# Virginia Agents: You Might Be on Two Different Boards — Know Both Sets of Rules CVR MLS covers Central Virginia, and its October 2026 rules (Rule 5.8.2, effective date unconfirmed) call for an on-photo "VIRTUALLY STAGED" label plus an unaltered photo; Bright MLS covers Northern Virginia and bars added text and graphics on photos. If you list across regions, confirm the current rules for both. - State: Virginia (VA) - Risk level: moderate - Last verified: 2026-10-11 - Confidence tier: verified_public_rulebook — verified against the board or statute’s own public rulebook - Canonical page: https://relto.app/mls-compliance/virginia ## Summary Virginia has no virtual-staging-specific statute, but 18VAC135-20-190 (Advertising by licensees) is a detailed advertising rule. All advertising must be under the direct supervision of the principal or supervising broker, in the name of the firm, with the firm's licensed name clearly and legibly displayed on all advertising. The revision of 18VAC135-20-190 effective April 1, 2026 requires advertising to include the firm's name and the office contact information. The state is served by two distinct MLSs — CVR MLS (Richmond/Central Virginia) and Bright MLS (Northern Virginia) — each applying its own disclosure standard. CVR MLS Rule 5.8.2 (October 2026 Rules and Regulations) requires an on-photo "VIRTUALLY STAGED" label, a REMARKS disclosure and an unaltered photo of substantially the same view; its effective date is unconfirmed, so check CVR's rules page. Bright MLS bars added or superimposed text and graphics on listing photos. ## Virtual staging laws in Virginia ### Virginia Consumer Protection Act (Va. Code § 59.1-196 et seq.) Prohibits deceptive trade practices. A consumer may recover actual damages or $500, whichever is greater (Va. Code § 59.1-204); the court may award reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. ### Virginia Real Estate License Law Not verified here: DPOR license discipline for misrepresentation or failure to disclose material facts. Confirm with the Virginia Real Estate Board. ## What Virginia MLS boards require for virtual staging ### CVR MLS (Central Virginia) - Disclosure rule: CVR MLS Rule 5.8.2 (October 2026 Rules and Regulations): any virtually staged photograph must be clearly and conspicuously labeled "VIRTUALLY STAGED" (or similar language) on the photograph, disclosed in the REMARKS field, and accompanied by an unaltered photograph of substantially the same view. The effective date of this wording is unconfirmed; check CVR's rules page. - Permitted: Virtual staging that adds, removes or replaces furniture, furnishings, décor or other non-permanent personal property, and physically possible changes to landscaping, finishes or fixtures within the owner's control, each labeled and paired with an unaltered photo (Rule 5.8.2). - Prohibited: Altered photos that conceal a material defect, misrepresent dimensions, depict a physically impossible condition, or add, remove or change elements outside the owner's control, including off-site structures or actual views (Rule 5.8.2). - Penalty: CVR MLS Fine Chart (Appendix B, Rule 5.8): $150 for failure to properly disclose virtual staging, photo enhancement or other photo manipulation. ### Bright MLS (100,000+ subscribers) - Disclosure rule: Bright MLS rules require that when a subscriber virtually stages an image, the Private and Public Remarks must state that the image is virtually staged or digitally modified (Appendix D § 8). The rules do not require an unedited original photo. Appendix C § 3.A bars readable text, graphics, and any text or graphics added or superimposed on listing photos, so an on-image stamp is likely non-conforming for Bright listings. - Permitted: Adding digital furniture, mirrors, artwork, plants, or similar items to an empty room, or removing existing furniture and replacing it with digital furniture (Appendix C § 4.B.i). Virtually staged photos or renderings of To-Be-Built or Under Construction properties, disclosed in the remarks or in the photos (Appendix C § 4.B.ii). - Prohibited: Adding or removing visual elements not within the owner's control — for example, a view that is not physically possible from the location, or removing power