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San Francisco property managers: a city complaint can become a $2,000+ problem fast. DBI penalties can hit 2x for permit-scope violations and 9x for unpermitted work—with larger projects facing penalties of $3,500–$120,000+.

Planning violations are the most costly, coming in at over $4,700 per violation on average. Every violation costs your clients real money. Property Atlas helps you find out about complaints BEFORE the NOV is issued which can save you the entire penalty fee.

San Francisco's high-rise sprinkler mandate doesn't mean every older building needs a multi-million-dollar sprinkler retrofit. Many buildings 120 feet or lower may qualify for exemptions through fire-rated stair and alarm upgrades—potentially saving millions. With compliance deadlines extended into 2032–2035, now is the time for HOAs and building owners to evaluate their options.

This week we're spotlighting TL Electric, as “expert” as they come! Owner Tony Loi’s father was an electrical contractor, and Tony himself has been around panels and conduit since he was a toddler. Eight years running his own shop, a tight team that's been with him since day one, and complex commercial work is a TL specialty.

Our founder, Serina, has been getting one question constantly since launching condo conversion services: what if my "2-unit" building actually has a third, unpermitted unit? She wrote up the full answer, including the wrinkles most owners miss, in our latest post.

Meet Borin Reyes and the team at Boyes Electric - our newest addition to the Property Atlas Vendor Program.

If you manage property up there, vegetation inspection season started in June, and "I'll get to it" is an expensive plan. The brush that greened up over the winter is drying into fuel right now - exactly what they're looking for. Fail the first inspection and the clock (and the fees!) start running. We broke down what Oakland actually requires, what it costs to ignore, and the smartest time to do the work.

PermitSF deserves scrutiny. It doesn't deserve sabotage. Our latest: the real concerns about the OpenGov contract, the whistleblower allegations worth taking seriously, and why we think Connie Chan's crusade against the mayor's signature reform has more to do with her congressional run than the public interest.

We're spotlighting B Side Construction - an Oakland-based GC that's been quietly tackling everything from emergency turns to multimillion-dollar conversions for over 20 years. Multilingual crews, in-house licenses across nearly every trade, and dedicated teams just for unit conversions? Yes, please.⁠

A Walnut Creek property hits 100°F in July. A Sunset District property maybe cracks 70°F all summer. Our latest post breaks down what summer HVAC prep actually looks like for both, including heat pumps, tenant window units, the federal refrigerant phase-out, and the heat-wave protocol every SF manager should have in their back pocket.⁠

The state legislature has been BUSY this year. To help you stay on top of all the new bills, we’ve grouped them together into categories to help simplify your reviews. Next up in our series of legislative updates, here are all the bills proposed that impact permit streamlining and density!

The state legislature has been BUSY this year. To help you stay on top of all the new bills, we’ve grouped them together into categories to help simplify your reviews. Next up in our series of legislative updates, here are all the bills proposed that don’t fall into a specific category, but cover a wide range of topics.

Spring is the right time to inspect, document, and get an arborist's eyes on every tree on your property. Our latest post: what to ask for, what to skip, and the SF-specific quirks (yes, including pollarded ficus) most generic advice gets wrong.

When was the last time your building's windows got a proper clean? If the answer is "uhh," this one's for you. We're breaking down why spring is the right time, what a good vendor visit should actually include, and the small-but-expensive things most managers miss (we’re looking at you, weep holes).

A clogged gutter isn't a gutter problem. It's a roof problem, a siding problem, a foundation problem, and eventually an "interior water damage" problem. Spring is one of the best times all year to get ahead of it. Our latest post: when to book, what a real cleaning visit should include, and which Bay Area vendor we'd put on the job.

SB-911 would expand existing requirements for sellers to provide buyers with information about compliance with fire safety measures and local vegetation management ordinances.

AB-1559 would require property insurers to notify owners that aerial images may be taken of the property unless they are related to a pending claim or used to evaluate the claim.

California bill AB 1738 would require cities and counties to offer homeowners the option to request remote/virtual inspections for certain permitted work. This proposed bill, which would act as a way to free up inspector capacity, is being reviewed by the Committee on Local Government.⁠

As part of Mayor Lurie’s ongoing PermitSF efforts, a new series of permits can now be applied for and approved online. Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler Permits are two of the most recent additions, along with instant permits to replace doors, siding, and windows when replacing in-kind.

At the bottom of each violation email, you will now see “what changed” with a status update.

After last year’s building code change, fire sprinkler requirements were tightened. Now, even small projects must use the highest-level system. As of 2026, this applies to all projects (even those already submitted). The result? Hidden costs stack up, adding $35K+ to small projects.

California may be saying goodbye to on-site resident managers.⁠ A new bill, AB 1771, would remove the long-standing rule requiring buildings with 16+ units to have a live-in manager (something unique to the state).⁠

Now, not only will you see the total number of violations, but you’ll see the number of violations for each category.

San Francisco's permitting process has been a nightmare for decades. Mayor Lurie's PermitSF initiative is one year in, and a lot has actually changed.