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407-409 Cortland Ave

Bernal Heights, SF 94110 5666017 2 units · 2 fl · 1928

Nothing on record for this building in the last seven years. Our model still sees a moderate chance of maintenance problems in the next 12 months, from the owner's wider portfolio and the surrounding area rather than from anything recorded here. 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 Bernal Heights — not a forecast
At or below average
avg 1.2
0
FewerMore

This building has 0 novs (7y), at or below the Bernal Heights average of 1.2.

Rent & eviction protection

Is 407-409 Cortland 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 1928
2 or more units
2 units
Property type
Multi-Family Residential
Zoning
NC2
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 1928
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 built1928
Total area2,750 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot5666017
Ownership

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

Mailing address
Donald Hughes & Darcie Fohr P O Box 892 Monterey CA 93942
Last sale
October 16, 2003

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.

409 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
407 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110
Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The Hughes-fohrman Family Trust's property at 407-409 Cortland Ave, located in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood, is a two-story multi-family residential building constructed in 1928 that contains two units. The building's recent history shows significant improvements made in 2014, including a comprehensive renovation valued at $75,000 that encompassed kitchen and bathroom remodeling, along with electrical rewiring of one bedroom apartment and plumbing updates including a new 75-gallon water heater installation. Prior infrastructure upgrades include an underground electrical service conversion completed in 2005 and multiple street space permits issued between 2004-2015, indicating ongoing attention to both building and surrounding public space.

The property has faced several maintenance challenges in recent years, particularly regarding tree-related issues. There are currently two open tree maintenance cases (as of 2023-2024) concerning lifted sidewalk conditions due to tree roots, which have been a recurring concern since 2021. The building recently experienced three instances of graffiti in early 2021, though these cases were resolved through city intervention. Street maintenance issues were notably addressed in October 2021 with multiple cases of loose garbage being reported and resolved. More recently, there have been occasional parking enforcement issues outside the property, with the most recent case reported in August 2024, though one driveway blocking complaint from October 2023 was closed due to incomplete reporting. The property has undergone regular maintenance and upgrades over the years, with no major safety violations or concerns on record, though the age of the building (95 years as of 2023) suggests ongoing maintenance will be required to address typical wear and tear.

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

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Risk rating

How 407-409 Cortland 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
34thpercentile

Out of 1276 buildings in this neighborhood, 842 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
65%
No DBI
violation
35%
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.

Property class: apartment building

Apartment building — this property classification influences expected violation rates.

Construction spend, owner's portfolio

Estimated permit value across all of this owner's buildings.

12-Month risk forecast
Moderate failure risk 35%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

407-409 Cortland Ave apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

407-409 Cortland Ave event timeline

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

2026
311 Request Jul 20
Overgrown tree
other
311 RequestJul 20
Other

See all 5 events

Full history back to 2026 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 407-409 Cortland Ave apartments

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

Side by side

How 407-409 Cortland Ave compares to the neighborhood

This building against comparable properties in Bernal Heights. Toggle filters to narrow the peer group.

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