ARMLS rule 8.23: digitally altered photos
Since May 28, 2026, ARMLS rule 8.23(n) covers listing photos changed with software or AI. The MLS adds a “Digitally Altered” watermark itself. The original photo goes right next to the altered one.
Rules checked on · A plain summary, not legal advice: check your MLS’s own rule text.
What counts as altered
Any photo where software or AI adds, removes or noticeably changes what the photo shows: virtual staging, a new sky, removed furniture, changed landscaping.
What you need to do
- Mark altered photos when you upload them. ARMLS’s listing system then adds its own “Digitally Altered” watermark. The old “Virtually Staged” watermark is no longer enough.
- Put the original photo directly before or after the altered one.
- Keep your originals, so you can always show what the home looks like.
Dates and fines
- May 28, 2026: the rule starts, with an education phase first.
- ARMLS has announced that the education phase has ended.
- News reports put the fine at $200, from December 2026.
Other rules
Compare with the other MLS photo rules.
Questions and answers
Is the old “Virtually Staged” watermark still enough in ARMLS?
No. Under rule 8.23(n), altered photos carry the MLS's own “Digitally Altered” watermark instead.
Where does the original photo go in ARMLS?
Directly before or after the altered photo in the listing.
When did ARMLS start fining?
The rule started on May 28, 2026 with an education phase. ARMLS says that phase has ended. News reports put the fine at $200 from December 2026.
Sources
Edit your listing photo, keep the original.
Start with one photo. Your original always stays as you took it.