Pine Lake Park, San Francisco Real Estate & Homes for Sale
Pine Lake Park is a small San Francisco neighborhood of detached houses north of Sloat Boulevard, along Stern Grove and Pine Lake, under city rules through SF Planning.
Explore Pine Lake Park, San Francisco real estate and homes for sale with this local guide. Contact Diamond to discuss your criteria and current property-search options.
| County | San Francisco (City and County) |
|---|---|
| Local government | City and County of San Francisco — SF Planning |
| Housing | Detached single-family houses only; RH-1(D) and RH-1 zoning |
| Hazards to check | Small landslide zones in the Pine Lake–Stern Grove ravine; outside Coastal Zone |
| Getting around | 23, 28/28R and 18 buses; L Taraval and M Ocean View nearby; Sloat Blvd |
| Local rules | Check current zoning on Planning’s Property Information Map |
Pine Lake Park is a small neighborhood of detached houses on the north side of Sloat Boulevard, along the southern and western edges of Sigmund Stern Grove and Pine Lake. Related: District 3.
There are no condos, apartment buildings or shops. What sets the area apart is the park: the 33-acre grove, with one of San Francisco’s three natural lakes, sits inside the neighborhood’s own Assessor boundary, and many houses are a short walk or less from its trails and meadows.
Pine Lake Park homes for sale
Pine Lake Park market report
Where Pine Lake Park begins and ends
Sloat Boulevard is the southern edge. Across it lie Lake Shore to the southwest and Merced Manor to the southeast. North and west, the avenue grid of Parkside takes over; Wikipedia places Stern Grove itself in the Parkside District, while the Assessor maps the grove parcel into Pine Lake Park.
The Assessor’s roll puts every address on one of fifteen streets:
| Street | Parcels (2025 roll) | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Crestlake Drive | 108 | The main street, curving along the edge of the grove for most of the neighborhood’s length |
| 34th, 35th and 36th Avenues | 34, 66 and 32 | Avenue blocks in the 2700 and 2800 numbers, running north from Sloat on the west side |
| Sloat Boulevard | 48 | Houses facing the boulevard, plus one church parcel at 1740 Sloat |
| Wawona Street and Yorba Street | 35 and 14 | The northwestern blocks; the grove parcel is addressed 899 Wawona |
| Escondido, Goleta and Vale Avenues | 27, 11 and 8 | Short streets between Sloat and Crestlake |
| Paraiso, Palos and El Mirasol Places; Gabilan and Constanso Ways | 10, 5, 4, 6 and 3 | Cul-de-sacs and short connectors off Crestlake |
The Spanish street names and the curving plan set it apart from the straight avenue grid to the north.
The houses: mostly 1930s and 1940s
Compare the particular property’s permitted living area, actual lot size, construction history and ownership documents; a neighborhood statistic is not a substitute for those records.
In houses of this age, garage-level rooms and rear additions are the usual questions, and the permit file shows which of them were approved.
Living on the edge of Stern Grove
Rosalie Meyer Stern gave the grove to the city in 1931 in memory of her husband, Sigmund Stern, and the Recreation and Park Department runs it. Wikipedia describes it as running along Sloat Boulevard between 19th and 34th Avenues, with the Concert Meadow, the West Meadow and a Pine Lake Park section. The free summer Stern Grove Festival has drawn crowds that have often exceeded 20,000 people.
For owners, the park brings a few practical points:
- Trees. The grove is full of tall eucalyptus and other mature trees. A falling tree destroyed the Trocadero clubhouse in early 2023 (it reopened restored in 2025), and a storm-felled eucalyptus closed the upper entrance for weeks in 2025. Ask about tree work, insurance claims and roof history on lots that back onto the park.
- Festival days. The summer concerts bring visitors and parking demand to the surrounding streets.
- Slopes. The ground drops toward the lake and the grove, which matters for the hazard maps below.
Zoning and what can be added
The roll’s zoning field can lag the city’s map, so confirm the current district for a specific lot on Planning’s Property Information Map.
Planning’s current layers add two things. The whole area sits inside the Family and Senior Housing Opportunity Special Use District (Planning Code section 249.94), which permits up to four units on a qualifying RH lot and more on corner lots, with limits tied to how long the owner has held the lot, to tenants and to historic resources. And since the Family Zoning Plan took effect on January 12, 2026, Planning’s zoning layer shows RTO-C (Residential Transit Oriented – Commercial) frontages along both sides of Sloat Boulevard, which takes in many of the Sloat-facing lots here; the height layer along that stretch includes a 40//65-R-4 designation.
For the state-law route to a second unit or a lot split, read our SB 9 lot split guide. Private recorded restrictions, where a tract has them, sit on top of zoning and appear in the preliminary title report.