lines, water towers, or nearby roads (Appendix C § 4.A). Listing photos may not show any identifiable person, including computer-generated ones, and branded photos are barred (Appendix C § 3.A, Rule 1.7). - Penalty: Bright fine schedule (Appendix I): a Public Remarks violation (Appendix D items 1-9) is $250 with no warning; Required Disclosures Missing is $250 with two calendar days to correct; branded media is $250 with no warning. The virtual staging remark is an Appendix D item, so a missing remark most plausibly falls under the no-warning Public Remarks line, but Bright has no fine line specific to virtual staging and this mapping is unconfirmed. Repeat offenses draw the same fine again, and Bright may remove non-conforming images. ## What happens if you skip disclosure in Virginia - MLS Enforcement (mls): CVR MLS fines undisclosed virtual staging $150 (Fine Chart); Bright MLS fines are $250 per Appendix I - License Discipline (regulatory): Real Estate Board discipline (not verified here; confirm with DPOR) - VCPA (civil): VCPA: actual damages or $500, whichever is greater; attorney fees and costs may be awarded (Va. Code § 59.1-204) ## What you need to know - CVR MLS serves the Richmond metro area - Bright MLS covers 25 Virginia counties and cities: Northern Virginia, plus areas reaching Fredericksburg and the northern Shenandoah Valley - Virginia agents may need to comply with rules from multiple MLS systems - Virginia CPA lets a consumer recover actual damages (minimum $500), and the court may award attorney fees ## How to disclose properly - CVR MLS Rule 5.8.2 (October 2026 rules; effective date unconfirmed): "VIRTUALLY STAGED" label on the photo, REMARKS disclosure, and an unaltered photo of substantially the same view - Bright MLS Appendix D item 8: state in Private and Public Remarks that the image is virtually staged or digitally modified - Disclosure per NAR Articles 2 and 12 / SOP 12-10 ## Broker warning If your agents list in both Central and Northern Virginia, they're on two different boards. CVR MLS's October 2026 rules (effective date unconfirmed) call for an on-photo label and a paired unaltered photo, while Bright MLS bars added text and graphics on photos, so one watermarked image may not satisfy both. Do not assume a single image works for both boards; have your compliance lead or counsel review before publishing to both. ## Questions Virginia agents ask about virtual staging ### Which MLS systems cover Virginia? Central Virginia is served by CVR MLS (Richmond area). Northern Virginia falls under Bright MLS (100,000+ subscribers across the Mid-Atlantic). Some agents list in both systems. ### How does RELTO help Virginia agents? The two MLSs ask for different things. For Bright MLS listings, state in the Private and Public Remarks that the image is virtually staged or digitally modified; Bright does not require a paired original, and it bars branded photos and added text or graphics on photos. For CVR MLS, label each staged photo "VIRTUALLY STAGED", disclose it in REMARKS, and include an unaltered photo of substantially the same view (Rule 5.8.2). RELTO’s MLS compliance pages give disclosure wording you can copy. ## Sources - Primary source: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency135/chapter20/section190/ - 18VAC135-20-190 — Advertising by licensees (Virginia Law): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency135/chapter20/section190/ - Virginia Real Estate Board — Licensing Regulations (chapter index): https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency135/chapter20/ - Virginia REALTORS — New Real Estate Board Regulations Effective April 1, 2026: https://rarealtors.com/vrebregulationsupdate/ - CVR MLS — Rules and Regulations (October 2026), Rule 5.8.2 and Fine Chart: https://resourcecenter.cvrmls.com/wp-content/uploads/CVR-MLS-Rules-and-Regs-10.1.2026-Final.pdf - Bright MLS — Rules Governing Use of Bright’s Services (effective July 22, 2026): https://www.brightmls.com/rules ## 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 the board or statute’s own public rulebook. Before you act, confirm the current rule with the statute or MLS rulebook itself, your broker of record, and a licensed Virginia real-estate attorney.