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579 5Th Ave

Inner Richmond, SF 94118 1548020 2 units · 2 fl · 1905

This building has a higher-than-average number of open problems nearby. Few open issues; problems get fixed quickly. A reasonable bet for a smooth tenancy.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Compared to a typical building in Inner Richmond
Above average
avg 0.9
1
FewerMore

This building has 1 novs (7y), above the Inner Richmond average of 0.9.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 579 5Th 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
RH3
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.

Building characteristics
Units2
Floors2
Year built1905
Total area1,700 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1548020
Ownership

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

Owner name
Zhen Eric H
Mailing address
579 5th Ave #1 & #2 San Francisco CA 94118
Last sale
041310

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit residential building at 579 5th Avenue in the Inner Richmond, owned by Zhen Eric H, was constructed in 1905 and has experienced several significant maintenance and compliance issues over its history. The property underwent multiple code violations and complaints in 2017, primarily related to heating issues, lead paint hazards, and safety concerns, including a January 2017 complaint about lack of heat that was not fully resolved until September 2023. These violations included problems with interior surfaces, window hardware, smoke detection, fire safety equipment, and egress obstruction, all of which were officially abated in September 2023. More recent issues included a hot water complaint in May 2018 and a street space permit issued in 2018.

Historical records from 2016-2018 show the building faced various structural and safety concerns, including unpermitted construction work, hazardous scaffolding conditions, and electrical system problems. An illegal unit in the basement was removed in 1995 following a violation notice. The property has undergone several remedial actions, including the installation of a new heater and a garbage tool shed in the backyard in 2017, along with electrical and plumbing permits to address various maintenance needs. Notably, a serious complaint from 1996 documented multiple hazardous conditions, including electrical problems and structural concerns, though these appear to have been addressed through subsequent inspections and permits.

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

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Risk rating

How 579 5Th 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

Grade A–B — Low risk

DBI rarely finds violations here. Strong maintenance history and a clean complaint record.

Grade C — Moderate risk

Some past violations or complaints on record. Worth asking the landlord about any open issues before signing.

Grade D–F — High risk

Elevated violation and complaint history. DBI has found issues here before and is statistically likely to again.

Neighborhood percentile
78th percentile

Out of 1723 buildings in this neighborhood, 379 are predicted to be safer.

RiskiestSafest
Predicted 12-month outcome
88%
No DBI
violation
12%
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.

Estimated permit spend (past 7 years)

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

Building permits, owner's portfolio

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

DBI complaint rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building complaint rate across the owner's portfolio.

12-Month severity forecast
No violation 82.4%
Moderate concern 12.8%
Severe concern 4.8%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months at each severity level. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

579 5Th Ave apartment reviews

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The story over time

579 5Th Ave event timeline

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

2026
DBI Complaint Feb 25
Caller reporting in a vacant property with an unstable structure. stated the property was burned last year and the exterior is dilapidated and interior has been taken down. there is free standing beams on the garden side and scaffolding that is not connected to anything. the back side is unsecured as well as the front door on the ground level. please send out an inspector.
Code Enforcement Section
Building PermitFeb 15
Comply w/nov 202538644 & 202542838, rebuild 3-flrs fire damaged bldg (unit 579 & 579a). unit 579: add new bathroom & family room @ 1/f, replace 2-fixture bath w/ 3-fixture @ 1/f, add wetbar @ 1/f, replace tub w/shower @ 2/f. unit 579a: ext kitchen/living/dining to bdrm #3, replace tub w/shower @ 3/f

See all 14 events

Full history back to 2025 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 579 5Th Ave apartments

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

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

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