Compliance First

Compliance Built Into Every Delivery

SEAREI attaches the disclosure your board requires, hosts the original, and issues a verification page and certificate on every delivery.

California AB 723 is law. Non-compliance is a violation.

California Business and Professions Code Section 10140.8 — in effect since January 1, 2026 — requires a conspicuous disclosure statement on or adjacent to every digitally altered real estate advertising image. It also requires a link to a publicly accessible website where buyers can view the original, unaltered photo.

"Digitally altered" is broadly defined: it covers furniture, flooring, walls, paint color, landscaping, and even views through windows. Willful violation is a crime under California Real Estate Law.

Washington, NWMLS, and British Columbia have their own rules — and a growing list of state and MLS-board rules across the country do too. We’ve researched the rule for every market below and publish exactly where our current delivery fits each one — the honest board-by-board table is further down this page.

Rules documented for these markets — see the board-by-board status below

California AB 723CRMLS (California)WashingtonNWMLSBritish ColumbiaFlorida (Stellar MLS)Arizona (ARMLS)Houston (HAR)Austin (ACTRIS)North Texas (NTREIS)Charlotte (Canopy MLS)Wisconsin (2025 Act 69)New York (OneKey MLS)Denver (REcolorado)Central Virginia (CVR MLS)Minnesota (NorthstarMLS)Chicago (MRED)Bright MLS (Mid-Atlantic)Massachusetts (MLS PIN)Metro MLS (Wisconsin)Toledo (NORIS)

Every SEAREI delivery includes a complete disclosure package.

You do not need to manage labels, host photos, or generate certificates yourself. SEAREI produces the complete disclosure record as part of every job — for full staging orders and for MLS Ready disclosure-only packages.

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Disclosure-labeled export (board-dependent)

For the boards that require an on-image mark (e.g. California AB 723), the staged photo carries the disclosure on the image. Most boards don’t allow that — see the clean export below.

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Clean export

The staged photo with no mark on the image — what most boards require. Off-image boards get this plus the disclosure wording in the kit; you place it where your board’s rule says.

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Original photo on a public URL

The unaltered original hosted at a unique verification URL, built for the publicly accessible internet access to the original image that AB 723 §10140.8 requires (confirm your board's current rule).

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Public verification page

A page displaying the original alongside the staged version with disclosure text — built for the internet-website requirement that AB 723 §10140.8 sets out (confirm your board's current rule).

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Compliance certificate

Documents which jurisdiction's rules applied, the disclosure text used, and timestamps — your paper trail if questions arise.

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Machine-readable compliance data

The delivery bundle includes a metadata.json and disclosure.txt with the disclosure wording and verification link, for compliance systems and auditors that read them directly.

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QR code (on-image boards only)

When your board uses an on-image mark, the delivery includes a QR to the verification page (handy for print marketing too). Boards that require no on-image mark ship no QR — the verification link travels in the kit and off-image instead.

Review the rules that apply to your listing before it goes live.

California AB 723

California Business and Professions Code Section 10140.8 requires a conspicuous disclosure statement on or adjacent to every digitally altered listing image, plus a link to a publicly accessible website showing the original, unaltered photo. SEAREI handles both automatically.

Read the full guide →

Washington

Washington requires disclosure that images have been virtually staged and that items shown may not be included with the property. SEAREI attaches that disclosure to every delivery — on the image where a board requires it, in the listing where it doesn’t.

Read the full guide →

NWMLS

The Northwest MLS publishes its rules to members only, so we cite no specific NWMLS rule. What is public: the NAR Code of Ethics (SOP 12-10) bars misleading listing images. SEAREI attaches clear disclosure to every delivery.

Read the full guide →

British Columbia

British Columbia requires disclosure that images have been digitally altered to show virtual staging. SEAREI attaches that disclosure, hosts the original, and issues a verification page and certificate.

Read the full guide →

CRMLS (California)

The California Regional MLS layers Rule 11.5.2 on top of AB 723. SEAREI includes a clear virtually-staged disclosure on the image and hosts the original, addressing the on-image disclosure portion of CRMLS Rule 11.5.2 / AB 723 §10140.8; the agent still labels the photo-description field and places the original adjacent (confirm your board's current rule).

Read the full guide →

Florida (Stellar MLS)

Stellar MLS Article 04.04 requires "Virtually staged" in the photo description, the checkbox ticked, and an exact public-remarks sentence — and prohibits on-image text. SEAREI’s delivery adds no on-image mark (what Stellar requires), hosts the original, and issues a verification page and certificate; you complete the Stellar MLS-field steps.

