early 2025, though these appear to be external to the building itself. The property's management has generally addressed maintenance issues promptly, as indicated by the "Completed" status of most building permits and the correction of violations noted in 2003 related to fire safety and security requirements.

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

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Risk rating

How 2140 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
9thpercentile

Out of 797 buildings in this neighborhood, 725 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
41%
No DBI
violation
59%
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 size

Total floor area — a proxy for building scale and the number of systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) that can fail.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

12-Month risk forecast
High failure risk 59%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

2140 Fell St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

2140 Fell St event timeline

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

2023
Building Permit Aug 18
Upgrade existing f/a system to comply with sffc section 1103.7.6.1
$29,500 · Complete
Fire ComplaintAug 18
Alarm Systems

See all 6 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 2140 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 2140 Fell St compares to the neighborhood

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

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