Do agents have to put a fair housing logo on printed advertisements?
QUESTION: I am a newer agent, and I am looking for some ways to get my name out there to help build my client base. I was thinking of mailing out some postcard advertisements in my area that would include my picture, a short bio, my firm affiliation, and my contact information. Right after I had all the postcards printed, I was told that federal law and the Code of Ethics require that I put a fair housing logo on the postcards before I mail them out. Is that true?
ANSWER: The fair housing logo is not required by federal law or the Code of Ethics, but it is recommended.
The Federal Fair Housing Act was implemented to protect against discrimination in housing-related transactions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. These protections extend to housing-related advertisements, including print, online, radio, television, and oral advertisements. Specifically, the Act provides that it is illegal to “make, print, or publish . . . any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”
Including a fair housing or equal opportunity logo with your advertising would help show compliance with federal law, even though a logo is not technically required. At one time, HUD regulations included a provision stating that housing-related advertisements should contain a logo, statement, or slogan to demonstrate compliance. However, these regulations did not require a logo, and they were withdrawn on May 1, 1996, and are no longer applicable.
The Code of Ethics also prohibits discriminatory practices. Article 10 states:
REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/23)
REALTORS®, in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. (Amended 1/23)
Just like federal law, the Code of Ethics does not have a requirement that members use a fair housing or equal opportunity logo in their advertising, but it can help show compliance with the Code. Even though the logo is not required, members should note that Fair Housing / Anti-Bias Training is required and must be completed before December 31, 2027, and every three years thereafter. You can read more about this requirement and training here.
As a final note, you should check with your firm to see if a fair housing or equal opportunity logo is required as a matter of firm policy. If it is, then you should follow that policy.
Release Date: 2/19/2026
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