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3 Porter St

Bernal Heights, SF 94110 5808020 2 units · 2 fl · 1916

A handful of records on file over the last seven years, and our model puts this building at a low risk of further maintenance problems in the next 12 months. A few records worth reading before you sign. Check whether they were closed out, and ask what was actually fixed.

NOVs (7y) vs. neighborhood
Records already on file, against a typical building in Bernal Heights — not a forecast
Above average
avg 1.2
2
FewerMore

This building has 2 novs (7y), above the Bernal Heights average of 1.2.

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 3 Porter 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 1916
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 1916
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 built1916
Total area875 sq ft
Property typeMulti-Family Residential
Tax statusNone
Blocklot5808020
Ownership

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

Owner name
Mailing address
3 Porter St San Francisco CA 94110
Last sale
October 30, 2020

Landlord portfolio

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

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Augrented Insights
Initial analysis

The two-unit residential building at 3 Porter Street in Bernal Heights, owned by Richard K. Lui, is a two-story flats and duplex structure built in 1916. The property has undergone significant renovations and faced several compliance issues in recent years, with the most pressing concerns emerging in late 2020 when unauthorized work was documented, including new interior framing and plumbing modifications, which led to building violations that remain active. Since then, the property has seen substantial permitted improvements, including a 2022 project to relocate bathrooms and kitchens in both units, replace windows, and rebuild exterior stairs, followed by 2023 updates including electrical rewiring and various façade improvements. Of particular note is a recently filed complaint in December 2024 alleging the building is in an abandoned/derelict condition with damaged walls, dilapidation, and graffiti, which marks a concerning regression in building maintenance and resident safety. The property has also experienced multiple parking violations on the adjacent public streets and some noise disturbances, though these are less significant compared to the building's structural and maintenance issues. Multiple building permits show ongoing efforts to maintain and update the property, including bathroom remodels, roof reinforcement work, and kitchen renovations, with most recent permits focusing on façade improvements and electrical upgrades.

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

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Risk rating

How 3 Porter 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
57thpercentile

Out of 1276 buildings in this neighborhood, 549 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
74%
No DBI
violation
26%
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.

DBI tenant complaints (past 7 years)

Formal complaints tenants filed with DBI about this building over 7 years.

Director's hearings (past 7 years)

Director's hearings are escalated enforcement actions for buildings that haven't resolved violations — a serious signal.

NOV rate, owner's portfolio

Per-building NOV rate across everything this owner manages — high rates signal pattern neglect.

12-Month risk forecast
Low failure risk 26%
Estimated probability of receiving a DBI Notice of Violation in the next 12 months. Model: full_hgb_balanced.
Apartment reviews

3 Porter St apartment reviews

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On the map

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The story over time

3 Porter St event timeline

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

2026
Building Permit Jul 22
To obtain final inspection for work approved under pa# 202305308799. all work is complete.
$1 · Issued
Building PermitJul 13
To obtain final inspection for work approved under pa # 202010287614, 202207219037, and 202211186867. all work is complete.

See all 14 events

Full history back to 2020 — violations, complaints, permits, buyouts, and fire incidents.

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Every record we have

Full data for 3 Porter St apartments

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

Side by side

How 3 Porter St compares to the neighborhood

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

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

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