--- title: "South Dakota real estate website and advertising rules" description: "Check South Dakota firm identification, licensee disclosure, team advertising, broker oversight, social media, and listing displays against primary…" canonical: "https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/website-rules-south-dakota" --- ## Site navigation - [Scale With Search](https://scalewithsearch.com/) - Real estate - Real estate - [Real estate](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate) - Work - Start here - [Send your brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#send-your-brief) - [Prepare your six-question brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#prepare-your-six-question-brief) - Build - [Site build, content library with SEO, signal desk](https://scalewithsearch.com/work) - For your business - Trades and home services - [Auto body and collision shops](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/auto-body-and-collision-shops) - [Foundation and home repair contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/foundation-and-home-repair) - [Garage door and fencing contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/garage-door-and-fencing-contractors) - [HVAC contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/hvac-contractors) - [Janitorial and commercial cleaning companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/janitorial-and-commercial-cleaning) - [Locksmiths](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/locksmiths) - [Moving companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/moving-companies) - [Pest control companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/pest-control-companies) - [Plumbing and electrical contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/plumbing-and-electrical-contractors) - [Restoration and water or fire damage companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/restoration-and-water-fire-damage) - [Roofing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/roofing-companies) - [Towing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/towing-companies) - [Tree services and landscaping companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/tree-services-and-landscaping) - [Solar installers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/solar-installation) - [General contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/general-contractors-and-construction) - [Paving, concrete, and flooring contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/paving) - Practices and professional services - [Bookkeeping and tax practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/bookkeeping-and-tax-practices) - [Dental practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/dental-practices) - [Family and criminal defense law firms](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/family-and-criminal-defense-law-firms) - [Med spas and aesthetics practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/med-spas-and-aesthetics) - [Personal injury law firms](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/personal-injury-law-firms) - [Veterinary clinics](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/veterinary-clinics) - [Gyms and fitness studios](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/fitness) - [Therapy and outpatient health practices](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/therapy-and-outpatient-health) - [Medical billing companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/medical-billing) - [Insurance agencies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/insurance-agencies) - [Financial advisors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/financial-advisors) - [Property management companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/property-management) - [Recruiting and staffing agencies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/recruiting-and-staffing) - [Architects and interior designers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/architects-and-interior-designers) - [Logistics and supply chain companies](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/logistics-and-supply-chain) - Agencies, MSPs, and manufacturing - [IT and managed service providers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/it-and-managed-service-providers) - [Machine shops and precision manufacturers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/machine-shops-and-precision-manufacturing) - [Marketing agencies and freelancers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/marketing-agencies-and-freelancers) - [SEO agencies and consultants](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/seo-agencies-and-consultants) - [Small manufacturers and fabricators](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/small-manufacturers-and-fabricators) - Restaurants, shops, studios, and nonprofits - [Restaurants and hospitality businesses](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/restaurants-and-hospitality) - [Retail stores and ecommerce sellers](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/retail-and-ecommerce) - [Photographers, event planners, and travel agents](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/photographers) - [Churches and nonprofits](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/churches-and-nonprofits) - [All industries](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/) - Learn - For your office - [Office job guides](https://scalewithsearch.com/guides/) - [Browser calculators](https://scalewithsearch.com/tools/) - Start here - [How it works](https://scalewithsearch.com/how-it-works) - [Free Starter Kit](https://scalewithsearch.com/kit/business-memory-starter-kit.zip) - [Synthetic specimen](https://scalewithsearch.com/specimen/working-session-specimen.zip) - Guides - [The Complete Guide to Business Memory for AI Agents](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/business-memory-for-ai-agents-guide) - [The