# Frequently Asked Questions
**Looking for quick answers before diving into the full Rulebook? Start with the FAQ!**
This FAQ is organized by the topics members ask about most — not by the order they appear in the Rulebook. The questions that generate the most calls, the most confusion, and the most fines come first. Compensation and the NAR settlement, Clear Cooperation Policy, seller listing options, written buyer agreements, and sold data rules are front and center. Operational mechanics (fees, deadlines, orientation, violations) follow at the end.
The Rulebook itself is the authoritative source. This document is a plain-language companion, not a substitute. When in doubt, refer to the official Rulebook or contact BSCMLS staff at [**support@bscmls.com**](mailto:support@bscmls.com)
### Compensation & the NAR Settlement
Can I mention buyer-agent compensation anywhere in the MLS?
No — and this is absolute. Since the NAR settlement took effect in August 2024, offers of compensation to buyer brokers are completely prohibited throughout the MLS — in Public Remarks, Agent Remarks, photos, virtual tours, associated documents, and every other MLS field, product, or service offered by BSCMLS (e.g., MLS Tour Meetings, SentriLock & SentriKey Showing Service, emails originating within Matrix, etc.)
This includes indirect references. Statements like 'contact listing agent regarding compensation,' language that invites buyers to ask about fees, or any wording that could reasonably imply an offer are all prohibited. Even links to external pages where compensation information appears are prohibited.
Compensation must be handled entirely off-MLS: direct phone calls, texts, your own website (for your own listings only), printed marketing materials at the property, or open-house conversations. *(*[***Rulebook Section 8.1***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/tFB2KFfdICx3s9YIGYwB#id-8.1-prohibition-of-compensation-offers-in-the-mls-nar-policy-8.11)*)*
Can I put seller concessions in the MLS? How is that different from compensation?
Yes — seller concessions are permitted in the MLS and are explicitly different from compensation. A seller concession is a credit offered by the seller to the buyer toward closing costs, rate buy-downs, or other buyer expenses. It is not a direct payment from seller to buyer's broker.
Rules for MLS concessions:
* Must be written as a total dollar amount (or percentage) — not tied to payment to a specific buyer's agent.
* May be mentioned in Public Remarks or Agent Remarks. You can note the seller's willingness to negotiate concessions without naming a dollar amount (e.g., 'Seller is willing to consider buyer concessions -- contact listing agent for details').
* Must not be conditioned on payment to a buyer's agent. Any agreement for the listing brokerage to pay buyer-agent compensation must be negotiated and documented off-MLS. *(*[***Rulebook Section 8.2***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/tFB2KFfdICx3s9YIGYwB#id-8.2-seller-concessions-in-the-mls)*)*
Can I advertise a compensation offer on my own brokerage website?
Yes, with important limits. You may communicate compensation offers on your own website, but only for your own brokerage's listings. You may not create, host, or contribute to any platform that aggregates compensation offers from multiple brokers — even if it's built on MLS data or data feeds.
The prohibition on multi-broker compensation platforms is one of the most serious data-use violations in the Rulebook. Any Participant or Subscriber who uses MLS data to power such a platform faces immediate termination of all MLS data feed access — no warning, no fine ladder, and access is only restored after a compliance audit and signed affidavit. *(*[***Rulebook Section 8.1.A***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/tFB2KFfdICx3s9YIGYwB#a.-permissible-communication-outside-the-mls) *&* [***Section 16.2 - Category 6 # D***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/lFLOsplLFKrR9CdeEU0f#d.-prohibition-on-compensation-aggregation-data-feeds)*)*
Am I required to disclose my compensation to clients? What exactly do I have to say?
Yes — written disclosure is mandatory on both sides of a transaction.
**For sellers:** Every listing agreement must include a conspicuous statement that broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. Before any payment or agreement to pay compensation, you must disclose in writing the amount or rate you'll receive and from what source it will be paid.
