Which photo edits does CRMLS allow?
Our reading as of , from the sources below. Not legal advice.
Short answer
Common photo fixes are fine. Staged furniture is allowed with a label and the original next to it. Changing the property itself, its landscape or what's around it isn't allowed, even with a label, unless the change will be built before closing.
- Lighting, color, straightening and cropping need no label.
- Virtual staging is allowed with a label such as "Virtually Staged" and the original immediately before or after it.
- No altering walls, flooring, paint, fixtures, landscape, utility poles or views, even with a label.
What Retouch Homes does in CRMLS
- On by default, no label
- Straightening, leveling and cropping, which CRMLS lists as common edits.
- Planned
- A new sky. CRMLS doesn't name the sky but bars changing what's visible from the property, so for CRMLS listings it stays off.
- We don't do
- Removing fixtures, utility poles, views or neighboring buildings, and changing landscape.
Edit by edit
Exposure and color in CRMLS
No labelSlightly enhanced lighting, white balance, color correction and exposure don't make an altered image.
Source 1
New sky in CRMLS
Unclear: label itNot named, but CRMLS bars changing elements outside or visible from the property. Ask CRMLS before replacing a sky.
- Label text
- Photo Modified
Source 1· our reading, no rule names it
Grass and landscape in CRMLS
Not allowedAltering landscape or hardscape isn't allowed, and AI-generated landscaping isn't permitted in the MLS.
Source 1
Removing clutter in CRMLS
LabelRemoving loose belongings isn't on the banned list. Label it and put the original next to it.
- Label text
- Photo Modified
- Show the original?
- Yes: show it right before or after the edited photo.
Source 1· our reading, no rule names it
Removing fixed features or surroundings in CRMLS
Not allowedRemoving fixtures, streetlights, utility poles, views through windows or neighboring properties isn't allowed, even with a label.
Virtual staging in CRMLS
LabelStaged furniture is allowed with a label and the unstaged original immediately before or after it.
- Label text
- Virtually Staged
- Show the original?
- Yes: show it right before or after the edited photo.
- Where the label goes
- The photo's description field, with the original next to it.
Source 1
Day to dusk in CRMLS
Unclear: label itNot named. A dusk sky changes what's visible from the property, so ask CRMLS first.
- Label text
- Photo Modified
Source 1· our reading, no rule names it
AI-generated image in CRMLS
Not allowedImages that change the property aren't allowed unless the listing will be improved to match by closing.
Source 1
Label text to copy
Photo Modified
CRMLS accepts "Photo Modified", "Virtually Staged", "Digitally Altered" or "AI Altered", or a similar accurate term, in the photo's description field. Put the original immediately before or after.
The rule, word for word
“…may not add to a listing record any image or photo that has been altered…”
Questions agents ask
Can I remove power lines or utility poles from a CRMLS listing photo?
No. CRMLS bans removing streetlights, utility poles, views and neighboring properties, even with a label.
Is virtual staging allowed on CRMLS?
Yes. Label the photo, for example "Virtually Staged", and put the unstaged original immediately before or after it.
Does CRMLS fine agents for altered photos?
Its February 2026 FAQ said there was no fine yet. Its knowledge base, updated in October 2026, says a warning comes first, then a $250 fine.
Sources
- CRMLS, Digitally Altered Images (Rule 11.5.2) FAQs · February 13, 2026 · primary source · checked November 6, 2026
- CRMLS Knowledgebase, Digitally Altered Image Guidance & FAQs · October 20, 2026 · primary source · checked November 6, 2026
Our reading as of November 6, 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change, so check the sources before you rely on them. See all markets.