MLS rules · Arizona · ARMLS
ARMLS: a watermark, the original, and a $200 fine
Arizona is the board where the label goes into the pixels. ARMLS asks for its own watermark burned into the image, the original frame beside it, and a disclosure field, and the grace period ends in December 2026.
The rule, quoted
Amended to include that Digitally Altering media is allowed, but requires, at a minimum, the MLS watermark “Digitally Altered” disclosure on the photo paired with the original unaltered image.
ARMLS Rule 8.23, as summarised on the ARMLS Digitally Altered Media page. Checked 2026-11-01.
What has to be on the upload
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Watermark | The words “Digitally Altered” applied to the image itself. Not a caption, not a remark: a mark in the photo. |
| Original frame | Uploaded directly before or after the altered image in the listing. |
| Disclosure field | The Flexmls “Digitally Altered” disclosure is mandatory. The additional ARMLS watermark is optional on top of the required one. |
| Exempt edits | Brightness, contrast, colour, cropping and sharpening are exempt from both the watermark and the disclosure. |
The dates that matter
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-28 | Rule 8.23 implemented. |
| June–November 2026 | Education phase. Violations are coached, not fined. |
| December 2026 | Enforcement begins. The published penalty is $200. |
Why the phase-in matters
A listing photographed in the education phase and published after it still has to carry the watermark. The date that counts is the upload, not the shoot.
Questions
Can I put “Digitally Altered” in the photo description instead of the image?
No. ARMLS asks for the mark on the photo. The description field is a separate requirement and does not replace the watermark.
Does a colour correction need the watermark?
Not if it falls inside the exempt list: brightness, contrast, colour, cropping and sharpening. Adding furniture is not on that list.
What if the same photo also goes to CRMLS?
Then it needs both treatments: the ARMLS watermark for Arizona, and for CRMLS the label in the description field plus the original in the listing. One file rarely satisfies both.
Sources
- ARMLS, Digitally Altered Media — Rule 8.23, penalty and phase-in dates.
Next: CRMLS · wording · all boards.
Not legal advice; refer to the official rule text.