Slopes, landslide polygons and the coast
San Francisco Planning publishes the state’s seismic hazard zones as map layers. Its earthquake-induced landslide layer shows a handful of small polygons in and around the Pine Lake and Stern Grove ravine, at the north edge of the neighborhood near Crestlake Drive. The blocks nearest Sloat Boulevard, including short streets such as Escondido, Goleta and Vale avenues, show none.
The liquefaction layer shows no mapped zone in Pine Lake Park; the nearest liquefaction polygons lie to the west along the coast and to the south around Lake Merced. Planning’s Coastal Zone boundary also stays farther west, so Coastal Zone Permits are not a routine issue here. A lot inside a mapped seismic hazard zone must be disclosed at sale; our Natural Hazard Disclosure guide explains the report, and parcel lookups are explained on our San Francisco hazard maps page.
Getting around from Pine Lake Park
Most trips start on Sloat Boulevard or 19th Avenue. Published route lists show the 23 Monterey ending by the Zoo, where Sloat meets the Great Highway, the 28 19th Avenue and weekday 28R running to Daly City BART station, and the 18 46th Avenue ending at 19th Avenue and Buckingham Way by Stonestown.
For rail, the M Ocean View runs on its own right-of-way from St. Francis Circle toward 19th Avenue, with a stop where its right-of-way crosses Ocean Avenue in Merced Manor, before continuing to Stonestown and San Francisco State. On the north side, the L Taraval streetcar runs on Taraval Street, a few blocks above Wawona, to its terminal at 46th Avenue and Wawona by the Zoo. The route list we used is dated 2022, so check SFMTA for current service from a specific address.
Selling a home in Pine Lake Park
The natural comparisons for a Pine Lake Park house are Merced Manor and Lake Shore across Sloat and the Parkside avenues to the north. What separates one sale from another here is lot size and shape, whether the lot backs onto the grove, the slope at the rear, and how much of the ground floor is permitted living space.
- Pull the permit history and match it to every finished room, bathroom and deck, especially at garage level.
- Order the city’s Report of Residential Building Record (3R) early; our San Francisco selling requirements guide covers it along with the energy and transfer-tax rules.
- For lots on the grove side, gather tree-service records, any drainage or retaining-wall work and the hazard disclosure showing whether the lot touches a mapped landslide polygon.
- Check the title report for recorded easements or restrictions and have the answers ready for buyers.
Current figures for the subdistrict appear in the market report on this page, and our guide to selling in San Francisco covers pricing and preparation.
Questions people ask
Is Pine Lake Park part of Stern Grove?
The neighborhood surrounds the grove’s south and west sides, and the Assessor maps the 33-acre grove parcel into the Pine Lake Park subdistrict. The grove itself is city parkland run by the Recreation and Park Department; Pine Lake Park is also the name of one section of the park.
Is Pine Lake a natural lake?
Yes. Wikipedia lists it as one of three natural lakes in San Francisco, inside Stern Grove.
Are there condos in Pine Lake Park?
Use current listings to identify the property type you need, then verify its ownership form, legal unit count and any recorded restrictions.
Is Pine Lake Park in a landslide or liquefaction zone?
The liquefaction layer shows no zone here. Small mapped landslide polygons appear on the ravine slopes near Crestlake Drive, so check a lot on the grove side individually.
How old are the houses?
Construction eras and later alterations vary by property. Confirm the particular building’s original records, permits and final inspections.
What district is Pine Lake Park in?
Verify the particular property’s current records and dimensions; a neighborhood statistic is not a substitute for a parcel-specific answer.
Thinking about selling a house near the grove, or comparing it with homes across Sloat? Ask for a home valuation and we will price it against recent sales of similar lots in the subdistrict, or start with the wider San Francisco guide.
Permits, trees and remodels in Pine Lake Park
Pine Lake Park is a neighborhood of detached houses, so most permit questions are about additions, garage-level rooms and trees rather than units or tenants. SF Planning reviews zoning, and the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) issues building permits and keeps the records (DBI).
- Slope review on the grove side. Lots that touch a state-mapped landslide zone, like the small polygons in the Pine Lake–Stern Grove ravine described above, can fall under DBI’s slope protection requirements, which add engineering review before a permit issues (sf.gov, slope protection). The blocks near Sloat generally don’t.
- Trees. The grove’s tall eucalyptus are on park land, but trees in front yards can be regulated too. Under the Public Works Code, a tree on private property with any part of its trunk within 10 feet of the public right-of-way is a "significant tree" if it is at least 20 feet tall, at least 12 inches in trunk diameter measured 4.5 feet above grade, or has a canopy at least 15 feet wide. Removing one follows the street-tree removal permit process (Public Works Code, significant trees). Ask before you plan a driveway or an addition that needs a tree to go.
- ADUs. ADUs are allowed in the RH-1 and RH-1(D) districts that cover nearly every lot here. The state program is approved ministerially. The local program is reviewed by Planning, and its units are subject to rent control (SF Planning, ADUs). See our ADU purchase guide.
