Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS)
What ARMLS requires for virtually staged and digitally altered listing photos in Arizona: the Flexmls Digitally Altered disclosure, Rule 8.23’s watermark ban, what counts as altered, and the $200 fine.
Virtual staging is allowed in ARMLS, but you cannot burn your own disclosure onto the photo: Rule 8.23 bans text and non-ARMLS watermarks on media. ARMLS guidance reports that as of May 28, 2026 a Digitally Altered disclosure is required in Flexmls for any virtually staged or digitally altered image, applied in-system rather than as an overlay, with a $200 fine for media violations. DRAFT — the disclosure mandate has not yet been confirmed against a rendered ARMLS primary page.
Stage your next listing in 24 hours.
Create an account, upload photos, and get designer-reviewed, MLS-ready staging delivered before your listing appointment. Already have staged photos? MLS Ready compliance packaging is $49.
No credit card required · Designer-reviewed · MLS compliance built in
What Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) requires
| Disclosure required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Required label wording | “Digitally Altered” — applied via the Flexmls Digitally Altered disclosure (sunburst icon), per ARMLS guidance. The older ARMLS-approved “Virtually Staged” watermark is reported to be retired; photos still carrying it must be removed and re-uploaded clean, then flagged in Flexmls. UNVERIFIED — see verification_note. |
| Label placement | In-system Flexmls disclosure flag rather than a burned-in overlay. §8.23 (verified from the rulebook) prohibits altering media to display text or images except to identify property location attributions, and prohibits watermarks of any kind except those specifically provided by ARMLS and used per ARMLS guidelines — so third-party disclosure overlays are NOT permitted in ARMLS. For videos/virtual tours, ARMLS guidance reports either the ARMLS-approved Digitally Altered watermark or the words “Digitally Altered” in the description. |
| Listing description must disclose | Yes |
| Original photo required | No |
Alterations this rule covers:
- adding furniture to a room (virtual staging)
- adding an accent paint color
- removing items from a room
- adding a fire to a fireplace
- adding architectural detail the property does not have (PROHIBITED outright, not merely disclosable)
- NOT covered: brightness, contrast, color, cropping, sharpening (per ARMLS guidance, these do not change the substance of the image)
ARMLS Rules & Regulations §8.23 (Photographs, Renderings, Floor Plans, Files, Video, Media), rulebook last updated May 28, 2026; plus ARMLS “Digitally Altered Media” operational guidance
Effective 2026-05-28.
Digitally Altered disclosure rule: education phase (no fines) June–November 2026, then $200 per violation from December 2026 (verified from ARMLS Digitally Altered Media page). ARMLS may also immediately remove non-compliant media (§8.23).
- ARMLS Rules & Regulations §8.23 (PDF, last updated May 28, 2026) — media text/watermark restrictions; read directly
- ARMLS — Rule 8.23 and Watermarks (official; ARMLS-approved-watermarks-only policy, $200 enforcement phase from Oct 5 2023, 'virtual staging is allowed')
- ARMLS Blog — Virtually Staged Photos (official; what may and may not be staged in AZ)
- ARMLS — Digitally Altered Media (official page for the 2026 disclosure requirement; UNRENDERABLE via fetch, needs manual browser check)
- ARMLS — How To Add A Digitally Altered Watermark (official; not yet fetched)
Last verified 2026-08-15.
This page summarizes publicly available rules for general information and is not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the cited source or your broker or legal counsel before relying on it.