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859-863 Clayton St

Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights, SF 94117 1271002 6 units · 3 fl · 1910

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model puts this building at a low 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 Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights — not a forecast
Above average
avg 0.9
1
FewerMore

This building has 1 novs (7y), above the Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights average of 0.9.

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 859-863 Clayton 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 1910
2 or more units
6 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RH2
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 1910
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
Units6
Floors3
Year built1910
Total area4,935 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1271002
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Edmond S & Sophie W Ng Trus 530 11Th Ave San Francisco CA 94118
Last sale
September 28, 1988

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.

863 A Clayton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
859 Clayton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
863 Clayton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
861 Clayton St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The three-story, 6-unit multi-family residential building at 859-863 Clayton Street, built in 1910, has undergone several significant improvements over the past decade to address safety and modernization requirements. Most notably, the building completed its mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2018-2020, costing approximately $138,000, to comply with earthquake safety regulations, and installed a new fire alarm system with monitoring in 2021 at a cost of nearly $19,000. The property added an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to the ground floor in 2019, comprising two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Recent improvements include comprehensive fire safety upgrades with sprinklers installed throughout the ground floor, electrical system modernization, and unit renovations, particularly in Unit #2, which received kitchen and bathroom remodels in 2018-2019. The building's mechanical systems have also been updated, including furnace installations and gas line modifications, with the most recent work being a kitchen drain replacement in 2023.

The building has a history of maintenance and compliance issues that have been addressed, including several violations related to interior surfaces, handrail requirements, and sanitation problems in the early 2000s. A notable complaint regarding mold in one unit was filed in 2007, and there were previous violations related to handrails and window repairs in 2005, though all these issues have been resolved. More recent fire safety concerns from 2017 were addressed, and the building's systems have largely been upgraded to current safety standards, including new sprinklers, fire alarms, and electrical systems. While there have been multiple reports of garbage and debris issues in the vicinity of the property (as evidenced by recent 311 calls), these appear to be related to street cleaning matters rather than building-specific maintenance issues. The property has maintained active compliance with San Francisco's housing and safety regulations, with all major retrofits and improvements completed, including the removal of the earthquake safety warning placard once the work was certified complete.

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

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Risk rating

How 859-863 Clayton 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
58thpercentile

Out of 526 buildings in this neighborhood, 221 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
81%
No DBI
violation
19%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

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

Property class: mixed-use w/ SFR

Mixed-use property including a single-family residential component.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 19%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

859-863 Clayton St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

859-863 Clayton St event timeline

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

2025
Building Permit Mar 07
Unit-1 (unit in back of building): remodel (e) kitchen in kind-replace cabinet, counter top, sink in kind. remodel (e) bathroom in kind- replace sink, toilet, floor tiles in kind. new electrical sub panel, light and outlet. no change to floor layout. no change to wall layout. no structural work.
$30,000 · Complete
Plumbing PermitMar 07
One bathroom and kitchen remodel. (1)shower pan

See all 19 events

Full history back to 2019 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 859-863 Clayton St apartments

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

Side by side

How 859-863 Clayton St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Cole Valley/Parnassus Heights. 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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