Read the full guide →

Arizona (ARMLS)

ARMLS Rule 8.23 bans text and non-ARMLS watermarks on media; virtual staging uses the Flexmls Digitally Altered disclosure. SEAREI hosts the original and issues a verification page and certificate; the on-image overlay is not yet ARMLS-compliant.

Read the full guide →

Houston (HAR)

Houston's HAR Rule 1.25.1 splits virtual staging in two — furniture-only needs a photo-description note; altering real property needs more. SEAREI documents the rule and hosts the original; confirm HAR’s current requirement before publishing.

Read the full guide →

Austin (ACTRIS / Unlock MLS)

Austin's Unlock MLS (ACTRIS) Rule 2.15 requires a non-staged image of the same view and prohibits overlaid text on photos. SEAREI’s delivery adds no on-image text (what ACTRIS requires), hosts the original as the companion image, and issues a verification page and certificate; you complete the ACTRIS MLS-side steps.

Read the full guide →

North Texas (NTREIS)

The North Texas MLS rulebook has no dedicated virtual-staging rule; §7.30 bars modifications that misrepresent the property. SEAREI keeps disclosures accurate and the original accessible.

Read the full guide →

Charlotte (Canopy MLS)

Canopy MLS §1.18.1 requires the disclosure directly on the virtually staged image, with Canopy’s specific label — captions are not accepted. SEAREI documents the rule and hosts the original; our current delivery is not yet Canopy-compliant.

Read the full guide →

Wisconsin — 2025 Act 69

From January 1, 2027 Wisconsin licensees must disclose in all advertising when technology or AI altered the property in a way that creates a false or misleading impression. No watermark, wording or placement is prescribed.

Read the full guide →

New York (OneKey MLS)

The OneKey rulebook contains no virtual-staging rule; Rule 307.1 requires images to reflect only the listed property and to carry no contact or identifying information.

Read the full guide →

Denver (REcolorado)

REcolorado's MLS Policy §1.20 states plainly that "Virtual staging is allowed" — no watermark, no remarks sentence, no original photo. Renderings and builder models are the exception and must be disclosed.

Read the full guide →

Central Virginia (CVR MLS)

CVR MLS §5.8.2 requires disclosure of virtually staged or enhanced photos in the REMARKS field. No watermark, no wording prescribed; the published Fine Chart carries $250.

Read the full guide →

Minnesota (NorthstarMLS)

NorthstarMLS recommends — does not require — disclosing virtual staging in agent remarks, public remarks or photo captions. Its listing-photo policy separately bars all on-image text.

Read the full guide →

Chicago (MRED)

MRED §6.2.3 requires only a Y/N data field — "Are Any Property Photos Virtually Staged?" — not a watermark, caption, or remarks sentence. §6.1.1 bars URLs, QR codes, logos and branding on listing photos, so an on-image badge is itself a violation.

Read the full guide →

Bright MLS (Mid-Atlantic)

Bright MLS's entire staging rule is one sentence (Appendix E §4.E.1): virtually-staged photos must be disclosed in the MLS. No wording, field, caption, watermark or original photo is required — and §4.A.2 bars text or graphics added to a photo, so it can't go on the image. Covers DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA and WV.

Read the full guide →

Massachusetts (MLS PIN)

MLS PIN's rulebook contains no virtual-staging rule at all. What it does impose (§1.0(f) and (e)) limits an image to objective property information and bars a URL or QR code on the photo — so a verification link burned into the image is prohibited by name. Photo-content violations run up to $500.

Read the full guide →

Metro MLS (Wisconsin)

Metro MLS asks for three things: the unaltered main photo first, each original immediately followed by the Flexmls-watermarked version, and "Photos are Digitally Altered" in Public Remarks. The watermark is the MLS's own tool — a third-party badge fails the rule and violates its no-branding policy.

Read the full guide →

Toledo (NORIS)

NORIS §4.5 requires the phrase "Virtually Staged" both on the image and in the photo description — one of the few US MLSs that mandates an on-image label. But §4.5(f) bans branding on that photo, so the label may carry no vendor name, logo or URL. Penalty: photo removal plus $100.

Read the full guide →

Where our delivery fits each board’s rule — honestly.

