City Attorney sues Tenderloin landlord for allowing tenants to live in redtagged building after fire

San Francisco, CA (June 4, 2026) — City Attorney David Chiu filed a lawsuit today against a Tenderloin landlord for creating a public nuisance and allowing tenants to live in a fire-damaged building without power or other utilities. City departments stepped in to provide temporary power and relocation services after the property at 155 Hyde Street was deemed uninhabitable following a June 2025 fire. The lawsuit, filed against Golden Tiger LLC and its owner Adam La, seeks to fix safety issues that persist at the property and to recoup costs the City incurred by providing emergency services after the fire.

“No one should be living in a redtagged building or using camping stoves for heat,” said City Attorney Chiu. “Landlords have a responsibility to ensure that basic health and safety standards are met in their buildings. Following the fire, this landlord somehow thought it was acceptable for tenants to live in a fire-damaged building without heat or power. Our entire city family came together to support these tenants and keep the neighborhood safe. Now it’s time for this property owner to do his part.”

“When disasters hit, first responders and city workers jump into action to keep San Franciscans safe. We expect landlords to be partners in that effort, but if they decide instead to undermine the health and safety of our residents, we will hold them accountable,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “I want to thank the firefighters and city staff across departments who showed up for our neighbors and for the Tenderloin community after the fire last year, and I want to thank City Attorney David Chiu for leading on this effort to stand up for the tenants who deserve safe living conditions just like everyone in San Francisco.”

Background
The property at 155 Hyde Street is a six-story residential building with 52 units and a ground-floor commercial space. Golden Tiger LLC and Adam La have owned the building since 2011.

On June 11, 2025, a fire caused substantial damage to the building’s electrical system and broiler, leaving the property without electricity, gas, hot water, and elevator service. At least 90 tenants, mostly immigrant families, lived in the building at the time of the fire.

The lack of power disabled the property’s fire alert system, creating a hazardous situation for anyone in the building. City agencies immediately jumped into action. The Department of Building Inspection (DBI) issued several Notices of Violation (NOV) and an Order of Abatement, which deemed the property unsafe and uninhabitable. The San Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA) worked with the Red Cross to provide temporary relocation for tenants.

“Every San Franciscan deserves to live in a clean, safe, code-compliant home,” said Department of Building Inspection Interim Director David Kane. “Depriving people of electricity, heat and hot water isn’t just illegal, it is plain wrong. Our department is committed to doing everything we can to help ensure this building is made habitable again so the former residents can return.”

"Emergencies don't stay in one department's lane, and this incident called for a complex, prolonged multi-agency response," said Mary Ellen Carroll, Executive Director of the Department of Emergency Management. “Fire, building inspection, human services, and public works each brought their expertise, while our emergency managers made sure the people doing the work in the field were talking to each other, meeting, and problem solving every day. We will always prioritize the protection of life and property, and I support the City Attorney in recovering what that protection cost San Franciscans in this unfortunate situation."

In August, City departments conducted a task force inspection that revealed the owners had allowed tenants to reoccupy the property but had not restored power or utilities. Adding to the unsafe conditions, the owners provided the tenants with small butane-powered camping stoves to allow them to cook food and heat water. The extra butane stoves were stored next to the source of the fire, creating a major fire hazard.

The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) then issued a NOV for a slew of fire code violations including, lack of power and emergency lighting, insufficient alarm system due to lack of power, nonfunctioning elevator, lack of emergency and standby power system, and unpermitted open flame cooking devices in residential apartments.

“The San Francisco Fire Department is dedicated to protecting the lives and property of the people of San Francisco,” said SFFD Chief Dean Crispen. “Following the initial fire at 155 Hyde Streeton June 11, 2025, Fire Prevention inspectors identified significant hazards, including severe damage to the building’s electrical infrastructure, and ordered an emergency abatement to prevent re energizing compromised systems. The fire alarm system was also found to be completely inoperable, leaving the building without any means of alerting occupants in the event of another fire. Upon reinspection in August, the San Francisco Fire Department issued a Notice of Violation citing multiple fire code deficiencies, including the lack of power and emergency lighting, an insufficient alarm system due to loss of power, a nonfunctioning elevator, the absence of required emergency and standby power, and the presence of unpermitted open flame cooking devices in residential units. The Bureau of Fire Prevention then coordinated with partner City agencies to vacate the building, ensuring additional hazards were averted and residents were protected from further risk.”

SFFD held an administrative hearing and issued an Order of Abatement requiring the property to be vacated within 96 hours. In the interim, San Francisco Public Works provided interim power to tenants using generators and helped secure the building. Again, HSA coordinating with the Tenderloin Housing Clinic provided relocation services for 89 people, and the building was finally vacated on September 3.

“The City’s response to this emergency demonstrates the good that government can do when we all work together,” said Public Works Director Carla Short. “With this lawsuit, City Attorney Chiu is moving to hold the landlord accountable.”

In total, City Departments issued nine NOVs and eight Orders of Abatement, none of which have been abated.

The lawsuit alleges the Defendants created a public nuisance that endangers the health and safety of the Tenderloin community. Additionally, the City asserts the owners violated California’s Unfair Competition Law, San Francisco’s building and fire codes, and several other state and local laws. The City is seeking penalties, fees, and injunctive relief to cure the violations at the property. San Francisco is also asking to be reimbursed for the costs associated with relocating tenants and providing temporary power.

The case is City and County of San Francisco v. Golden Tiger, LLC, et al., San Francisco Superior Court. View a copy of the complaint.