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Plumbing emergencies rarely come out of nowhere, and planning smart updates can help head them off. We put together a short piece on why Bay Area buildings are hitting a plumbing tipping point, why issues feel sudden when they finally surface, and what proactive planning actually looks like (without ripping everything out all at once).

Storm drains don’t filter - they’re basically express lanes to the Bay. That’s why Oakland’s Business Stormwater Program has strict rules. If your business leaks, drips, washes, stores, dumps, or sprays anything outdoors, you’re probably on the city’s stormwater radar.

We’re excited to welcome Rain Defense Services to the Property Atlas vendor network. They’re the Bay Area pros who rappel off buildings, skip the scaffolding, diagnose the leaks everyone else missed, and keep an 88% repeat customer rate while doing it.

Oakland’s vacancy tax is one of those programs you may have heard of, but don’t fully understand. What counts as “vacant”? Who actually has to pay? And what about the dozens(!!) of exemptions? In this blog, we’ve unpacked Measure W for you.

When a tenant reports mold, a ceiling leak, or that classic “mysterious stuff on the wall,” you don’t need theories, you need facts. That’s why we’re excited to welcome Sol Environmental to the Property Atlas vendor network.

Oakland owners and managers: if a building becomes vacant, goes into default, or enters foreclosure, the City has a whole set of rules that apply, and the fines aren’t small. To keep things clear (and sane), we broke down the entire program - what triggers registration, what the City expects, and how to avoid expensive missteps.

Painting an apartment building is never just “picking a color.” It’s scaffolding, lead safety, tenant notices, surprise dry rot, and enough coordination to make you briefly reconsider your career choices. That’s why we’re excited to feature Mural View Painting in the Property Atlas vendor network: a Bay Area painting contractor run by former property management pros who actually get what your job is like.

To make space for 82,000 units in SF, buildings will have to get taller and more dense. The plan to achieve our housing goals is now approved! Learn more here.

Rent-controlled buildings aren’t a choice so much as a fact of life for both SF and Oakland owners, and sometimes they’ll have you studying the rent code like it’s an escape room puzzle. That’s where Rent Raisers shines.

Property Atlas hits Oakland on December 1st, and we all know that one is…not like the other. This week, we’re unpacking how Oakland’s RAP and San Francisco’s Rent Board look similar on paper but behave like two different species in the wild.

As the holidays roll in, it’s tempting to add a little sparkle everywhere, including the fire escape. But in San Francisco, even small decorations or storage can count as “attachments” under the fire code and block egress when it matters most.

If you own or manage buildings in Oakland’s hills, you already know: the views are great, but the wildfire rules are no joke. And those annual fire vegetation inspections? Completely unscheduled. Property Atlas makes them a whole lot easier.

If exterior inspections feel like they’ve become a full-contact sport lately… same. That’s why we’re highlighting Great Escape Services, one of the sharpest, most trustworthy inspection-only teams in the Bay Area (and soon LA).

In San Francisco, even small construction discrepancies can turn into major headaches. That’s where as-builts come in. They’re the key to clearing violations quickly and getting ahead for your next construction project.

Before rainy season hits, check your roofs, gutters, catch basins, and site drains, or risk finding out the hard way where the water’s going. Need help? Reach out to one of the vetted vendors through Property Atlas.

Meet SLM Development: A Contractor You Can Count On

If approved, Ordinance 250966 would update the General Plan, Urban Design Element, Commerce and Industry Element, Transportation Element, and several Area Plans to implement the Family Housing Zoning Program.

If approved, Ordinance 250941 would waive certain impact fees in the Market and Octavia Area.

If approved, Ordinance 250926 would provide tenant protections for demolished buildings. Relocation assistance would be required for affected occupants, with increased assistance for lower-income tenants.

If approved, Ordinance 250925 would allow DPW to identify criteria where contractors working in the public right-of-way would need to obtain pollution liability insurance.

If approved, Ordinance 250892 would modify the codes for ADU units to align with State Law requirements.

This ordinance would temporarily eliminate property transfer taxes on certain rent-restricted affordable housing and would apply retroactively to property transactions back to April 12, 2024.

This ordinance would require that some Planning Department fees be paid at the time of submittal instead of at issuance.

This ordinance would allow parking of two operable vehicles in front yard driveways within front, side, and rear yard setbacks.