**For buyers:** The same conspicuous negotiability statement is required in the written buyer agreement and in any pre-closing disclosure documents. You must also disclose in advance of any payment the amount or rate of your compensation and its source. *(*[***Rulebook Section 8.3***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/tFB2KFfdICx3s9YIGYwB#id-8.3-required-consumer-disclosure-on-compensation-nar-policy-8.12)*)*
### Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) & Seller Listing Options
What are a seller's three marketing options under BSCMLS rules?
Every listing agreement [**subject to mandatory submission**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/2lQd8DvPaLSQ1sFYXgth#id-5.1-mandatory-submission-property-types-subject-to-ccp) must be handled under one of three options within three business days of the listing agreement start date:
1. **Open Market:** Maximum exposure. Entered in the MLS and visible to all MLS users plus public portals (Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.). No disclosure form required.
2. **Delayed Internet Advertising:** Entered in the MLS and visible to all MLS agents, but withheld from public portal display (IDX/syndication). The seller-signed disclosure must be retained by the broker — not submitted to BSCMLS unless later requested.
3. **Office Exclusive:** Private marketing. Two sub-options:
1. On-MLS with office-only visibility, or
2. Off-MLS — withheld from the MLS entirely.
In either case, a seller-signed Office Exclusive Disclosure must be emailed to [**support@bscmls.com**](mailto:support@bscmls.com) within the same 3-business-day deadline. *(*[***Rulebook Section 6***](/section-6-multiple-listing-options-for-sellers-and-ccp-compliance-nar-policy-8.00.md)*)*
What is the Office Exclusive Disclosure and when do I actually have to submit it?
The Office Exclusive Disclosure is a seller-signed form documenting that the seller understood the MLS benefits they were limiting or waiving, and confirming which future MLS entry options they authorized.
📌 **Note:** Missing the Office Exclusive Disclosure 3-business-day deadline is one of the most common compliance failures. Without the form on file in the BSCMLS office, the property may also lose eligibility for COMP ONLY entry after closing — and there is no retroactive exception. *(*[***Rulebook Section 6.5***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#id-6.5-office-exclusive-disclosure-requirements-seller-certification-nar-policy-8.14) *&* [***Section 11.1***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/aJ9uVyuBt9rjWl5xYxB3#id-11.1-comparison-only-sales-comp-only)*)*
What triggers the Clear Cooperation Policy, and what's my deadline when it's triggered?
CCP is triggered the moment a mandatory-submission listing is publicly marketed — defined as any "one-to-many" promotion outside the listing brokerage.
**Once triggered:** You have one (1) business day to enter the listing in the MLS as either **Open Market** or **Delayed Internet Advertising**.
**What triggers CCP (one-to-many):** social media posts, yard signs visible to the public, email blasts to multiple agents, group chat posts, listing portals, flyers distributed to multiple offices, group announcements, or any promotion reaching more than one outside agent simultaneously.
**What does NOT trigger CCP:** a direct, **one-to-one** phone call, text, or email to a single agent at another brokerage, provided the listing is not otherwise being publicly marketed. These communications are all permitted and do not violate the policy.
📌 **Note:** The clock starts from the moment public marketing begins — or from the moment of discovery/notice if the exact time can't be pinned down. *(*[***Rulebook Section 6.6***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#id-6.6-clear-cooperation-policy-ccp-violation-and-repercussions-nar-policy-8.00) *&* [***Section 6.7***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#id-6.7-public-marketing-definitions-and-permitted-communications-nar-office-exclusive-guidance)*)*
My seller wants a private listing. Can I market it to agents at other offices managed or owned by my Broker in Charge?
No. This is one of the most widespread CCP misconceptions in the industry. If those other offices operate as separate legal entities — even under the same corporate franchise, shared brand, or common ownership — broadcasting a private Office Exclusive listing from one office to those other offices is treated as public marketing and immediately triggers CCP.
The "within the listing brokerage" exemption is limited to agents affiliated with the single office that holds the listing, not the entire franchise. You may share the listing internally with agents in your own office, but distributing it beyond your office, regardless of corporate relationships, is a CCP violation. *(*[***Rulebook Section 6.7***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#id-6.7-public-marketing-definitions-and-permitted-communications-nar-office-exclusive-guidance)*)*
What happens if I miss the CCP corrective deadline? How bad are the fines?
