State license law sets the minimum standard a real estate agent must meet. The REALTOR Code of Ethics sets a higher one, at least for the agents who agree to follow it. Every member of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) commits to the Code when they join, and local associations enforce it through a formal complaint and hearing process that consumers can use too.
This guide explains what the Code is, how it is organized, what the most frequently discussed articles say in practical terms, and how to file an ethics complaint if you believe a REALTOR has crossed the line.
What the REALTOR Code of Ethics is
NAR adopted its Code of Ethics in 1913, making it more than a century old and one of the earlier professional codes adopted by a U.S. trade association. It has been amended many times since, and NAR continues to review and update it, typically on an annual basis.
The Code has three layers:
- The Preamble, a short statement of the ideals behind the Code, including the idea that REALTORS should treat others as they would wish to be treated.
- Seventeen Articles, the broad duties every member must follow. Only the Articles can be violated in an ethics case.
- Standards of Practice, which interpret and clarify specific Articles. A violation of a Standard of Practice is cited as a violation of the Article it supports.
NAR also publishes case interpretations, examples drawn from real scenarios, that show how hearing panels apply the Articles. These are a good resource if you are trying to understand whether a situation might be an ethics issue.
The Code applies only to members. A licensed agent who is not a REALTOR is still bound by state license law, but not by this Code, and cannot be the subject of a REALTOR ethics complaint.
The three sections and seventeen articles at a glance
The Articles are grouped into three sections based on who the duty is owed to. The summaries below are plain-English paraphrases, not the official text, which is published by NAR.
| Section | Article | General subject |
|---|---|---|
| Duties to clients and customers | 1 | Protect and promote the client's interests while treating all parties honestly |
| Duties to clients and customers | 2 | Avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of pertinent facts about a property or transaction |
| Duties to clients and customers | 3 | Cooperate with other brokers when it is in the client's best interest |
| Duties to clients and customers | 4 | Disclose when buying or selling property for themselves, their family, or their firm |
| Duties to clients and customers | 5 | Disclose any present or contemplated interest in a property they are providing services on |
| Duties to clients and customers | 6 | Do not accept undisclosed fees or rebates for recommending products or services |
| Duties to clients and customers | 7 | Do not accept compensation from more than one party without disclosure and informed consent |
| Duties to clients and customers | 8 | Keep other people's money in a separate, appropriate account |
| Duties to clients and customers | 9 | Put agreements in writing, in clear language, and provide copies |
| Duties to the public | 10 | Provide equal professional service without discrimination |
| Duties to the public | 11 | Work within their competence or get appropriate help |
| Duties to the public | 12 | Be honest and truthful in communications and advertising |
| Duties to the public | 13 | Do not engage in the unauthorized practice of law |
| Duties to the public | 14 | Cooperate with ethics proceedings and do not obstruct them |
| Duties to REALTORS | 15 | Do not make false or misleading statements about other real estate professionals |
| Duties to REALTORS | 16 | Do not interfere with another REALTOR's exclusive representation agreements |
| Duties to REALTORS | 17 | Resolve certain disputes with other REALTORS through mediation or arbitration |
Articles that come up most often
Some Articles are cited frequently because they cover everyday situations that buyers and sellers actually experience.
Article 1, loyalty without dishonesty
Article 1 requires REALTORS to protect and promote their client's interests. That does not give them permission to deceive anyone else. A listing agent works for the seller, but must still be honest with the buyer. Standards of Practice under this Article address issues such as not misleading a seller about market value to win a listing and presenting offers objectively and promptly.
Article 2, no misrepresentation or concealment
Article 2 prohibits exaggerating, misrepresenting, or concealing pertinent facts about a property or a transaction. The Code limits this to facts the REALTOR knew or reasonably should have known within their area of real estate expertise. REALTORS are not expected to discover latent defects or to give advice outside their field, such as structural engineering or legal opinions.
Article 12, truthful advertising
Article 12 requires honest and truthful communication with the public, and a true picture in advertising and marketing. That includes online ads, websites, and social media. A REALTOR should not claim to have sold a home they did not have a role in selling, and should identify themselves as a real estate professional when advertising.
Article 16, respecting exclusive agreements
Article 16 prevents REALTORS from interfering with another member's exclusive representation or listing agreement. In practice, this is why an agent may ask whether you are already under contract with someone before discussing their services. It does not stop you from choosing a new agent once your existing agreement ends.