Our delivery is board-specific: for boards that require an on-image mark (like California AB 723) we place the disclosure on the image; for the many boards that don’t, we add nothing to the photo and the disclosure travels off-image. Every delivery also includes a hosted original and a verification record. This table shows exactly where each board stands, what an agent still has to do on the MLS side, and the source we verified it against — no board is marked supported unless our output actually meets its rule.

Board / ruleWhere it appliesWhat the rule requiresSEAREI statusWhat the agent doesSource
ACTRIS / Unlock MLS (Austin Board of REALTORS®)18-county Central Texas / Austin region
  • Disclosure: Not specified
  • Original photo: Required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Supported — you finish the MLS stepsWe add nothing to the photo, which is what this board requires; you still complete the MLS-side step this board lists.Prepare my first listing free
  • Include a non-virtually-staged image of the same view (Rule 2.15).
  • Do not embed, overlay, or digitally stamp any text on the listing image.
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-25
Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS)Arizona
  • Disclosure: On the image
  • Original photo: Required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Supported — you finish the MLS stepsWe add nothing to the photo, which is what this board requires; you still complete the MLS-side step this board lists.Prepare my first listing free
  • Apply the Flexmls 'Digitally Altered' MLS watermark to the altered image (armls.com/digitally-altered-media).
  • Upload the original, unaltered photo directly before or after the watermarked altered version.
  • Do not apply any non-ARMLS watermark or non-property text/graphics to the media (Section 8.23).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-25
Bright MLS (Mid-Atlantic — DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV)Mid-Atlantic: DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV
  • Disclosure: MLS data field
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Supported — you finish the MLS stepsWe add nothing to the photo, which is what this board requires; you still complete the MLS-side step this board lists.Prepare my first listing free
  • Disclose the virtual staging somewhere in the MLS record (not on the image) (Section 4.E.1).
  • Do not add or superimpose any text, graphics, contact info, or branding on the listing photo (Section 4.A.2; Section 3.A).
  • Limit staging to personal property except on To-Be Built/Under Construction listings (Section 4.E).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-27
Canopy MLS (Charlotte, North Carolina)Charlotte region, North Carolina (Charlotte–Asheville–Hickory/Lenoir)
  • Disclosure: On the image
  • Original photo: Required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Not offered for this boardThis board bans the on-image disclosure our product produces. We can host your original photo and issue a verification record, but not a board-compliant delivery.
  • Place a clear, readily visible disclosure directly ON the image labeling it AI-Enhanced, virtually-staged, or a rendering (Section 1.18.1).
  • Include the nonstaged original image immediately before or after the staged image.
  • Do not include company/agent/vendor contact info or branding in the photo (Section 1.7).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-26
CVR MLS (Central Virginia Regional MLS — Richmond, Tri-Cities, Central Virginia)Richmond / Central Virginia
  • Disclosure: Public remarks
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Supported — you finish the MLS stepsWe add nothing to the photo, which is what this board requires; you still complete the MLS-side step this board lists.Prepare my first listing free
  • Disclose the virtual staging in the REMARKS field (Section 5.8.2).
  • Do not place branding, agent/office info, or promotional content on the photo or virtual tour (Section 5.8; Fine Chart).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-21
Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR / HRIS MLS)Houston metro, Texas
  • Disclosure: Photo description
  • Original photo: Required
  • On-image branding: N/A
Rules documentedWe’ve researched and cite this board’s rule, but we don’t yet claim our delivery meets it — ask us for a board check first.
  • For furniture/decor-only staging: state in the Photo Description field that the image was virtually staged (Rule 1.25.1).
  • If real-property characteristics were altered: burn the exact disclaimer 'Image does not represent actual property as is' across the bottom, at least 1024x89px, Arial.
  • For real-property alterations: do not use the altered image as the primary photo, and submit the unaltered same-view image as an adjacent image.
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Metro MLS (Wisconsin — Milwaukee metro and statewide)Milwaukee metro / southeastern Wisconsin
  • Disclosure: On the image
  • Original photo: Required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Supported — you finish the MLS stepsWe add nothing to the photo, which is what this board requires; you still complete the MLS-side step this board lists.Prepare my first listing free
  • Upload the original, unaltered main photo first, each immediately followed by the altered copy watermarked with the Flexmls watermark feature only.
  • Include the phrase 'Photos are Digitally Altered' in the Public Remarks.
  • Do not apply any third-party/vendor watermark or branding to listing photos.
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-29
MLS PIN (MLS Property Information Network — Massachusetts & New England)New England (subscription states CT/ME/MA/NH/RI/VT) and New York; primary coverage Massachusetts
  • Disclosure: Not specified
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Rules documentedWe’ve researched and cite this board’s rule, but we don’t yet claim our delivery meets it — ask us for a board check first.
  • No MLS-mandated staging disclosure exists; if disclosing voluntarily, use the listing text fields (remarks), not the image.
  • Keep images limited to objective property information with no added/superimposed text, branding, URLs, or QR codes (Section 1.0(f) via Section 1.0(e)).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-29
MRED (Midwest Real Estate Data — Chicago metro & northern Illinois)Chicagoland / Northern Illinois (footprint spills into southern Wisconsin & northwest Indiana)
  • Disclosure: MLS data field
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Supported — you finish the MLS stepsWe add nothing to the photo, which is what this board requires; you still complete the MLS-side step this board lists.Prepare my first listing free
  • Set the connectMLS field 'Are Any Property Photos Virtually Staged?' to [Y] on the Media tab (Section 6.2.3).
  • Do not place names, URLs, links, QR codes, logos, or branding on the photo (Section 6.1.1).
  • Limit staging to personal property except on To-Be Built/Under Construction listings (Sections 6.2.2-6.2.3.1).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-27