CCP fines run on a calendar-day basis (including weekends and holidays) starting the day after the missed one-business-day corrective deadline, and they escalate fast:
* 1st offense: $100/day until corrected.
* 2nd offense: Immediate $500 fine + $500/day until corrected.
* 3rd offense: Immediate $1,000 fine + $1,000/day until corrected.
* 4th+ offense: 90-day suspension.
**Example:** A listing is found to have been publicly marketed Wednesday. The corrective deadline is end of Thursday. If still not entered by Friday morning, fines start accruing Friday and run every calendar day until the listing is entered in the MLS as either Open Market or Delayed Internet Advertising. If the listing is already in the MLS as Office Exclusive, the corrective action is to remove the Office Exclusive option within the listings Add/Edit page, which will automatically convert it to a compliant listing *(*[***Rulebook Section 6.6***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#id-6.6-clear-cooperation-policy-ccp-violation-and-repercussions-nar-policy-8.00) *&* [***Section 16.2 - Category 5***](/section-16-mls-policy-and-enforcement.md#category-5-clear-cooperation-policy-ccp)*)*
What's the difference between an On-MLS Office Exclusive and an Off-MLS Office Exclusive?
Both are private listings — neither may be publicly marketed. The difference is whether a record exists in the MLS at all:
* **On-MLS Office Exclusive:** The listing is entered in the MLS but is visible only to agents affiliated with the listing office. All other agents and portals cannot see it. Useful when the listing office wants an internal electronic record but still wants to keep it private from the broader market. These listings can easily be shared directly from the MLS because a digital record exists within the system. They can also be easily converted to a publicly shared listing if/when the seller permits it. Think of it like a partial listing that other agents in your office can see.
* **Off-MLS Office Exclusive:** The listing is not entered in the MLS at all and is handled completely outside the MLS for as long as the seller directs.
In both cases, the seller-signed Office Exclusive Disclosure must be submitted to BSCMLS within 3 business days. The listing may later be converted to Open Market or Delayed Internet Advertising if the seller provides the required authorization in the "Future MLS Entry" section on the disclosure form. *(*[***Rulebook Section 6.3***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#id-6.3-option-3-office-exclusive-private-marketing) *&* [***Section 6.4***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#id-6.4-office-exclusive-filing-methods-and-future-mls-entry)*)*
Can a listing that starts as an Office Exclusive ever be converted to a public listing?
**Yes** — **at any time before an offer is accepted**, provided the seller authorizes it on the disclosure form. A private listing may be converted to Open Market or Delayed Internet Advertising during the ACTIVE listing term.
If the listing is never entered in the MLS during the active listing term and closes as an Off-MLS private sale, it may only be entered after closing as a COMP ONLY entry — and only if the seller authorized that option on the disclosure form. *(*[***Rulebook Section 6.3***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#id-6.3-option-3-office-exclusive-private-marketing)*,* [***Section 6.4.C***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/Ly52oj7Jm1RUXjXdk2ur#c.-future-mls-entry-after-closing) *&* [***Section 11.1***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/aJ9uVyuBt9rjWl5xYxB3#id-11.1-comparison-only-sales-comp-only)*)*
### Written Buyer Agreements
Do I need a written buyer agreement before showing a home? What if I'm just the listing agent letting someone in?
The requirement applies when you are "working with" a buyer — meaning you are providing brokerage services to them, not just acting as a seller's agent.
* **Buyer's agent, transaction broker, dual agent:** Yes — you need a signed written buyer agreement before touring any residential property (1–4 units), whether in person or via live virtual tour. This National requirement applies regardless of the lot size or location.
* **Listing agent admitting an unrepresented buyer to a showing:** No — you're acting only on behalf of the seller; you're not providing brokerage services to the buyer, and therefore you do not need a signed buyer agreement.
* **Open house:** No agreement required just to admit visitors. But if you begin providing brokerage services to a specific buyer at or after the open house, the agreement is required before any home tour occurs in that capacity.