Article 17, settling disputes between members
Article 17 requires REALTORS of different firms to mediate or arbitrate certain contractual disputes and specific non-contractual disputes, often over who earned a commission, rather than suing each other. Associations also offer arbitration and mediation services that clients can use in some money disputes with REALTORS.
How to file an ethics complaint
If you believe a REALTOR violated the Code, the complaint goes to the local REALTOR association, not to NAR's national office. The general process looks like this, although each association follows its own procedures within NAR's framework.
- Confirm the person is a REALTOR. Ask which local association they belong to, or check NAR's member search.
- Contact the local association. Many offer an ombudsman or informal dispute resolution service for minor problems, such as unreturned calls or a misunderstanding about the process.
- Get the complaint form. Associations provide a written form and instructions. You will be asked to cite the specific Article or Articles you believe were violated.
- Describe what happened in writing. Stick to facts, dates, and documents. Attach copies of contracts, emails, texts, ads, and anything else relevant.
- File promptly. NAR policy generally requires ethics complaints to be filed within 180 days after the facts could reasonably have been known. Check with the association, since the deadline matters.
- Grievance committee review. A committee reviews whether the allegations, if true, could be an ethics violation. It does not decide guilt.
- Hearing. If the complaint moves forward, a professional standards hearing panel hears from both sides and decides whether the Code was violated.
- Outcome and possible appeal. Either party may have limited rights to request review of the decision under association procedures.
Possible discipline for a violation includes a letter of warning or reprimand, required ethics education, a fine up to a limit set by NAR policy, probation, suspension, or, in serious cases, expulsion from membership.
What an ethics complaint cannot do
- It cannot award you money or damages. Money disputes go to arbitration, mediation, or the courts.
- It cannot suspend or revoke a state license. Only the state real estate commission can do that.
- It does not handle criminal matters, which belong with law enforcement.
If the conduct may also break state license law, you can file with the state regulator as well. The two processes are independent.
Ethics training for REALTORS
NAR requires members to complete Code of Ethics training on a recurring cycle. In recent years these cycles have run three years, and the training must meet a minimum instructional time set by NAR, currently about two and a half hours. New members typically complete ethics training as part of their new member orientation, and existing members complete it once per cycle through their association, a state association, or an approved provider, often online.
Members who miss the deadline can have their membership suspended until they complete the training. Many states also allow the course to count toward license continuing education, though that varies. Members should confirm the current cycle dates and requirements with their association, since NAR sets and occasionally revises them.
Before you file, a quick checklist
- The agent is a current REALTOR member, and you know which association
- You have tried, or decided against, talking directly with the agent's managing broker
- You considered the association's ombudsman or mediation services for smaller issues
- You identified the Article or Articles that seem to apply
- You have a dated, factual timeline
- You gathered copies of every relevant document and message
- You are within the filing window
- You know whether you also want to contact the state real estate commission
- You know whether your real goal is discipline, which ethics handles, or money, which it does not
The Code works best as a shared expectation, not just a disciplinary tool. Knowing what it requires helps you recognize good practice when you see it, and ask the right questions when you do not.
Quick answers
What are the three sections of the REALTOR Code of Ethics?
The seventeen Articles are grouped into Duties to Clients and Customers, which covers Articles 1 through 9, Duties to the Public, which covers Articles 10 through 14, and Duties to REALTORS, which covers Articles 15 through 17. Each Article is supported by Standards of Practice that explain how it applies in specific situations, and NAR publishes case interpretations as examples.
How do I file an ethics complaint against a realtor?
Contact the local REALTOR association the agent belongs to and request its ethics complaint form. Describe what happened factually, cite the Articles you believe were violated, and attach supporting documents. File promptly, since NAR policy generally sets a 180-day window after the facts could reasonably have been known. A grievance committee reviews the complaint before any hearing is scheduled.
How often must REALTORS take Code of Ethics training?
NAR requires members to complete ethics training once per training cycle. Recent cycles have lasted three years, with a minimum instructional time of about two and a half hours. New members usually satisfy the requirement through orientation. Members who miss the deadline can face suspension of membership until they finish the course, so agents should confirm current cycle dates with their association.
Can an ethics complaint get my money back?
No. An ethics hearing decides whether the Code was violated and can impose discipline such as education, fines paid to the association, suspension, or expulsion, but it does not award damages to the person who complained. For money disputes, ask the association about mediation or arbitration services, or consult an attorney about other options, including small claims court where appropriate.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by state; confirm details with a licensed professional or your state real estate commission.