Nevada — Las Vegas REALTORS® (LVR), formerly GLVAR / Las Vegas REALTORS® MLS (+ NRS/NAC 645 statewide backstop)Las Vegas / Southern Nevada (Clark County)
  • Disclosure: On the image
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Not offered for this boardThis board bans the on-image disclosure our product produces. We can host your original photo and issue a verification record, but not a board-compliant delivery.
  • Place the phrase 'Virtually Staged' in a clear, reasonably sized font ON the image (GLVAR Section 9.7).
  • Also enter 'Virtually Staged' in the photo description field.
  • Do not place any branding (vendor name/URL) on a virtually staged photo (Prohibited Use (d)).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-26
NORIS (Northwest Ohio Real Estate Information Systems, Inc. — Toledo & Northwest Ohio)Toledo / Northwest Ohio (Lucas & Wood counties)
  • Disclosure: On the image
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Not offered for this boardThis board bans the on-image disclosure our product produces. We can host your original photo and issue a verification record, but not a board-compliant delivery.
  • Place the exact phrase 'Virtually Staged' in a clear, reasonably sized font ON the image (Section 4.5).
  • Also enter 'Virtually Staged' in the photo 'enter description' field.
  • Do not add branding, company/agent name, or a URL to the photo (Section 4.5(f); Section 4.4); interior of existing structures only.
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-31
NorthstarMLS (Minnesota / western Wisconsin — Twin Cities metro)Twin Cities metro, Minnesota
  • Disclosure: Not specified
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Rules documentedWe’ve researched and cite this board’s rule, but we don’t yet claim our delivery meets it — ask us for a board check first.
  • Disclosure is recommended (not required) in agent remarks, public remarks, or photo captions.
  • Do not place any text on the listing photo; use captions/photo descriptions or remarks instead.
  • Limit staging to personal property (furniture); virtual painting requires full disclosure and must not hide defects.
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-21
Northwest MLS (NWMLS)Washington state (WA-filed; footprint also extends into parts of Oregon)
  • Disclosure: Not specified
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Rules documentedWe’ve researched and cite this board’s rule, but we don’t yet claim our delivery meets it — ask us for a board check first.
  • Recommended (no publicly citable NWMLS rule requires it): disclose the virtual staging in your listing's public remarks. The ready-to-use disclosure text is included in your SEAREI compliance kit.
  • No publicly citable NWMLS staging rule exists; confirm the member rulebook with NWMLS before relying on any rule number (do not cite 'Rule 80').
  • Do not add watermarks, superimposed graphics/text, contact info, logos, or QR codes to listing photos (NWMLS public guidance).
  • Ensure images do not misrepresent what is for sale (RCW 18.235.130; NAR SOP 12-10).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-26
NTREIS (North Texas Real Estate Information Systems MLS — Dallas–Fort Worth)Dallas–Fort Worth / North Texas
  • Disclosure: Not specified
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Rules documentedWe’ve researched and cite this board’s rule, but we don’t yet claim our delivery meets it — ask us for a board check first.
  • Recommended (not required by this board): disclose the virtual staging in your listing's public remarks. The ready-to-use disclosure text is included in your SEAREI compliance kit.
  • No staging-specific action is required by the rulebook (no virtual staging rule exists).
  • Do not place vendor/app/company branding or non-descriptive content on the listing photograph (Sections 7.30 / 7.29).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-15
OneKey® MLS (New York — NYC metro, Long Island, Hudson Valley)NYC metro, Long Island & Hudson Valley, New York
  • Disclosure: Not specified
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Rules documentedWe’ve researched and cite this board’s rule, but we don’t yet claim our delivery meets it — ask us for a board check first.
  • Recommended (not required by this board): disclose the virtual staging in your listing's public remarks. The ready-to-use disclosure text is included in your SEAREI compliance kit.
  • No staging label is required by any OneKey rule (v2026C has no virtual-staging provision).
  • Keep images limited to the listed property with no contact/identifying info, branding, logos, or external URLs (Rule 307.1).
  • For 'To Be Built' listings, state in the Property Description that photos are computer-generated images (Rule 306.10).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-26
REcolorado® (Denver / Colorado Front Range MLS)Denver / Front Range, Colorado
  • Disclosure: Not specified
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Rules documentedWe’ve researched and cite this board’s rule, but we don’t yet claim our delivery meets it — ask us for a board check first.
  • Recommended (not required by this board): disclose the virtual staging in your listing's public remarks. The ready-to-use disclosure text is included in your SEAREI compliance kit.
  • No staging disclosure is required (Section 1.20: 'Virtual staging is allowed').
  • Do not manipulate the property's true appearance (no removing permanent objects, altering landscape, or adding improvements that don't exist).
  • Keep any watermark non-predominant and free of phone numbers, web addresses, company/personal names, branding, or logos (Section 1.20).
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-26
Stellar MLS (Florida)Florida + Puerto Rico (regional operator: My Florida Regional MLS)
  • Disclosure: Public remarks
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: Prohibited
Supported — you finish the MLS stepsWe add nothing to the photo, which is what this board requires; you still complete the MLS-side step this board lists.Prepare my first listing free
  • Enter 'Virtually staged' in the photo description field and tick the virtually-staged checkbox (Article 04.04).
  • Begin the public remarks with the exact sentence 'One or more photo(s) was virtually staged.'
  • Do not place any words, branding, or graphics on the photo - only the Stellar MLS watermark is permitted.
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-25
Wisconsin — 2025 Act 69 (Wis. Stat. § 452.136(1m))Wisconsin (statewide)
  • Disclosure: Not specified
  • Original photo: Not required
  • On-image branding: N/A
Rules documentedWe’ve researched and cite this board’s rule, but we don’t yet claim our delivery meets it — ask us for a board check first.
  • In all advertising, disclose when technology/AI has added, removed, or changed property elements in a way creating a false or misleading impression (effective Jan 1, 2027).
  • No specific wording, placement, watermark, or original-photo format is prescribed by the statute.
Rule sourceVerified 2026-08-17

