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259-261 7Th Ave

Inner Richmond, SF 94118 1426013 2 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 Inner Richmond — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 0.9
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Inner Richmond average of 0.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 259-261 7Th 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
2 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 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
Units2
Floors2
Year built1905
Total area1,664 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1426013
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
259 7th Ave San Francisco CA 94118
Last sale
November 13, 2013

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.

261 07th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94118
259 07th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94118
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The building at 259-261 7th Avenue in the Inner Richmond district is a two-unit, two-story multi-family residential structure built in 1905, currently owned by Jonathan Howland. The property has undergone significant recent development, with active permits as of 2024 indicating substantial renovations including the establishment of a state-approved ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) on the ground floor with associated electrical, plumbing, and structural modifications, along with voluntary structural strengthening work and the removal of an existing brick chimney. The building is also undergoing comprehensive systems upgrades, including the installation of new electrical infrastructure (320-amp service), HVAC systems, and water heating equipment, with multiple permits issued throughout 2024 for these improvements.

The property's history reveals previous unauthorized unit history, with a 2005 violation documenting unauthorized basement units (259A & 259B) that were subsequently addressed through multiple permits between 2005-2006 to remove illegal units and wiring. Earlier structural work includes front stairway repairs and foundation work completed in 2014, as well as sewer line repairs in 2009 and 2022. The building's recent renovation activity, particularly the conversion to a third unit (ADU) and comprehensive system upgrades, suggests ongoing investment in improving the property's amenities, though these modifications have temporarily increased the building's complexity in terms of systems and accommodations. The property has also experienced some maintenance issues typical of older buildings, with documented sewer discharge incidents in 2024 and periodic irrigation system adjustments noted in 2021-2023.

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

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Risk rating

How 259-261 7Th 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
94thpercentile

Out of 1723 buildings in this neighborhood, 103 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
93%
No DBI
violation
7%
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.

Building permits, owner's portfolio

Permits pulled across all of this owner's buildings over 7 years.

Building age

Older buildings tend to have more maintenance challenges; SF's pre-1906 earthquake housing stock carries distinct risk.

Director's hearings, owner's portfolio

Escalated DBI enforcement actions across all of this owner's buildings.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 7%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

259-261 7Th Ave apartment reviews

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The story over time

259-261 7Th Ave event timeline

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

2026
Building Permit Apr 27
Addressing permit only: add a new address 259 a 7th ave. link to apn 1426/013. ref pa #2024-0124-4517
$1 · Issued
Plumbing PermitFeb 26
To renew pp20240828636 for final inspection only.

See all 14 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 259-261 7Th Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 259-261 7Th Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Inner Richmond. 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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