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5636 California St

Lake Street, SF 94121 1378017 8 units · 3 fl · 1960

This building has a substantial enforcement record over the last seven years, and our model sees a moderate chance of more in 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 Lake Street — not a forecast
Above average
avg 0.6
8
FewerMore

This building has 8 novs (7y), above the Lake Street average of 0.6.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 5636 California 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 1960
2 or more units
8 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
RM1
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 1960
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
Units8
Floors3
Year built1960
Total area5,496 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1378017
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Sandra & Donald Wong, Ttes 300 Gellert Dr San Francisco CA 94132
Last sale
April 28, 2006

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

5636 California Street is an 8-unit, 3-story multi-family residential building constructed in 1960 and currently owned by the Wong Family Trust. The property has undergone numerous significant renovations and faced several concerning issues in recent years. Most notably, there are multiple active complaints from 2023-2024 regarding stairway safety, heating issues, possible window leaks, water damage, and mold problems. The building's exterior and structural elements have required considerable attention, including a seismic retrofit completed in 2017 (soft-story program Tier 3), concrete step replacements in 2021-2024, and ongoing stucco repairs. Recent building permits indicate work related to compliance with notices of violation, particularly concerning damaged walls and fire safety requirements.

The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of both routine upkeep and urgent repairs, with various improvements made to individual units including kitchen and bathroom remodels, electrical upgrades, and plumbing work. However, there have been several concerning administrative oversight issues, including complaints about work being done without proper permits and the recent expiration of stairway permissions. Multiple building violations were recorded in 2023, including concerns about fire safety (fire extinguisher maintenance) and structural integrity (stairway access). The property has also experienced some exterior maintenance challenges over the years, such as peeling paint and issues with drainage and landscaping as noted in complaints. While many historical violations have been abated, several active issues from 2023-2024 remain unresolved, particularly concerning building safety and habitability concerns.

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

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Risk rating

How 5636 California 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
14thpercentile

Out of 660 buildings in this neighborhood, 568 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
59%
No DBI
violation
41%
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.

Director's hearings (past 7 years)

Director's hearings are escalated enforcement actions for buildings that haven't resolved violations — a serious signal.

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 41%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

5636 California St apartment reviews

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The story over time

5636 California St event timeline

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

2026
Building Permit Jul 14
Revision to 202106162598 structural configuration & detail (recommencement under 202410072455) removal e) front stairs & replace with new stairs, correct nov 202657629 & 202312753
$50,000 · Issued
Planning RecordJul 14
Replace front access stair in-kind. No other work.

See all 18 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 5636 California St apartments

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

Side by side

How 5636 California St compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Lake Street. 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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