--- title: "West Virginia real estate website rules" description: "Check West Virginia's website and advertising rules for broker disclosure, name size, license numbers, teams, social media, IDX, and fair housing." canonical: "https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/website-rules-west-virginia" --- ## 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) - 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The company name, broker's name, and term Broker must be at least half the size of the agent or team names. The required information belongs on the homepage or first screen the viewer sees. [W. Va. C.S.R. §§ 174-1-17.1 and 17.4](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=14), read 2026.10.10. The Secretary of State lists Series 1, effective April 7, 2026, as active. The Commission's current law page links to that same filing. Older law books can contain different advertising wording. [Secretary of State, 174-01 rule versions](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/rule.aspx?rule=174-01) and [WV Real Estate Commission, Law](https://rec.wv.gov/law), read 2026.10.10. ## Display the company and responsible broker together Section 17.1 requires each property or specific-service advertisement to include "the company name, the name of the responsible broker and the term “Broker,” the physical address of a licensed office location, and a phone number." The company name alone does not supply the responsible broker's identity. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17.1](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=14), read 2026.10.10. The same subsection requires the company name, responsible broker's name, and term Broker to be displayed "no less than half the size" of associate broker, salesperson, or team names. Compare each required name and title with the names used in your design. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17.1](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=14), read 2026.10.10. For advertising unrelated to a specific property or service, section 17.3 requires "the licensee name, company name, and contact information." The Commission's slides classify calls to list with an agent or find a home as specific services. Confirm with your broker which category applies to your advertisement. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17.3](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=15) and [WVREC, Advertising Requirements, slide 5](https://rec.wv.gov/media/156/download?inline=#page=5), posted 2026.09.08, read 2026.10.10. If the broker uses a licensed trade name, the company name in advertising "must be the trade name which appears on the broker’s license." Use that licensed identity when choosing website text and logos. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-12.2](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=12), read 2026.10.10. Section 17.4 says the information required by sections 17.1 and 17.2 "must appear on the home page or the screen that is first seen by the viewer." The Commission's advertising slides apply this to individual agent pages on company websites as well. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17.4](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=15) and [WVREC, Advertising Requirements, slide 13](https://rec.wv.gov/media/156/download?inline=#page=13), posted 2026.09.08, read 2026.10.10. For a design check, open the homepage and each advertising landing page directly on a phone. Inspect the first screen, disclosure size, and any menu or overlay that covers the text. A header or footer is a design choice. Confirm with your broker that the placement meets the rule. ## Distinguish license numbers from licensed titles The disclosure fields in section 17.1 do not include an individual or brokerage license number. Section 17.4 carries those disclosure requirements onto internet advertising. These provisions do not establish a website license-number field. [W. Va. C.S.R. §§ 174-1-17.1 and 17.4](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=14), read 2026.10.10. Names and licensed roles have separate requirements. Section 17.1 says associate brokers and salespersons must be "clearly identified as such" when their names appear in advertising. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17.1](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=14), read 2026.10.10. The Commission's guidance says salespersons and associate brokers "must have their title immediately following their name". It identifies Agent and abbreviated titles as unacceptable substitutes. Additional designations follow the licensed title. [WVREC, Advertising Requirements, slide 8](https://rec.wv.gov/media/156/download?inline=#page=8), posted 2026.09.08, read 2026.10.10. Confirm with your broker whether brokerage policy requires a license number. Keep any displayed number accurate and the licensed title visible. ## Keep team branding tied to the brokerage West Virginia's team definition includes a group of two or more associate brokers and/or salespersons, and other nonlicensed professionals. They must be "affiliated with the same broker or company" and act as one agent or representative for the principal. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-2.9](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=3), read 2026.10.10. Team property or specific-service advertising needs "The name of at least one associate broker or salesperson who is a team member". Each named licensed member must carry the term Associate Broker or Salesperson, as that information appears on the license. The rule does not require naming every team member or every pictured member. [W. Va. C.S.R. §§ 174-1-17.1 and 17.1.a](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=15), read 2026.10.10. A named team member without a current valid license needs the term "Non-Licensed". This applies when that member's name appears in the advertisement. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17.1.b](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=15), read 2026.10.10. The team definition and advertising provisions cited here contain no list of prohibited team-name words or requirement to add Team or Group. They do require brokerage disclosure and the half-size comparison against the team name. Separately, the license statute permits sanctions when a licensee "Uses misleading or false advertising". A team identity that misrepresents its brokerage relationship raises that general rule. [W. Va. C.S.R. §§ 174-1-2.9 and 17](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=14) and [W. Va. Code § 30-40-19(a)(5)](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/30-40-19/), read 2026.10.10. Confirm with your broker before changing the team name, domain, or brokerage presentation. ## Put advertising through broker review Section 17.2 requires all advertising by an associate broker, salesperson, or team to be "under the direct supervision of and in the name of the responsible broker." It also prohibits property advertising under those licensees' or the team's own name without the responsible broker's name. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17.2](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=15), read 2026.10.10. The supervision rule identifies "Failing to ensure that a salesperson’s or associate broker’s advertisements conform with the laws and regulations of the Commission" as a failure to supervise. The Commission publishes this same provision in its supervision-rule notice. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-21.1.h](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=18) and [WVREC, § 174-1-21 excerpt](https://rec.wv.gov/media/157/download?inline=), read 2026.10.10. The advertising slides say salespersons and associate brokers should not place advertisements "without reviewing the advertisement with their Broker first". Use the broker's approval process for new pages, revisions, and paid campaigns. [WVREC, Advertising Requirements, slide 11](https://rec.wv.gov/media/156/download?inline=#page=11), posted 2026.09.08, read 2026.10.10. Sections 17.2 and 21.1.h do not prescribe written approval for every ordinary advertisement. Special offers have additional rules. Section 18.1.c allows rebates, inducements, or discounts "only with written permission" under the responsible broker's supervision and name. Section 18.3 requires advertising involving lotteries, contests, prizes, certificates, gifts, or free lots to be "approved in writing by the responsible broker". Confirm with your broker before adding such an offer. [W. Va. C.S.R. §§ 174-1-18.1.c and 18.3](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=15), read 2026.10.10. ## Apply the social media access rule precisely The advertising definition expressly includes "internet, social media". Promotional social posts and paid digital ads therefore fall within the listed advertising media. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-2.1](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=2), read 2026.10.10. For social media, section 17.4 requires the disclosure to be "accessible with no more than two mouse clicks". The Commission's guidance measures access from the post and recommends including the information in the original post. This social media allowance does not move website disclosure off the homepage or first screen. [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17.4](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=15) and [WVREC, Advertising Requirements, slide 14](https://rec.wv.gov/media/156/download?inline=#page=14), posted 2026.09.08, read 2026.10.10. Test the path from the actual post. Count clicks to the complete disclosure. Confirm with your broker how image crops, captions, and video treatments preserve the required names and size. ## Check IDX disclosure and listing permissions separately An IDX property display advertises specific property. Applying sections 17.1 and 17.4, its page needs the applicable company, broker, office, and phone disclosure. Those sections contain no IDX-specific disclaimer, listing-broker attribution format, or refresh interval. [W. Va. C.S.R. §§ 174-1-17.1 and 17.4](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=14), read 2026.10.10. The license statute allows sanctions for advertising property "without an agency relationship being established or without the owner’s knowledge and written consent". It also addresses advertising "on terms other than those authorized by the owner". Confirm with your broker that the feed and your display have the necessary permissions. [W. Va. Code § 30-40-19(a)(10) and (11)](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/30-40-19/), read 2026.10.10. Obtain the broker-confirmed MLS and feed requirements for attribution, disclaimers, and updates. Those contractual requirements are outside the state provisions cited here. Inspect the full property page, including embedded results, before release. ## Separate fair housing content from a logo requirement West Virginia's current Fair Housing Act makes housing advertisements unlawful when they indicate "any preference, limitation or discrimination" based on the listed protected characteristics. The list covers race, color, religion, sex, blindness, disability, familial status, ancestry, and national origin. The provision also covers an intention to make such a preference, limitation, or discrimination. [W. Va. Code § 16B-18-5(c)](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/16B-18-5/), read 2026.10.10. The real estate license statute separately permits sanctions for discrimination "in violation of any federal or state anti-discrimination law, including any fair housing law". [W. Va. Code § 30-40-19(a)(27)](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/30-40-19/), read 2026.10.10. Section 16B-18-5(c), Series 1's advertising provisions, and the Commission advertising slides reviewed here do not state a universal website logo or equal housing statement requirement. That source finding does not establish every property's, program's, or feed's obligations. Confirm with your broker which logo or statement your site must carry and its placement. [W. Va. Code § 16B-18-5(c)](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/16B-18-5/), [W. Va. C.S.R. § 174-1-17](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58845&Format=PDF#page=14), and [WVREC, Advertising Requirements](https://rec.wv.gov/media/156/download?inline=), read 2026.10.10. Review the housing descriptions and campaign material as well as any mark. Adding a logo does not remove discriminatory preferences from an advertisement. ## Check your own website Use this implementation checklist with the cited provisions and your broker's requirements. Phone checks and saved approvals are practical review steps. 1. Verify the licensed company name, responsible broker's name, and term Broker. 2. Include the licensed office address and phone number in the required internet disclosure. 3. Check the homepage and first screen reached through each advertising link. 4. Compare company, broker, and Broker text size with agent and team names. 5. Check licensed titles, named team members, and any broker-required license number. 6. Route pages and ads through broker review, including special-offer written permissions where applicable. 7. Test complete social media disclosure within two clicks from the post. 8. Verify IDX permissions, feed disclosures, and fair housing copy and required marks with your broker. Confirm with your broker before releasing changes. Bring the approved wording and page examples to the [real estate website scope](https://scalewithsearch.com/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 .|########||. .|########||. .|########||. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. .#| .#. .#| .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. |#. .#. |#. .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| .||########||. .||########||. .||########||. 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