Update to NAR Code of Ethics

NAR President Kevin Sears shared an update about changes to the Code of Ethics that were ratified on June 5, 2025, at the recent REALTORS® Legislative Meetings—specifically, Standard of Practice (SOP) 10-5 and Professional Standards Policy Statement 29, which fall under Article 10.

The Code of Ethics is what distinguishes Realtors® from other real estate professionals. It is the foundation of Realtors’ ability to earn and maintain consumers’ trust as they fulfill their mission to preserve, protect and advance the right to real property for all. To ensure these guidelines are up to date, NAR’s Professional Standards Committee is tasked with continually assessing and, when appropriate, amending the Code of Ethics.

Article 10 prohibits Realtors® from denying equal professional services and employment opportunities based on protected characteristics. SOP 10-5 was adopted in 2020 to further clarify the application of Article 10 by prohibiting REALTORS® from using harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs.

Like any other article of the Code of Ethics, state and local associations are empowered to enforce Article 10. In the years since 2020, it has become clear that there has been uncertainty about the interpretation and implementation of these standards of practice.

At REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, the Professional Standards Committee moved to recommend changes to SOP 10-5, which were then ratified by both the NAR Executive Committee and Board of Directors, in accordance with our amendment process.

The new language can be reviewed here.

Questions about the proposed changes or NAR’s formal process for amending the Code of Ethics may be directed to the NAR Member Policy team at narpolicyquestions@nar.realtor.