Zuger Residents Appeal DBI Notice of Violation Over Wall and Bee Concerns

The City of San Francisco held a meeting on August 27, 2025, to address a Notice of Violation (NOV) concerning a property issue involving a leaning wall and bee infestation. The meeting began with a resident, Ms. Zuger, expressing concerns about bees nesting in a compromised wall that posed a risk to tenants. She confirmed that a Department of Building Inspection (DBI) inspector, Liam McCarthy, had previously assessed the situation but did not address all her concerns, particularly regarding the leaning wall.

Ms. Zuger explained that she had attempted to contact McCarthy for further clarification but received no response, prompting her to appeal the NOV to avoid prolonged disruption to her garden. The discussion then shifted to the permit holder, who clarified that their original permit included plans for a one-hour fire-rated wall in the garage, which was part of the NOV. They acknowledged confusion regarding the extent of the damage to the wall, which was initially thought to be limited but was later found to extend further down.

The permit holder indicated that they had revised their plans to address the full extent of the damage after visiting the neighboring property. However, they raised concerns about the wall leaning seven inches over the property line, which was not part of the original NOV. The permit holder expressed uncertainty about how to proceed with repairs given this new information.

Commissioners sought clarification on the issues at hand, noting that while the permit holder had addressed the fire wall concerns, the leaning wall remained a point of contention. The discussion highlighted the need for further examination of the leaning wall's implications on the planned repairs and compliance with city codes.

As the meeting concluded, it was clear that while some aspects of the violation had been addressed, significant questions remained regarding the leaning wall and its impact on the ongoing construction plans. The commissioners indicated a need for further deliberation to determine the best course of action moving forward.