Complete Small-Business Guide to AI Agent Governance](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/ai-agent-governance-guide-small-business) - [The Complete Guide to Leaving Vendor AI Memory](https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/leaving-vendor-ai-memory-guide) - Articles by cluster - [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) - For machines - [llms.txt](https://scalewithsearch.com/llms.txt) - [llms-full.txt](https://scalewithsearch.com/llms-full.txt) - [Machine view](https://scalewithsearch.com/?view=machine) - Company - Evidence - [Proof](https://scalewithsearch.com/proof) - Company - [About](https://scalewithsearch.com/about) # South Dakota real estate website rules: firm names, teams, and online ads Your South Dakota website advertising must clearly identify your affiliated firm. Ads offering licensed services must clearly disclose that a licensee offers them. Team ads must identify the brokerage and any nonlicensed people shown. They cannot imply that the team offers brokerage services independently. [SDCL 36-21A-72(1)–(3)](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. Start with your homepage, a landing page, and a property page. Check each on a phone. Use the requirements below to inspect the names, service descriptions, and listing content visitors see. ## Treat your website as advertising when it promotes licensed services South Dakota defines advertising broadly: > an advertisement or advertising is any attempt, by publication or broadcast, whether oral, written or otherwise, to induce a person to use the services of a licensed real estate broker, real estate salesman or real estate firm. Source: [SDCL 36-21A-2](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. That definition covers a website or online ad that asks people to use your real estate services. An agent-owned domain does not remove the firm's identification requirement. ## Clearly identify your firm and licensed services The advertising statute requires: > Each advertisement shall clearly state the name of the firm with which an individual licensee is associated; It also requires: > Each advertisement in which a licensee attempts to secure real estate listings or offers to purchase, sell or lease property, or perform any other act for which a license is required under this chapter, shall clearly disclose that the advertised acts or services are being offered by a licensee; Source: [SDCL 36-21A-72(1), (3)](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. A personal brand or team logo alone does not supply the firm name. Review both the firm identification and the description of your licensed role. These provisions require clarity. They do not prescribe a general font-size ratio, pixel size, or fixed header position. Do not import another state's size rule. [SDCL 36-21A-72](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. As a practical layout choice, put readable firm identification in a shared header or another visible part of each advertising page. Check the actual phone layout. The statutory test remains whether each advertisement clearly states the firm name. ## Keep team branding connected to the brokerage South Dakota's team-advertising requirement states: > Each advertisement of a real estate team shall clearly state the name of the brokerage company the team is affiliated with, shall clearly identify the nonlicensed individuals included in the advertisement, and may not contain language that would lead the public to believe that the team is offering real estate brokerage services independent of the real estate broker; Source: [SDCL 36-21A-72(2)](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. Check the team name, logo, headline, and staff descriptions together. A staff photograph can include nonlicensed people, but the advertisement must clearly identify them as nonlicensed. The cited team-advertising provision does not prescribe a mandatory “team” or “group” suffix or a list of prohibited naming words. It controls the impression of independent brokerage services. Additional brokerage naming policies are UNRESOLVED here. Confirm with your broker. Team administration also has a record requirement: > A team leader shall provide a current list of all licensed team members, and any changes to the list of licensed team members, to the responsible broker within 72 hours of making the change. Source: [ARSD 20:69:18:01](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Rules/Rule/20%3A69.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. The rule also requires the responsible broker to maintain a current record for Commission access. It does not require publishing that record on your website. Keep your public team roster consistent with current affiliations. ## Use the responsible broker's advertising review process The statute places responsibility with the broker: > A responsible broker is responsible for the real estate activities conducted by affiliated licensees, whether as employees or independent contractors. Source: [SDCL 36-21A-79](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. This provision establishes broker responsibility. It does not specify a written approval form for each advertisement. Confirm your brokerage's review process with your broker before changing website advertising. For work prepared by unlicensed assistants, the Commission's published guidance includes: > Write ads for approval of licensee and supervising broker, and place classified advertising. Source: [South Dakota Real Estate Commission, *Unlicensed Assistants*, permitted activities](https://dlr.sd.gov/realestate/unlicensed_assistants.aspx). Read: 2026.10.10. That guidance concerns the assistant's permitted work. It does not establish a universal written authorization document for every agent website. ## Apply the Commission-published internet guidance to pages and social media The Commission links to ARELLO's 2009 *Internet Best Practices Recommended