Showing a home without a signed agreement when you are working with that buyer is a Category 6 violation — immediate $250 fine on the first offense, escalating to $500, $1,000, and suspension. *(*[***Rulebook Section 8.4***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/tFB2KFfdICx3s9YIGYwB#id-8.4-required-written-buyer-agreements-prior-to-touring-a-home-nar-policy-8.13) *&* [***Section 16.2 - Category 6 # B***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/lFLOsplLFKrR9CdeEU0f#b.-written-buyer-agreements-required)*)*
What must the written buyer agreement actually include?
Pursuant to paragraph 58(vi) of the NAR proposed settlement agreement, written buyer agreements must:
1. Specify and conspicuously disclose the amount or rate of any compensation the MLS Participant will receive from any source, or how this amount will be determined;
2. The amount of compensation must be objectively ascertainable and may not be open-ended (e.g., “buyer broker compensation shall be whatever amount the seller is offering to the buyer”);
3. Include a statement that MLS Participants may not receive compensation from any source that exceeds the amount or rate agreed to with the buyer;
4. Disclose in conspicuous language that broker commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable; and
5. Include any provisions required by law.
📌 **Note:** The rule requires a written agreement meeting these content standards — it does not mandate a specific type of agency relationship. Transaction brokerage, buyer agency, and dual agency are all permissible arrangements as long as the agreement is compliant. *(*[***Rulebook Section 8.4***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/tFB2KFfdICx3s9YIGYwB#id-8.4-required-written-buyer-agreements-prior-to-touring-a-home-nar-policy-8.13)*)*
### Sold Data & Montana Non-Disclosure
Montana is a "non-disclosure" state — does that mean I can't share sold prices with my clients?
This is the most common misconception about Montana's non-disclosure status. Here's the reality:
Montana's non-disclosure law means that the Realty Transfer Certificate (RTC) filed with the county is not a public record — the county clerk must hold it confidential. That is what makes Montana a "non-disclosure" state.
It does not mean sold prices are universally confidential for MLS members. Within a **bona fide client relationship**, Subscribers are specifically authorized and often obligated to share sold data for CMAs, valuations, and market analysis — including competitor transactions.
**What is prohibited:** sharing specific sold data with people who have no bona fide intent to buy or sell (e.g., general curiosity, neighborhood tracking), and exporting neighborhood-wide lists of sold data and labeling it a "CMA" to get around the restriction. *(*[***Rulebook Section 11.2.E***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/aJ9uVyuBt9rjWl5xYxB3#e.-sales-price-confidentiality-and-a-dvertising-restrictions) *&* [***Section 11.2.F***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/aJ9uVyuBt9rjWl5xYxB3#f.-permitted-uses-of-sold-data)*)*
Can I post a "Just Sold" price on social media after closing?
Only with client consent. Subscribers may publish the sold price of a property they personally sold (as Listing Agent or Buyer Agent) on social media or marketing materials, but only if the client has specifically authorized it.
Practical notes:
* The standard Montana listing agreement already includes authorization for the Listing Agent to disclose sold data.
* Buyer Agents should get specific written consent from the buyer before publishing a sold price publicly.
* Advertising another broker's sold transaction without prominently attributing the Listing Brokerage — or framing it in a way that implies you participated — may constitute both a Code of Ethics violation and an MLS rule violation.
BSCMLS strongly recommends getting written client consent before publishing any specific sold price in any public-facing advertisement. *(*[***Rulebook Section 11.2.E***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/aJ9uVyuBt9rjWl5xYxB3#e.-sales-price-confidentiality-and-a-dvertising-restrictions)*)*
Once a listing goes Under Contract, can I cancel it to keep the sold price private?
No — this is one of the most explicitly prohibited acts in the Rulebook. Once a listing is marked Under Contract or Contingent Backups OK, it may not be canceled, withdrawn, deleted, or otherwise manipulated to avoid reporting the final sold price.
MLS Staff are authorized to reinstate improperly canceled listings and require the agent to update the status to Sold with all required closing data within 3 business days of reinstatement. The agent will be assessed a Category 2 violation for the improper cancellation.
