--- title: "NorthstarMLS IDX website rules" description: "Review NorthstarMLS public listing display, consumer assent, privacy notices, source labels, and excluded statuses before accepting an IDX website build" canonical: "https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/northstarmls-idx-website-rules" --- ## Site navigation - [Scale With Search](https://scalewithsearch.com/) - Services - Services - [AI systems](https://scalewithsearch.com/ai-systems) - [Site build](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#site-build) - [Whole website fix](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#whole-website-fix) - [Content library with SEO](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#content-library) - [Working session](https://scalewithsearch.com/audit) - Start here - [Send your brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#send-your-brief) - [Example scope](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#review-the-example-scope) - [Prices and terms](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#prices-and-terms) - Industries - Real estate - [Real estate agents and teams](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate) - [Platforms, ownership, and IDX](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-website-platforms-ownership-idx) - [Search, content, and AI](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-search-content-ai) - [Inquiries, campaigns, and handoffs](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-website-inquiries-campaigns-handoffs) - [Buyer, seller, and local pages](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-buyer-seller-local-resources) - [Rules, privacy, and trust](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate/real-estate-website-rules-privacy-trust) - Browse by business - [Trades and home services](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-trades) - [Health, wellness, and animal care](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-practices) - [Law, finance, and IT](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-professional) - [Marketing and SEO agencies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-agencies) - [Shops and manufacturers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-manufacturing) - [Restaurants, shops, studios, and nonprofits](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/#group-local-services) - Chiropractic practices - [Chiropractic and wellness practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/chiropractic-and-wellness-practices) - [Chiropractic and physical therapy clinics](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/chiropractic-and-physical-therapy-clinics) - [All industries](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/) - Resources - Free tools - [AI readiness check](https://scalewithsearch.com/check) - [Free tools](https://scalewithsearch.com/tools/) - [Free Starter Kit](https://scalewithsearch.com/kit/business-memory-starter-kit.zip) - Guides - [AI-native library](https://scalewithsearch.com/ai-native) - [Industry intelligence](https://scalewithsearch.com/intelligence) - [Office job guides](https://scalewithsearch.com/guides/) - [Business memory](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/business-memory-for-ai-agents-guide) - [Agent governance](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/ai-agent-governance-guide-small-business) - [Migration and ownership](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/leaving-vendor-ai-memory-guide) - Articles - [All articles](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/) - [What changed](https://scalewithsearch.com/changes/) - About - Evidence - [Proof](https://scalewithsearch.com/proof) - Scale With Search - [About](https://scalewithsearch.com/about) - [How it works](https://scalewithsearch.com/how-it-works) # NorthstarMLS IDX website rules Use the current NorthstarMLS rules when briefing an IDX website. Its official product page calls IDX Broker Reciprocity. The rules effective July 1, 2026 organize public display requirements under limited electronic advertising, or LEA, alongside virtual brokerage. [NorthstarMLS IDX overview](https://northstarmls.com/mls-tools/idx/), [2026 rules, Part 5](https://northstarmls.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/NorthstarMLS-Rules-2026.pdf#page=19). Checked: 2026.10.23. Ask your provider to map the proposed display to the applicable sections. Keep a dated rule reference with the website brief. ## What should happen before a visitor sees MLS data? Section 5.8(j) requires affirmative consumer assent to the service's EULA once per viewing session, before any MLS data is viewed. The section also requires adoption of a revised EULA within thirty days after the service adopts it. [NorthstarMLS consumer-assent rule](https://northstarmls.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/NorthstarMLS-Rules-2026.pdf#page=25). Checked: 2026.10.23. Ask the provider for the current approved terms and its implementation explanation. Have the broker confirm any uncertainty with NorthstarMLS. Specify direct-entry pages in the proposed test. Include a property URL, saved search, and embedded homepage module. Request a demonstration of the first view and a later view in the same session. Keep the EULA review separate from marketing permission. Ask the responsible reviewer to approve any additional form language. ## Which identity and privacy details need review? Section 5.8 requires brokerage control, prominent brokerage identity and contact details, adjacent source identification, and a privacy policy explaining collection and use. Supplemental information must be visually separate and sourced. [NorthstarMLS platform requirements](https://northstarmls.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/NorthstarMLS-Rules-2026.pdf#page=23). Checked: 2026.10.23. Give the reviewer an annotated property layout and the proposed privacy notice. Identify each form and outside service in the implementation brief. Ask the provider to show which field supplies the source label. Keep its explanation separate from the website's own contact identity. Request a review of both in the final layout. ## Which records should a public-display test exclude? Section 5.11 excludes Incomplete, Withheld, Canceled, Expired, and TNAS records from LEA disclosure. It also requires a personal, noncommercial-use notice. [NorthstarMLS LEA requirements](https://northstarmls.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/NorthstarMLS-Rules-2026.pdf#page=26). Checked: 2026.10.23. Ask the provider to propose an authorized test for excluded records. Include the direct URL and cached promotional modules in the expected result. Keep the test list attached to the exact feed and website. Use the [seller suppression guide](/articles/seller-idx-opt-out-website-suppression) to prepare additional checks for approved seller restrictions. ## Who arranges the provider connection? NorthstarMLS says new data vendors must be set up through MLS Grid and that it reviews requests. Licenses are limited by the applicable agreements. [NorthstarMLS provider overview](https://northstarmls.com/mls-tools/idx/). Checked: 2026.10.23. Ask the provider to name the approved domain, broker, licensing stage, and maintenance owner. Keep any pending permission visible in the project record. Use the [MLS Grid website guide](/articles/mls-grid-agent-website-data-feed) for the broader onboarding questions. Request a dated status explanation when the connection remains unfinished. ## What evidence should the handoff include? Agree on the following proposed acceptance record: | Check | Evidence to retain | | --- | --- | | Rule edition | Provider mapping to the current NorthstarMLS requirements | | Initial access | Approved assent flow before the specified MLS displays | | Property page | Reviewed source, brokerage identity, and added-information layout | | Excluded record | Expected result on direct URLs and specified modules | | Terms update | Named owner and documented revision process | | Inquiry | Matching property question received at the agreed destination | Use contact details you control for the inquiry test. Retain the observed result and unresolved exceptions. Keep the provider's compliance review separate from the website delivery record. Bring that record and the affected URLs to [Scale With Search's work request](/work). Request the defined access-flow or listing-display correction in the written scope. [Real estate website guides](/for/real-estate). - [Seller IDX opt-out: brief the website suppression checks](/articles/seller-idx-opt-out-website-suppression) - [MLS Grid for your agent website: feed access, licensing, and handoff](/articles/mls-grid-agent-website-data-feed) - [Real estate CRM and website: map forms to contact records](/articles/real-estate-crm-and-website) ## Related: Real estate - [Seller IDX opt-out: brief the website suppression checks](/articles/seller-idx-opt-out-website-suppression) - [MLS Grid for your agent website: feed access, licensing, and handoff](/articles/mls-grid-agent-website-data-feed) - [Real estate CRM and website: map forms to contact records](/articles/real-estate-crm-and-website) ---- ```text .|########||. .|########||. .|########||. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. .#| .#. .#| .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. |#. .#. |#. .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| .||########||. .||########||. .||########||. 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