What a real estate agent's website must show in Tennessee

Does a website count as advertising in Tennessee?

• Yes, by name. The rule covers all advertising in any medium, and lists websites, email signatures, social media communications and internet video or audio alongside print, radio and television. Promotional items such as hats, pens, name tags and business cards are not advertising under this rule. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

  “also includes, but is not limited to, sources of communication available to the public such as signs, flyers, letterheads, e-mail signatures, websites, social media communications, and video or audio recordings transmitted through internet or broadcast streaming”

What every advertisement must show

• The firm name and the firm telephone number, as listed on file with the Commission, on all advertising, which must be under the principal broker's direct supervision. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

  “All advertising shall be under the direct supervision of the principal broker and shall list the firm name and the firm telephone number as listed on file with the Commission.”

• The firm name in letters the same size as, or larger than, the name of any licensee or any team or group. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

  “The firm name must appear in letters the same size or larger than those spelling out the name of a licensee or the name of any team, group or similar entity.”

• Any ad that refers to an individual licensee uses that licensee's name as licensed with the Commission. "Firm name" means the firm's full licensed name or its licensed d/b/a name. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

Websites specifically

• The firm name and the firm telephone number on file must appear conspicuously on each page of the website. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

  “The firm name and the firm telephone number listed on file with the Commission must conspicuously appear on each page of the website.”

• Every page that shows listings from an outside database (an IDX feed, for example) must state that some or all of the listings may not belong to the firm whose site is being visited. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

• On social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn are the rule's examples), the firm name and firm telephone number must be no more than one click away from the viewable page. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

  “the firm name and firm telephone number listed on file with the Commission must be no more than one click away from the viewable page”

• Listing information you place must be kept current and accurate, on your website and on social media. Copies syndicated by third parties outside your control are not covered. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

Team names

• A team, group or similar entity within a firm may not advertise using terms such as "Real Estate", "Real Estate Brokerage", "Realty", "Company", "Corporation", "LLC", "Corp.", "Inc." or "Associates", or any similar term suggesting brokerage services independent of the firm and principal broker. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

• Wherever a team name appears, the firm name must be in letters at least as large. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

What gets agents in trouble

• Advertising that shows only the franchise name without the firm name. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

• A web page linking to an unlicensed entity's website where that entity is doing, or appears to be doing, work that requires a license. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

• Advertising property listed by another licensee without written authorization from the listing agent or listing broker. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

• Advertising in a manner indicating you are not in the real estate business, and false, misleading or deceptive advertising generally, unsubstantiated selling claims included. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

Worth knowing

• Any offer, guaranty or warranty made to induce someone into an agency relationship or contract must be in writing and disclose all pertinent details on the face of the offer or ad. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

• With a franchise trade name, the ad must show your name, firm name and firm telephone number adjacent to any specific property advertised. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

• Rule 1260-02-.12 does not require a license number in advertising; it requires the firm name and the firm telephone number on file. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12

How many agents this applies to

4,578 real estate agents were working in Tennessee when we last counted, across 32 brokerage offices. That is agents with a live profile on a brokerage's own site, not everyone holding a licence, so it is the population these rules actually bind day to day. The Tennessee brokerage directory breaks it down office by office. Counted 2026-10-07.

Sources

This page paraphrases the rules; the rules themselves are what bind you. Each was read on the date shown. If the TREC changes a rule, the page will lag until it is read again.

• Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-02-.12 — Advertising — read 2026-10-07
• Regulator: Tennessee Real Estate Commission

Not legal advice. When a rule and this page disagree, the rule wins; when in doubt, ask your broker or the TREC.

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