📌 **Note:** Montana's non-disclosure law protects the RTC on file with the county. It has no bearing on a broker's obligation to report sold data to the MLS once a listing was entered and went under contract. *(*[***Rulebook Section 11.2.B***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/aJ9uVyuBt9rjWl5xYxB3#b.-prohibition-on-withholding-sold-data) *&* [***Section 16.2 - Category 2.1.B***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/lFLOsplLFKrR9CdeEU0f#b.-withholding-sold-data-improper-cancellation-of-under-contract-or-contingent-backups-ok-listings-o)*)*
What is a COMP ONLY entry and when can I use one?
A COMP ONLY entry reports a closed sale that was never listed in the MLS during the active marketing period — for example, an Off-MLS Office Exclusive or a Single-Party Listing that closed privately.
Three requirements must all be met:
1. **Office Exclusive Disclosure on file:** A seller-signed disclosure must have been submitted to BSCMLS within 3 business days of the listing agreement start date, and the seller must have explicitly authorized "future MLS entry" as a COMP ONLY on that form.
2. **Photos:** At least 3 photos of the completed property must be uploaded at entry. Construction photos and renderings are prohibited — the record must reflect the final delivered product.
3. **Deadline:** Entry must occur within 3 business days of the closing date.
📌 **Note:** For Sale By Owner listings, or FSBOs, are never eligible for COMP ONLY because there is no listing agreement. *(*[***Rulebook Section 11.1***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/aJ9uVyuBt9rjWl5xYxB3#id-11.1-comparison-only-sales-comp-only)*)*
### Listing Input, Deadlines & Property Types
What is the "3-Day Rule" and how do I count the days?
The 3-Day Rule is the default compliance deadline for all listing actions. This includes entering a new listing, changing a status, submitting required forms, updating the list price, listing agents, etc.. "Three business days" means Monday through Friday, excluding certain Federal holidays. The daily clock starts the day **after** the triggering event.
**Example:** Your listing agreement starts on a Wednesday. Day 1 is Thursday, Day 2 is Friday, Day 3 is Monday (assuming no holidays). The listing must be entered by 11:59 PM on Monday.
📌 **Note:** CCP has its own separate 1-business-day deadline once public marketing occurs — that is faster and distinct from the standard 3-day rule. *(*[***Rulebook Section 1.1***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/VjRMUDfZ0Hw8G1b1J5zg#id-1.1-timekeeping-applies-to-entire-handbook) *&* [***Section 4.1.C***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/zwpkycNdgSBdOO3sXOxt#c.-the-3-day-rule)*)*
Which property types must be entered in the MLS? Which are optional?
[**Mandatory (subject to CCP):**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/2lQd8DvPaLSQ1sFYXgth#id-5.1-mandatory-submission-property-types-subject-to-ccp) Residential properties of 1–4 units that are (1) available for occupancy upon closing, (2) on a lot under 40 acres, and (3) located within the BSCMLS service area.
[**Exempt — entry is optional:**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/2lQd8DvPaLSQ1sFYXgth#id-5.2-exempt-property-types) Vacant land, commercial properties, farm & ranch (land only), new construction not yet completed, and properties outside the BSCMLS service area.
[**Prohibited — may not be entered:**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/2lQd8DvPaLSQ1sFYXgth#id-5.3-prohibited-property-types) Personal property only listings (no real property interest); business-only opportunities where no real property is conveyed or assigned.
📌 **Note:** Even optional/exempt listings must follow all MLS content, accuracy, and status reporting rules once entered.
What listing agreement types does BSCMLS accept?
[**Accepted (eligible for Active status):**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/zwpkycNdgSBdOO3sXOxt#a.-agreements-eligible-for-active-status) Exclusive Right-to-Sell, Exclusive Agency, and Limited-Service Listings.
[**Not accepted:**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/zwpkycNdgSBdOO3sXOxt#id-4.4-prohibited-agreements-nar-model-rules) Open Listings (BSCMLS Board has elected by local policy to exclude these), Net Listings (prohibited by NAR policy), and FSBOs.
[**Not accepted for Active status but eligible for COMP ONLY:**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/zwpkycNdgSBdOO3sXOxt#b.-agreements-eligible-for-comp-only-entry) Single-Party Listings and Off-MLS Office Exclusive listings, provided the Office Exclusive Disclosure was submitted on time and the seller authorized future entry.
