MLS Rule Changes 12.5.1, 14.3, and ‘Appendix B – Citation Policy’

1. Information in the public remarks shall only relate to the marketing, description and condition of the property.
2. No contact information is permitted, including names, phone or fax numbers, email addresses or website branded addresses (including branded virtual tours and branded transaction tracking URLs).
3. No showing instructions are permitted, including references to lockbox, alarm, gate or other security codes, or the vacancy of the property. However, a statement that the property shall be delivered vacant is not a violation.
4. No information directed toward real estate agents or brokers, including compensation or bonuses offered to cooperating brokers may be shown in public remarks.
5. No other information may be provided that goes beyond a description of the property.
6. Listing Content and Fair Housing Laws. All listing information, including all remarks, submitted to the MLS must be in compliance with fair housing laws. The MLS monitors listing content and employs a process for identifying potential violations of fair housing laws. Should potential fair housing law violations be identified, Participants and Subscribers will be advised to  immediately remove or correct such potential violations. Failure to remove or correct may subject Participants and Subscribers to discipline and/or subject the listing to immediate removal from display.

14.3 Citations.
The MLS Committee, subject to approval of the Board of Directors, may implement a schedule of fines for certain MLS rules violations and direct staff to issue citations for the specified MLS rules violations and implement a procedure whereby the Participant and Subscriber receiving the citation may either (1) pay the amount specified on the citation, or (2) request citation reconsideration (paper review) in accordance with the procedures set forth in the California Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual (if such reconsideration procedure has been adopted by the MLS) or (3) request a full hearing in accordance with the procedures set forth in the California Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual.

Appendix B – Citation Policy

D. Notices of any violation will be sent to both Subscribers and their responsible Participant. A violation must be corrected within two (2) calendar days of notice of violation sent to the Violator and/or Responsible Participant. Receipt of notice is presumed to be the sooner of three (3) calendar days after mailing or one (1) calendar day after email or facsimile transmission. Failure to correct a noted violation within the two (2) day time period allotted will result in a new violation for the uncorrected violation with the associated fine for that level of violation. Failure to correct a violation within the two (2) day correction period may also subject a non-conforming listing to removal by the MLS from active display. New violations may be issued for any remaining uncorrected violations until the violations are corrected or the maximum fine is reached as set forth below.

G. If a Violator recipient of a citation believes that a violation notice and fine was issued in error, the Violator recipient may request a hearing in accordance to the procedures set out by their MLS/AOR. Prior to requesting a hearing, the violation must be corrected.

I. The MLS Committee and/or the Board of Directors reserves the right, at its discretion, to charge a Participant or Subscriber with rules violations by virtue of the hearing process, including the possibility of additional fees or fines, suspension or expulsion, rather than utilizing the citation process. Thus, the below fines may not be all inclusive. Any Participant or Subscriber who accumulates in excess of 5 (five) 3 (three) violations in one calendar year, unless otherwise specified, may shall be required to attend a hearing for their actions and potential violations of MLS rules. Additionally the responsible Participant is required to attend any such hearing of a Subscriber. be referred to the MLS Committee and/or the Board of Directors for a review to determine whether or not further discipline and possible suspension of MLS service is warranted.

J. Reporting of violations will remain confidential. When requested by a complainant, the MLS shall provide a process for processing reports of violations without revealing the complainant’s identity. If the matter is forwarded to hearing, then the MLS Committee, Grievance Committee, MLS staff or other representative must serve as the complainant when the original complainant does not consent to participating in the process or the disclosure of his or her name.