Costs to plan for when buying in Pine Lake Park
- Transfer tax. San Francisco’s tax is set per $500 of value: $3.40 to under $1 million, $3.75 to under $5 million and $11.25 to under $10 million, with other tiers above and below (SF transfer tax). See our San Francisco transfer tax guide.
- Property tax. The 2026–27 secured rate is 1.18162182% of net taxable value, plus direct charges such as the School Parcel Tax of 2020 (SF Treasurer; special assessments). Expect a supplemental bill after closing (Assessor-Recorder). Our San Francisco property tax guide covers due dates.
- Tree and drainage work. On lots that back onto the grove, get an arborist’s view of trees near the house and a quote for any drainage or retaining-wall repairs before you remove contingencies.
Luxury homes and estates in Pine Lake Park
Pine Lake Park’s upper end comes from lot size and setting rather than size of house. The neighborhood includes RH-1(D) detached-house lots; compare the actual parcel dimensions and its park-edge position. The houses with the most presence are usually on Crestlake Drive and the cul-de-sacs off it, where lots run along the edge of Stern Grove and Pine Lake. The Spanish-named streets and curving plan set them apart from the avenue grid to the north.
For a higher-value purchase, focus on:
- Permit history of garage-level rooms and rear additions, matched against the 3R report (DBI 3R report).
- The park edge: tree-fall history, roof and insurance claims, drainage, and whether the lot touches a mapped landslide polygon. Our hillside geotechnical guide explains when to order a report.
- Insurance for a high-value home and earthquake cover; see insuring a high-value home and earthquake insurance.
Some owners value a quiet sale. Ask Diamond Real Estate Group which permitted private-marketing options fit your property, goals and the applicable MLS rules. Availability of any particular listing is not guaranteed. Related reading: private sales). We can’t promise specific inventory. Compare nearby Merced Manor and St. Francis Wood, and see our San Francisco luxury homes guide.
Pine Lake Park real estate: more questions
Can I cut down a tree in my Pine Lake Park front yard?
It depends on its size and location. A private tree with any portion of its trunk within 10 feet of the public right-of-way that is at least 20 feet tall, at least 12 inches in diameter measured 4.5 feet above grade, or has a canopy at least 15 feet wide is a significant tree, and removing it needs a Public Works permit.
Is there a homeowners association in Pine Lake Park?
Check the title report, recorded subdivision documents and seller disclosures for any association or shared-maintenance obligations. A roll classification alone does not prove that no association applies. Any recorded tract restrictions appear in the preliminary title report, so read that before you plan exterior changes.
Do Crestlake Drive lots need extra review to build?
Some may. Lots touching the state landslide zone in the ravine can trigger the city’s slope protection review. Check the specific parcel before you design an addition.
For a taxable transfer, the applicable tier’s rate is charged on each$500 or fractional part of the taxable consideration/value; exemptions and special rules can affect the result. Confirm the calculation with escrow.
Assessment records are a starting point for checking a property, not a certification of legal use or a live listing inventory. Verify current permits, recorded ownership documents and any affordability restrictions.
Sources for this section
- SF Department of Building Inspection: https://www.sf.gov/departments–department-building-inspection
- SF.gov, comply with slope protection requirements: https://www.sf.gov/departments–department-building-inspection
- San Francisco Public Works Code, significant trees (American Legal Publishing): https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_publicworks/0-0-0-4237
- SF Planning, Accessory Dwelling Units: https://sfplanning.org/accessory-dwelling-units
- SF Assessor-Recorder, transfer tax: https://www.sf.gov/transfer-tax
- SF Treasurer, secured property taxes: https://sftreasurer.org/property/secured-property-taxes
- SF Treasurer, parcel taxes and special assessments: https://sftreasurer.org/property/parcel-tax-exemptions-and-special-assessments
- SF, supplemental assessments: https://www.sf.gov/information–learn-about-supplemental-assessments
- SF DBI, request a 3R report: https://www.sf.gov/request3r
Sources & notes
- San Francisco Association of REALTORS: San Francisco MLS district map (Reineck & Reineck, 2001)
- DataSF (Office of the Assessor-Recorder): Assessor Historical Secured Property Tax Rolls, 2025 closed roll (parcel counts by class, build years, median lot and building area, zoning codes, street lists and coordinates for District 3 subdistricts; queried October 2026)
- San Francisco Planning: PlanningData map service (zoning districts, height districts, special use districts, Coastal Zone, seismic hazard liquefaction and landslide layers; envelope and point queries, October 2026)
- San Francisco Planning: SF Family Zoning Plan (adoption and effective dates, Coastal Zone handling)
- San Francisco Planning Code (via GoCodebook): Sec. 249.94, Family and Senior Housing Opportunity Special Use District
- Wikipedia: Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove (acreage, Pine Lake, history, festival)
- Wikipedia: M Ocean View (route, stops, history, ridership, subway concept)
- Wikipedia: List of San Francisco Municipal Railway lines (route termini; service as of July 2022)
Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.
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