Guidelines*. This is published guidance, not a separate South Dakota statute. Its advertising section says: > The name of the brokerage must appear on all advertisements The guide describes disclosure of licensed names, brokerage affiliation, office city, and licensed jurisdictions. It recommends broker review before activation: > approve all websites Its social-networking discussion addresses identified profiles and homepages. Its historical Twitter example does not require disclosure in every tweet. Do not treat that example as a blanket exemption for current advertising posts. [Commission-published internet guidelines, pages 2–3 and 5–7](https://dlr.sd.gov/realestate/publications/internet_guidelines.pdf). Read: 2026.10.10. Apply the statute's advertisement test to the content you publish. Check profiles, posts, images, videos, and linked landing pages separately. ## Check listing permission, accuracy, and IDX identification The statute identifies this unprofessional conduct: > Offering real property for sale or lease without the knowledge and prior written consent of the owner or the owner's authorized agent or on any terms other than those authorized by the owner or the owner's authorized agent; Source: [SDCL 36-21A-71(9)](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. The internet guide recommends permission for other licensees' listings, current property details and status, and visible update dates. For outside listing databases, it says: > The name of the listing brokerage cannot be removed. Source: [Commission-published internet guidelines, pages 4–5](https://dlr.sd.gov/realestate/publications/internet_guidelines.pdf). Read: 2026.10.10. Inspect IDX property pages and embedded results as listing advertisements. The affiliated-firm requirement still applies. A statewide IDX credit-line format or refresh interval was not established by the reviewed sources. Feed-specific attribution, permission, and display terms are UNRESOLVED here. Confirm with your broker. ## State selling prices accurately The advertising statute also prohibits this announcement: > No licensee may make any announcement in any media regarding the sale of property which gives any impression that the property sold for a price other than the actual selling price. Source: [SDCL 36-21A-72(4)](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. Apply this requirement to sold-property pages, graphics, and social announcements. Check the source of the price before posting it. ## Separate licensee identification from a license number Section 36-21A-72 requires the firm name and disclosure that licensed services are offered by a licensee. It does not specify an individual license number as an advertising field. A blanket agent-website license-number requirement was not established by the reviewed advertising provisions. [SDCL 36-21A-72](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. A number alone does not replace the required firm identification. Additional brokerage or listing-feed identifier requirements are UNRESOLVED here. Confirm with your broker. ## Confirm any required fair housing logo or statement South Dakota expressly includes the following within unprofessional conduct: > Any violation of federal or state fair housing requirements; Source: [SDCL 36-21A-71(10)](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. That provision requires compliance with applicable fair housing requirements. It does not itself prescribe a universal Equal Housing Opportunity logo or statement for every agent website. [SDCL 36-21A-71(10), 36-21A-72](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. Logo or statement requirements for a particular property, housing program, or IDX display are UNRESOLVED in this review. Confirm with your broker. Record the applicable source and placement before changing the page. ## Check the narrow exception for property you own The advertising statute allows an individual-name advertisement for your own property, subject to this disclosure: > The advertisement shall disclose that the owner of the property being sold or leased is a licensee. Source: [SDCL 36-21A-72, final paragraph](https://sdlegislature.gov/api/Statutes/36-21A.html?all=true). Read: 2026.10.10. The exception concerns a licensee's own property. It does not excuse firm identification across the website's general service advertising. ## Use this short website checklist - Check the homepage, landing pages, property pages, and embedded search results on a computer and phone. - Clearly identify your affiliated firm in each advertisement. - Clearly disclose that a licensee offers the advertised licensed services. - Keep team branding tied to the brokerage and identify nonlicensed people shown in team ads. - Keep the responsible broker's licensed-team roster current under the 72-hour change rule. - Follow your broker's website and advertising review process. - Check social profiles and individual advertising content separately. - Verify listing permission, property status, listing-brokerage identification, and announced selling prices. - Confirm additional license-number, IDX, and fair housing display requirements with your broker. Save the page address, a screenshot, and the exact change you need. Bring that list to the [$2,000 whole website fix for real estate agents](/for/real-estate). ## Related: Real estate - [Check your real estate website in 30 minutes](/articles/real-estate-website-audit) - [Test the seller inquiry path on your real estate website](/articles/seller-inquiry-path-agent-website) - [Own your real estate website: domain, hosting, editing, and leads](/articles/own-your-site) ---- ```text .|########||. .|########||. .|########||. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. .#| .#. .#| .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. |#. .#. |#. .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| .||########||. .||########||. .||########||. Scale With Search 2026 [scalewithsearch.com](https://scalewithsearch.com) ```