The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors approved the following summary of substantive issues and changes to the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual recommended by the Professional Standards Committee. The changes went into effect on January 1, 2026.

To view the full summary of key Professional Standards changes, click HERE.

• Amend Article 7 to limit its disclosure of compensation and approval requirements to only a REALTOR®’s client or clients

• Delete Standard of Practice 3-4 that required the disclosure of variable rate compensation
• Amend Standard of Practice 17-4 to update the language to ensure compliance with the tenets of the settlement agreement that a REALTOR® cannot accept compensation in an amount more than the agreed upon compensation in their employment agreement
• Amendments to Four Case Interpretations relating to Article 10, SOP 10-5 and Statement 29 amendments that limit the applicability of the Code of Ethics to acts made in their capacity as a real estate professional, in association with their real estate business, or within the context of their real estate-related activities
  • Case #10-6: Use of Hate Speech and Slurs Harassment on the Basis of Race
  • Case #10-7: Use of Harassing Speech Harassment on the Basis of Political Affiliation
  • Case #10-10: Use of Speech or Ideas Included in Religious Doctrine 
  • Case #10-11: Display of Symbols
• Unauthorized Access to Property, Standards of Practice 1-16 applicable to listing brokers and 3-9 applicable to cooperating brokers