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3279 Cesar Chavez St

Bernal Heights, SF 94110 5501071 5 units · 2 fl · 1925

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 Bernal Heights — not a forecast
Above average
avg 1.2
11
FewerMore

This building has 11 novs (7y), above the Bernal Heights average of 1.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 3279 Cesar Chavez 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 1925
2 or more units
5 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 1925
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
Units5
Floors2
Year built1925
Total area3,476 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot5501071
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Kenneth A Tonna, Trustee P.O. Box 2201 Brisbane CA 94005
Last sale
February 24, 2000

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

3279 Cesar Chavez Street is a 2-story, 5-unit multi-family residential building located in Bernal Heights, constructed in 1925 and currently owned by the Kenneth A Tonna Revocable Trust. The property has undergone several significant improvements over the years, most notably completing a seismic upgrade in 2017 to comply with San Francisco's mandatory soft-story retrofit program, which was performed at a cost of $48,000. Other historical improvements include a reroofing project completed in 1989 and code compliance work in 1986.

The building has experienced multiple maintenance and safety issues in recent years, with the most pressing concerns centering around water damage and security. In 2021, there was an unresolved ceiling leak problem in Unit 1A (the in-law unit) that began in March and continued through August of that year, despite the landlord's attempts to address the issue. Prior to this, in 2016, there were multiple violations related to mold, interior surfaces, and security requirements, all of which were abated by April 20, 2016. Historical complaints dating back to 2014 documented problems with water leaks causing electrical hazards and mold in common areas, and a 1998 complaint raised concerns about security and various maintenance issues across multiple units. The building's common areas and exterior have been the subject of numerous 311 calls in recent months (through 2025), primarily regarding garbage and debris, though these exterior maintenance issues are handled by city services rather than the building management.

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

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Risk rating

How 3279 Cesar Chavez 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
8thpercentile

Out of 1276 buildings in this neighborhood, 1174 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
45%
No DBI
violation
55%
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.

Neighborhood location

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

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 55%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

3279 Cesar Chavez St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

3279 Cesar Chavez St event timeline

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

2025
Building Permit May 21
Repair (10 steps) stairway - response to nov#202536411 item #4: replace 4 rotten steps, build 1st step concrete. replace handrail. up to code. from ground floor to second floor. less than 50% repair (not visible from the street)
$4,500 · Complete
Building Violation (NOV)Apr 15
Building violation

See all 10 events

Full history back to 2021 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 3279 Cesar Chavez St apartments

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

Side by side

How 3279 Cesar Chavez St compares to the neighborhood

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