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359 21St Ave

Central Richmond, SF 94121 1453012 6 units · 2 fl · 1963

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 Central Richmond — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 0.5
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Central Richmond average of 0.5.

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 359 21St 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 1963
2 or more units
6 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 1963
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
Floors2
Year built1963
Total area4,300 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1453012
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
Dewolf Realty Pm 359 Po Box 591540 San Francisco CA 94159
Last sale
October 21, 1992

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The 6-unit, 2-story multi-family residential building at 359 21st Avenue in the Central Richmond neighborhood, owned by Barbara Ann Lee, has undergone several significant improvements since its construction in 1963. Most notably, the building completed a mandatory soft-story retrofit in 2017 at a cost of $80,000, bringing it into compliance with seismic safety requirements. Recent improvements include a November 2023 upgrade to the fire alarm system, which involved installing low-frequency sounders in sleeping areas and updating all existing devices to be compatible with the new fire alarm control panel. The building has a documented history of building maintenance issues, including a 2015 repair of ground floor exterior siding and framing, and a notable incident in 2017 involving mold concerns in a ground floor unit that prompted tenant complaints and third-party testing.

The property has experienced recurring issues with street space maintenance, as evidenced by multiple 311 calls in 2024 regarding garbage and debris, including furniture and electronics, with the most recent calls occurring between December 2023 and August 2024. There have also been several parking-related complaints in 2024 regarding driveway blocking, which were addressed by parking enforcement. While the building's structural integrity has been addressed through the soft-story retrofit and fire safety improvements, the recent pattern of street cleaning and parking enforcement issues suggests ongoing challenges with exterior maintenance and neighborhood interaction.

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

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Risk rating

How 359 21St 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
28thpercentile

Out of 2250 buildings in this neighborhood, 1620 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
78%
No DBI
violation
22%
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 age

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

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

Dollar value of permits pulled at this address — large recent spend can signal deferred-maintenance catch-up.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 22%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

359 21St Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

359 21St Ave event timeline

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

2026
Fire Complaint Feb 04
Alarm Systems
Condition Corrected

See all 8 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 359 21St Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 359 21St Ave 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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