What this does — and what you still do

  • SEAREI produces the disclosure artifacts: a disclosure-labeled export, your unaltered original hosted at a public URL, a public verification page, and a certificate with integrity hashes.
  • SEAREI does not guarantee that any MLS, board, or regulator will accept your listing, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them. Board rules change — each board page shows the date we last verified it.
  • You complete the MLS-side steps your board requires (field or public-remarks entry, uploading the original, image ordering) and confirm the current rule with your MLS or broker before publishing.
  • Nothing here is legal advice.

The disclosure wording each market expects.

The wording below is the disclosure each market expects for staged media.

California (AB 723)
Virtually staged / digitally altered. Original, unaltered image available at the verification URL or via the QR code.
Washington
Images have been virtually staged. Items shown may not be included with the property.
NWMLS
Virtual staging has been applied to this image.
British Columbia
This image has been digitally altered to show virtual staging.

Already staged? Get your listing’s disclosure package for $49. Need staging? We handle both for $39.

MLS Ready turns your existing staged photos into a disclosure package (the disclosure your board requires, a hosted original, and a verification record) in about 2 minutes. Full staging includes the same disclosure workflow — confirm your board’s MLS-side steps before publishing.

SEAREI provides compliance workflow tools for the jurisdictions listed above. This is not legal advice. Confirm final disclosure requirements with your MLS, brokerage, and legal counsel.