# Louisiana Agents: RS 37:1455(A)(35) Lists Misleading or Inaccurate Advertising Louisiana's statute lists "advertising that is misleading or inaccurate" as a cause for license censure, suspension, or revocation. LREC may levy fines or impose civil penalties up to $5,000, and its advertising schedule starts at $250. - State: Louisiana (LA) - Risk level: moderate - Last verified: 2026-10-11 - Confidence tier: verified_secondary_guidance — verified against secondary public guidance (MLS advisory, regulator memo, or REALTOR association PDF) - Canonical page: https://relto.app/mls-compliance/louisiana ## Summary Louisiana R.S. 37:1455(A)(35) lists "using advertising that is misleading or inaccurate" among the causes for LREC to censure, suspend, or revoke a license, and R.S. 37:1455(A) lets LREC levy fines or impose civil penalties not to exceed $5,000. LREC's published schedule for advertising violations under LAC 46:LXVII Chapter 25 is $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second, and $1,500 for a third. Whether a digitally staged photo is "misleading or inaccurate" is an interpretation; the statute does not mention staging. E&O insurance is mandatory for active Louisiana licensees (R.S. 37:1466). LREC is amending its Chapter 25 advertising rules in 2026 rulemaking, so section numbers and the schedule label may change. ROAM MLS is a multi-association MLS (ROAM Rules and Regulations v2.2.2, revised 5/11/2026) that includes the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS; secondary sources report that GSREIN (New Orleans) is a founding member. Confirm with ROAM or GSREIN which rulebook governs your listing. ## Virtual staging laws in Louisiana ### La. R.S. 37:1455(A)(35) — Misleading or inaccurate advertising Louisiana Revised Statute 37:1455 lists causes for censure, suspension, or revocation of a real-estate license. Subsection (A)(35) lists "using advertising that is misleading or inaccurate." The Louisiana Real Estate Commission may levy fines or impose civil penalties not to exceed $5,000, in addition to censure, suspension, or revocation. LREC's fine schedule for advertising violations is $250, $500, and $1,500 for the first, second, and third violation, and fines are levied against both the agent and the sponsoring broker. ### LREC mandatory E&O insurance R.S. 37:1466 requires all active licensees to carry errors and omissions insurance. Coverage for any claim depends on the policy terms, so check with your carrier. ### Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act (La. R.S. 51:1401 et seq.) Prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of trade or commerce. R.S. 51:1409 lets a person who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or movable property sue individually for actual damages. If the practice was knowingly used after the attorney general put the defendant on notice, the court shall award three times the actual damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs are awarded when damages are awarded. Whether a home purchase fits "movable property" was not reviewed. ## What Louisiana MLS boards require for virtual staging ### GSREIN - Disclosure rule: GSREIN (NOMAR, New Orleans) is reported as a founding member of ROAM; its own photo rules were not reviewed. Confirm photo and virtual-staging rules with GSREIN or ROAM. - Permitted: Not confirmed. - Prohibited: Not confirmed. - Penalty: Not confirmed. ### ROAM MLS (multi-association MLS including the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS) - Disclosure rule: The ROAM MLS Rules and Regulations (version 2.2.2, revised 5/11/2026) contain no virtual-staging rule. They require that all photos, sketches, renderings, or depictions reflect an accurate portrayal of the property, so disclose per NAR Article 12. Photos must be of the listed property only and may not carry branding or additional information or imagery (staff may remove them); confirm with ROAM whether a "virtually staged" label is acceptable. - Permitted: Not addressed in the published rulebook. - Prohibited: Photos, renderings, or depictions that do not reflect an accurate portrayal of the property. - Penalty: Fines defined in the ROAM Violations and Fine Categories, not to exceed $15,000. ## What happens if you skip disclosure in Louisiana - LREC Fine (regulatory): La. R.S. 37:1455(A) allows the Louisiana Real Estate Commission to levy fines or impose civil penalties not to exceed $5,000; its advertising schedule is $250, $500, and $1,500 for the first three violations - License Discipline (regulatory): LREC can censure, suspend, or revoke a license for violations of RS 37:1455 prohibited acts - Unfair Trade Practices Act (civil): Louisiana LUTPA (R.S. 51:1409): actual damages for an ascertainable loss of money or movable property; treble damages if knowingly used after attorney general notice; attorney fees and costs when damages are awarded ## What you need to know - Louisiana RS 37:1455(A)(35) lists "advertising that is misleading or inaccurate" as a cause for license discipline - LREC can levy fines or impose civil penalties not to exceed $5,000, and its advertising schedule is $250 / $500 / $1,500 - E&O insurance is mandatory for active licensees under R.S. 37:1466 - ROAM MLS is a multi-association MLS that includes the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS; GSREIN (New Orleans) is reported as a founding member, so confirm which rulebook governs your listing ## How to disclose properly - Best practice, not a Louisiana rule: disclose digital alteration on or adjacent to every staged listing image - Best practice: keep original unaltered images available for review - Best practice: apply disclosure to every marketing channel - Confirm with your E&O carrier how your policy treats digitally altered listing imagery ## Broker warning Louisiana lists misleading or inaccurate advertising as a cause for discipline, and LREC fines advertising violations against both the agent and the sponsoring broker. Because E&O is mandatory, confirm with your carrier how your policy treats digitally altered listing imagery. ## Questions Louisiana agents ask about virtual staging ### Does Louisiana have a virtual-staging-specific law? No dedicated virtual-staging statute. La. R.S. 37:1455(A)(35) lists "using advertising that is misleading or inaccurate" as a cause for discipline, but the statute does not mention staging, so whether an edit is misleading is an interpretation. LREC may levy fines or impose civil penalties not to exceed $5,000, and its advertising schedule is $250 for a first violation. ### Does Louisiana require E&O insurance? Yes. R.S. 37:1466 requires all active licensees to carry errors and omissions insurance. What a policy covers depends on its terms, so ask your carrier how it treats digitally altered listing imagery. ### Which MLSs serve Louisiana? ROAM MLS is a multi-association MLS that includes the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS, and secondary sources report that GSREIN (New Orleans) is a founding member; GSREIN's own photo rules were not reviewed. The ROAM rules require accurate photos, limit photos to the listed property, and contain no staging-specific rule. Confirm with ROAM or GSREIN which rulebook governs your listing. ## Sources - Primary source: https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=93294 - La. R.S. 37:1455 — Causes for censure, suspension, or revocation (Louisiana Legislature): https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=93294 - ROAM MLS Rules and Regulations (version 2.2.2, revised 5/11/2026): https://roammls.org/rules - La. R.S. 37:1455 — Causes for censure, suspension, or revocation (LREC license law): https://lrec.gov/laws-and-rules/license-law - Louisiana Real Estate Commission — Fine and Citation Schedule: https://lrec.gov/enforcement/fine-citation-schedule - Louisiana Real Estate Commission — Advertising Guidelines: https://lrec.gov/enforcement/current-issues/ - Louisiana Real Estate Commission — Rules and Regulations: https://lrec.gov/laws-and-rules/rules-and-regulations ## Not legal advice This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. RELTO is a virtual-staging technology provider, not a law firm. Statutes, MLS rules, and enforcement practices change. This entry is verified against secondary public guidance (MLS advisory, regulator memo, or REALTOR association PDF). Before you act, confirm the current rule with the statute or MLS rulebook itself, your broker of record, and a licensed Louisiana real-estate attorney.