Real Estate CameraIf you list homes through ARMLS in Arizona, Rule 8.23 changes how you upload edited photos. ARMLS says the rule took effect on May 28, 2026. Photos that are digitally altered must carry a "Digitally Altered" disclosure, and the original photo goes next to the altered one.
This page summarises what ARMLS publishes at armls.com/digitally-altered-media. It is not legal advice. The ARMLS page and your broker take precedence, so read the current text before your next upload.
The timeline ARMLS describes
- May 28, 2026: the rule takes effect.
- June to November 2026: an education phase.
- December 2026: ARMLS describes a $200 fine for violations.
As of October 25, 2026 that puts Arizona listings in the last weeks of the education phase. Dates can change, so confirm them on the ARMLS page.
What to do on each listing
- Label every altered photo with "Digitally Altered".
- Keep the original. Upload the unaltered photo adjacent to the altered one.
- Keep exposure fixes separate in your head. Check ARMLS's definition of altered media before assuming a brightness fix needs a label.
- Tell your editor. If you hire a photographer or use a staging tool, ask for the originals and the edited set together.
How this compares elsewhere
Arizona joins other boards that ask for a label and the original. For California's statute, see our guide to AB 723. For the wider picture, see virtual staging MLS rules. NorthstarMLS in Minnesota published proposed guidelines in July 2026 that ask for personal-property-only staging and a before photo.
Where Real Estate Camera AI fits
Real Estate Camera AI keeps the before and after photos together, so you have the original ready when a board asks for it. It does not decide what your board counts as altered. That is the board's call.
Questions
What is ARMLS Rule 8.23?
It is the Arizona Regional MLS rule on digitally altered media. ARMLS says it took effect May 28, 2026. Altered listing photos must be disclosed, with the original photo placed next to the altered one.
When does ARMLS start fining for this rule?
ARMLS describes an education phase from June through November 2026, with a $200 fine for violations enforced from December 2026. Confirm the current dates on the ARMLS page.
What label do I use?
ARMLS asks for the label 'Digitally Altered'. Check its page for exact placement before you upload.
Does the rule cover virtual staging?
Virtual staging is a digital alteration, so plan to label it and show the original. Read the ARMLS page for what counts as an alteration.
Who makes this
Real Estate Camera is a listing photo app for iPhone, Android and the web. We wrote this page, so we have a stake in it. Other companies' prices come from their own pages on the date shown, and we say where they do better. Spot a wrong number? Tell us and we'll fix it.