📌 **Note:** A FSBO transaction has no listing agreement and is not eligible for entry in the MLS under any circumstance. *(*[***Rulebook Section 4.3***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/zwpkycNdgSBdOO3sXOxt#id-4.3-authorized-listing-agreements-nar-model-rules) *&* [***Section 4.4***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/zwpkycNdgSBdOO3sXOxt#id-4.4-prohibited-agreements-nar-model-rules)*)*
What are the minimum photo requirements, and what data errors get agents fined?
**Photo minimum:** All listings must have at least 3 property photos. Residential listings must include at least one exterior front photo.
**Common data violations that generate automatic fines (Category 1):**
* Placeholder entries (all zeros, "TBD," "On File") used to bypass required fields — narrow exception for Tax ID on newly subdivided parcels only.
* Agent or brokerage contact information in public-facing fields (Public Remarks, Directions, listing photos, or public-facing documents).
* Incorrect property type, class, or map pin placement.
* Expired Proposed Closing Date on an Under Contract or Contingent listing (must be updated within 3 business days of the date passing).
* Security codes, gate codes, lockbox combos, or alarm codes in any MLS field. *(*[***Rulebook Section 16.2 - Category 1***](/section-16-mls-policy-and-enforcement.md#category-1-data-integrity-and-content-standards)*)*
### Days on Market & Listing History
How do DOM and CDOM work, and when does CDOM reset?
[**DOM (Days on Market)**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/zwpkycNdgSBdOO3sXOxt#i.-days-on-market-dom) counts while a listing is actively on market with no accepted purchase agreement. It pauses (stops, but doesn't reset) when the listing goes Under Contract, Contingent, or Temporarily Off-Market. It stops entirely when a listing Expires, is Canceled/Terminated, Sells, or Leases.
[**CDOM (Cumulative Days on Market)**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/zwpkycNdgSBdOO3sXOxt#j.-cumulative-days-on-market-cdom) tracks the entire market history of the underlying parcel across relists, price changes, and agent changes. It continues accumulating unless the property has been completely off the market (not just off the MLS) for 180 consecutive days with no active listing agreement. Relist on day 181 = zero CDOM. Relist on day 179 = CDOM continues from where it left off.
📌 **Note:** Withdrawing and relisting a property to artificially reset DOM — without a legitimate reason — is a Category 1 violation (manipulation of listing history).
### Showings, Lockboxes & Property Access
How do I get a SentriLock account?
SentriLock participation is voluntary and may be enabled by sending an email to [**support@bscmls.com**](mailto:support@bscmls.com)**.** However, the BSCMLS does NOT handle the collection of fees for SentriLock. Payment is made through the SentriLock website or the mobile app. Fees are prorated by the quarter in which the Subscriber enrolls in SentriLock during the current annual billing cycle. The fee schedule shown is the current schedule as of the date of publication and may change. *(*[***Rulebook Section 3.5***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/0Lk7wLMdwviDJI22FV2G#id-3.5-sentrilock-subscription-fees)*)*
Can my unlicensed assistant hold showings, use the lockbox, or possess a house key?
**No, on all three!** Unlicensed assistants may not show properties to buyers, hold public open houses, use or possess client house keys for showings or buyer access, or use another Subscriber's credentials to access a lockbox. They are also ineligible for a SentriLock key.
**What they can do:**
* Enter and maintain listings, prepare marketing materials, run searches for their employer.
* Hold a property open for an MLS tour only — but only after the employer (Listing Agent) has personally escorted them inside, and the employer must also lock up afterward.
* Install a lockbox on a listed property, but only if the Listing Agent has pre-released the shackle for them through the SentriLock app.
Is a combination padlock an acceptable lockbox under BSCMLS rules?
Standard combination padlocks used as the primary means of access do not meet BSCMLS security standards because they lack access control and tracking ability — there's no record of who accessed the property or when.
**Approved security measures:** SentriLock electronic lockboxes, Supra lockboxes from an approved association system, permanently attached keyless door locks, keys held securely at the listing agent's office, and agent-accompanied showings.
