BC Ad Compliance Checker
Check your real estate marketing against BCFSA, CREA, and MLS rules — graded by the kind of ad it is, because the rules differ for a bio, a post, a flyer, and an MLS listing description. Paste the text or upload a screenshot. Free, no sign-up.
BCFSA requires your full registered brokerage name — a short form (e.g. “Oakwyn” for “Oakwyn Realty Ltd.”) doesn’t satisfy the rule. Look yours up on BCFSA
Instant grade runs on your device. A deeper AI review is optional.
Flags for review — not legal advice. This tool checks your ad against common issues drawn from public BCFSA and CREA guidance, applied to the ad type you selected. It is not a BCFSA ruling, it cannot verify whether a claim is true or judge full design and context, and passing it does not certify an ad as compliant. When in doubt, ask your managing broker.
Sources: BCFSA advertising guidelines · BCFSA social media guidelines · CREA REALTOR® trademark
BC agents are being fined for everyday marketing
Advertising compliance in BC is not theoretical. In 2025, BCFSA publicly penalized licensees thousands of dollars each over Instagram and Facebook marketing — unqualified “top agent” claims and social profiles missing the brokerage name. One licensee paid extra for taking too long to fix it. The rules apply to every ad you run: posts, bios, flyers, bus benches, and your website.
What the checker looks for
The checker scans your text against the advertising issues that actually come up in BC: brokerage-name presence and prominence (footer-only doesn’t cut it), unqualified award and ranking claims (“#1 agent”, “top 1%”, “award-winning” with no visible qualification), REALTOR® trademark usage (all caps, with the ®), and fair-housing phrasing that targets people instead of describing the property. Enter your team name and it’s checked against BCFSA team-naming rules too (“Realty” must be followed by “Team” or “Group”).
Each flag comes with a suggested fix, and the overall result is graded A through F so you can see at a glance how an ad stacks up. Paste the copy, or upload a screenshot — the easiest way to check an Instagram post — and AI reads the text and judges whether your brokerage name is prominent enough.
Private by design — no account, no email
Your marketing is your business, and there is no account, email, or sign-up involved. When you paste text, the check runs entirely in your browser and nothing is uploaded. When you upload an image, it is sent to our AI so the text can be read from it — used only to produce your grade, and not stored.
Flags for review — not legal advice
The checker is a fast first pass drawn from public BCFSA and CREA guidance, not a compliance ruling. It can’t see your images, layout, or context, and it can’t verify whether a claim is true. Treat every flag as something to review with your managing broker — and when in doubt, ask before you post.
Frequently asked questions
Can BCFSA really fine me for an Instagram post?+
Yes. In April 2025 BCFSA penalized four licensees between $4,000 and $6,250 each for advertising violations on Instagram and Facebook — including unqualified "top agent" claims and profiles missing the brokerage name. BCFSA’s administrative penalty authority goes up to $100,000 per contravention.
What does "prominently displayed" mean for my brokerage name?+
BCFSA requires the name of your brokerage to be prominently displayed in all real estate advertising — and its guidance explicitly says a small-type mention at the bottom of an ad is not sufficient. The brokerage name should be clearly visible, not buried in a footer.
What are the rules for real estate team names in BC?+
Team names must be approved by BCFSA. If a team name includes the word "Realty", BCFSA requires it to be immediately followed by "Team" or "Group" so the public doesn’t mistake the team for a brokerage.
How am I supposed to write REALTOR® correctly?+
REALTOR® is a trademark of CREA that identifies members. It should appear in all capital letters with the registered trademark symbol — REALTOR® or REALTORS®. Lowercase or unmarked usage is a trademark misuse that CREA can require you to correct.
What fair-housing language should I avoid in listing ads?+
Describe the property, not the intended occupant. Phrases like "perfect for families", "ideal for retirees", or references to ethnicity or religious landmarks can imply a preference for (or exclusion of) protected groups. Attribute language — "three bedrooms plus a flex room", "single-level layout" — says the same thing safely.
Is this tool legal advice?+
No. The checker flags common issues for your review against public BCFSA and CREA guidance. It is not legal advice, not a BCFSA ruling, and it cannot verify claims, images, or context. Always confirm with your managing broker or a lawyer licensed in British Columbia.
Does it matter what kind of ad I check?+
Yes — a lot. BCFSA rules apply differently by medium. On social media, BCFSA only requires your brokerage name on your profile/bio, not on every post — so a brokerage @tag in a bio is fine. On a printed flyer, the brokerage name must be prominently displayed and small footer type is not sufficient. The checker asks (or auto-detects) the ad type first and applies that medium’s rules, so it won’t flag something that’s perfectly normal for where it runs.
Can I check my MLS listing description (Public Remarks)?+
Yes. Choose "MLS listing description (Public Remarks)" as the ad type. On top of the fair-housing and claim checks, it flags the classic Public Remarks bans: phone numbers, email addresses, links, "open house" mentions, lockbox notes, occupancy status, and agent or brokerage self-promotion — the MLS displays your brokerage automatically, so it doesn’t belong in the remarks.
Can I check an image, screenshot, or PDF of my ad?+
Yes. Switch to "Upload image / PDF" and add a screenshot of your Instagram post, a printed flyer, a feature sheet PDF, or any marketing graphic. AI reads the text out of it and checks how prominently your brokerage name is shown, then grades it with the same rules. For an Instagram post, screenshot it; for a flyer, upload the PDF.
Does my ad get uploaded anywhere?+
When you paste text, no — that check runs entirely in your browser and nothing is uploaded. When you upload an image, it is sent to our AI so the text can be read from it; the image is used only to produce your grade and is not stored.
Is the BC Ad Compliance Checker really free?+
Yes — completely free, no sign-up and no email required. Paste your ad, get your grade.