AB 723 Explained: The Complete Compliance Checklist for Agents
AB 723 turned virtual staging disclosure from a best practice into California law on January 1, 2026. This page is the practical version: a step-by-step checklist you can apply to every listing that uses virtually staged or digitally altered photos.
The Law
- Name:
- Assembly Bill 723 (AB 723)
- Citation:
- Cal. Business & Professions Code § 10140.8 (as amended)
- Effective:
- January 1, 2026
- AB 723 requires that when listing photos have been digitally altered (including AI virtual staging, object removal, or other edits that change how the property appears), the marketing must clearly and conspicuously disclose the alteration, and the unaltered original images must be made reasonably accessible — for example via a link or QR code in the listing.
Requirements & Checklist
- ✓Step 1 — Label every altered photo: add a visible "Virtually Staged" mark on the image itself (StagePro applies this automatically at generation time).
- ✓Step 2 — Repeat the disclosure in the photo caption and the listing remarks.
- ✓Step 3 — Publish the originals: create a public page showing the unaltered photos and link it from the listing (StagePro generates this page with one click).
- ✓Step 4 — Add the QR code to print materials: flyers and open-house sheets that use staged photos should carry the QR code linking to the originals.
- ✓Step 5 — Export pairs for MLS upload: upload the original photo immediately before its staged version so buyers can compare (use StagePro's paired MLS export).
- ✓Step 6 — Never alter property condition: no defect removal, no renovation edits without explicit "concept only" framing.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Non-compliance can expose licensees to discipline by the California Department of Real Estate under the Business and Professions Code (citations, fines, license suspension or revocation in serious cases), MLS sanctions, and civil liability to buyers who relied on deceptive images.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a caption-only disclosure enough under AB 723?
The statute requires clear and conspicuous disclosure. A caption may technically qualify, but captions are stripped by many portals, so an on-image label plus caption plus listing-remarks disclosure is the defensible approach.
How can I automate AB 723 compliance?
StagePro automates all three pillars: an automatic "Virtually Staged" label on generated images, a one-click public page showing your original photos with a QR code, and a paired original+staged ZIP export for MLS upload.
Does AB 723 apply outside California?
No, but MLS rules and the NAR Code of Ethics apply everywhere, and other states are expected to adopt similar statutes. Following AB 723-style practice nationwide is the safe play.
Sources
Stay compliant automatically
StagePro adds "Virtually Staged" labels to every image, generates a public disclosure page with your original photos and a QR code, and exports paired original+staged photos for MLS upload — AB 723 compliance built in.
Stage photos compliantly