If a seller prefers a non-listed device, the Listing Participant must obtain prior written approval from BSCMLS based on whether the device provides comparable security, access control, and auditability. *(*[***Rulebook Section 9.1.B & C***](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/oaAM6P6XP8jmZE6N2dMB#b.-approved-lockboxes-and-security-measures)*)*
### Violations, Fines & Appeals
How do fines work? Is there always a grace period before I'm charged?
It depends on the category. Here's the summary:
1. [**Category 1:**](/section-16-mls-policy-and-enforcement.md#category-1-data-integrity-and-content-standards) 3 business days to correct → $20 fine on Day 4 → suspension on Day 7.
1. Category 1 violations address the quality, consistency, and neutrality of the MLS database. These rules ensure that all listing data is accurate, complete, and free of unauthorized marketing or self-promotion.
2. [**Category 2:**](/section-16-mls-policy-and-enforcement.md#category-2-operational-and-administrative-compliance) 3 business days for open violations → $100 fine, doubling every 3 business days. Event violations (one-time occurrences): warning first, $100 second, doubling after that.
1. Category 2 violations are tracked on a rolling 12-month basis and include: (1) Correctable “Open” violations that remain unresolved until cured; and (2) Non-correctable “Event” violations that are complete upon occurrence.
3. [**Category 3:**](/section-16-mls-policy-and-enforcement.md#category-3-contracts-and-security-compliance) 3 business days → $250 fine on Day 4 → suspension on Day 7.
1. This category enforces fundamental security and legal requirements. Unlike Category 2, which tracks a 12-month history, Category 3 operates on a Repeating Compliance Cycle. Penalties in this category do not escalate (e.g., 1st vs. 2nd offense); instead, the enforcement cycle repeats until the specific violation is resolved.
4. [**Category 4:**](/section-16-mls-policy-and-enforcement.md#category-4-unauthorized-access) No grace period. Immediate $1,000 (1st), $3,000 (2nd), $5,000 (3rd), 90-day suspension thereafter.
1. The security of our database and the physical safety of homeowners depend on the restricted access of login and lockbox credentials. Sharing this information - regardless of the intent - is a violation of the Participant/Subscriber agreement and exposes the firm and the individual to significant liability.
5. [**Category 5:**](/section-16-mls-policy-and-enforcement.md#category-5-clear-cooperation-policy-ccp) Daily fines from the day after the missed corrective deadline (see Q9).
1. Category 5 enforces the Clear Cooperation Policy as defined in [**Section 6.6**](https://bscmls.gitbook.io/rulebook/section-6-multiple-listing-options-for-sellers-and-ccp-compliance-nar-policy-8.00#id-6.6-clear-cooperation-policy-ccp-violation-and-repercussions), which is the authoritative source for CCP definitions, triggers, and corrective procedures. Fines in this category are assessed when a Listing Agent fails to comply with the corrective action deadlines established in the [**Clear Cooperation Policy (“CCP”) Violation and Repercussions**](https://bscmls.gitbook.io/rulebook/section-6-multiple-listing-options-for-sellers-and-ccp-compliance-nar-policy-8.00#id-6.6-clear-cooperation-policy-ccp-violation-and-repercussions).
6. [**Category 6:**](/section-16-mls-policy-and-enforcement.md#category-6-regulatory-mandates-and-data-feed-misuse) No grace period. Immediate $250 (1st), $500 (2nd), $1,000 (3rd), 90-day suspension thereafter.
1. Category 6 enforces the mandatory practice changes resulting from national legal settlements, alongside the professional conduct standards required to maintain a respectful marketplace. These rules strictly govern the prohibition of compensation offers within the MLS, the requirement for written buyer agreements, and adherence to seller-defined showing protocols. Violations in this category jeopardize the legal compliance and professional reputation of the entire Service and potentially put the sellers safety at risk.
To view the types of violations included in each category above, refer to [**Section 16.2**](https://rulebook.bscmls.com/pages/lFLOsplLFKrR9CdeEU0f#id-16.2-violation-categories-and-fine-schedule)
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