Side by side
| Rule | Greater Chattanooga | Realtracs | FMLS | Georgia MLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rule read | Section 1.2.4, Aug 27, 2026 | Rule 2.20, Apr 1, 2025 | Rules 10.6 and 20.1(e), Mar 17, 2025 | Rules dated Aug 1, 2024 |
| Staging allowed? | Yes, if disclosed | Yes, if not deceptive | Yes, if not deceptive | No rule found |
| Mark on the photo | Required: the MLS's own watermark | Banned: no text or logo overlays | Banned: no text on photos | No rule found |
| Note in remarks | No rule found | Required, in media remarks | Required, in public remarks | No rule found |
| Original beside it | No rule found | Required, right before or after | No rule found | No rule found |
| People in images | Banned, real or digital | No rule found | No rule found | No rule found |
| Landscaping | Can't add or remove it | May show what could realistically be done | May show what could realistically be done | No rule found |
| Fake views or fixed features | Banned | Banned | Banned if deceptive | Photos must depict the home accurately |
| Power lines, neighbors | Can't remove power lines or hydrants | Can't remove what the owner doesn't control | Can't remove what the owner doesn't control | No rule found |
Why one watermarked file can't work: one MLS wants a mark on the photo, and two ban text on photos. If you list in more than one, you need more than one copy.
Still open: Greater Chattanooga's rulebook doesn't show the watermark's wording, so ask the MLS. We found no staging rule in Georgia MLS's rulebook, so ask before you upload.
Want to know if a rule changes?
Leave your email and we'll tell you when one of these rules changes. We recheck about every 90 days. That's up to one email a month, and you can stop anytime. We can't answer questions about a specific photo, so ask your MLS or broker.
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