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306-308 Lawton St

Inner Sunset, SF 94122 1855018A 2 units · 2 fl · 1939

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 Sunset — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.1
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Inner Sunset average of 1.1.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 306-308 Lawton 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 1939
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 1939
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 built1939
Total area2,746 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot1855018A
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Emil S Louie 308 Lawton St San Francisco CA 94122
Last sale
—

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.

306 Lawton St, San Francisco, CA 94122
308 Lawton St, San Francisco, CA 94122
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit multi-family residential building at 306-308 Lawton Street in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood has undergone significant renovations and faced notable challenges since its construction in 1939. Recent improvements include a completed reroofing project in July 2023 costing $13,678, and window replacement work in 2022 involving 14 windows and a patio door. The most substantial renovation occurred in 2017-2018, when approximately $350,000 was invested in major updates to both units, including kitchen and bathroom renovations, the addition of a new full bath, garage modifications, electrical rewiring, plumbing upgrades, and the installation of new hydronic heating systems.

The building experienced significant issues in early 2018, with multiple complaints regarding construction impacts including water damage, paint chipping, and electrical problems, which were subsequently addressed and officially abated by April 2018. Lead paint safety concerns were also documented during this period, though these violations were resolved. The property's electrical infrastructure has been systematically upgraded over the years, including a 125-amp service upgrade in 2003 and various improvements in 2018. The current ownership group, Shui Har & Yau Cheung Louie, has maintained the property actively, with routine maintenance including recent reroofing and window replacement, while also addressing historical compliance issues such as lead hazard notifications. Two tenant buyouts were recorded at the property, in 2017 and 2022, with payments of $29,630 and $40,000 respectively.

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

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Risk rating

How 306-308 Lawton 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
97thpercentile

Out of 1493 buildings in this neighborhood, 45 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.

Neighborhood location

Precise location is a proxy for neighborhood-level risk — some SF blocks have systematically higher DBI activity.

Building age

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

Notices of Violation, owner's portfolio

DBI NOVs across all buildings this owner is registered on — a signal of systemic maintenance issues across the portfolio.

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

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On the map

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8 found
The story over time

306-308 Lawton St event timeline

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

2026
311 Request May 04
Not offensive
sidewalk in front of property

See all 10 events

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

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Every record we have

Full data for 306-308 Lawton St apartments

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

Side by side

How 306-308 Lawton St compares to the neighborhood

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