What Are The Three Things That You Must Know About The Zillow Listing Ban? 

Last April, Zillow issued some new listing rules, which created a significant buzz in the real estate industry! Amongst all, Compass showed the largest reactions and further filed a lawsuit against Zillow.  

But what is the real concern here? It is about the discontinuous types of listings, which were not clearly visible to many.  

This year, Zillow has started implementing all the new policies. The new policies prohibit homes that are selectively and privately sold on the platform. This has sparked intense debates among agents, brokers, and homeowners.  

Let’s Break Out Three Important Things Everyone Needs to Learn About Zillow’s Listing Ban and What It Means for Everyone. 

What Are Zillow’s New Listing Standards?  

The new listing standards by Zillow came into effect in mid-2025. According to these rules, any home that a real estate agent is publicly marketing must be added to an MLS within one business day.  

This new rule aligns with the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy, as its design can help to ensure fairness and transparency across the real estate market.  

Requirements for Public Marketing: If an agent promotes a property publicly in any way, it must be listed in the MLS within one business day. Only then can it be posted on Zillow and Trulia. Public marketing includes:  

• Putting a “For Sale” sign in the yard,  

• Hosting an open house,  

• Sharing flyers or marketing materials,  

• Posting the property on a brokerage’s website or social media, and  

• Advertising through private or multi-brokerage networks.  

Enforcement and Penalties  

Zillow started notifying agents about non-compliant listings in May 2025. Agents received warnings for listings that didn’t meet the new rules.  

Starting June 2025, if an agent breaks the policy three times, their listing would be blocked from Zillow and Trulia for the duration of that listing agreement.  

It’s important to know that these rules only apply to exclusive for-sale listings held by brokers.  

They don’t affect the rental listings! For Sale By Owner (FSBO) properties or new construction listings sold directly by builders.  

Supporting Standards for Photos and Videos  

Along with the Zillow listing ban, the company has also set standards for photos and videos to maintain quality across listings.  

Photo Standards  

1. Accepted formats: JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF  

2. File size: under 50 MB  

3. Minimum resolution: 330 x 220 pixels  

4. Recommended resolution: 1536 x 1152 pixels 

Research shows that listings with 22–27 photos tend to attract the most attention. Zillow also recommends using professional images that accurately represent the home, good lighting, wide-angle shots, and minimal clutter go a long way. 

For exterior photos, it’s best to capture the home from an angle that shows both the front and the depth of the property.  

Video Standards 

According to the new standards: 

1. Videos should be 30 to 90 seconds long. 

2. Accepted formats: MP4 or MOV  

3. Ideal resolution: 1920×1080  

4. The video must show the actual property, not just a slideshow of photos  

5. Branding should be limited to short intro/outro clips  

For many listings, the video link must be added directly to the MLS, which then syncs automatically to Zillow. 

The Zillow Listing Ban Applies to Listings, Not Homes!  

This is an important point: Zillow does not reject the homes; it rejects listings.  

That means if a listing is suspected of being non-compliant, the home will still appear on Zillow someday, if a different agent lists it and is in compliance.  

Agents learned about illicit listings for the first time on May 28, and the rigid rules took effect on June 30, 2025.  

Starting from that date, if an agent breaks the rules for the third time, all future listings that do not follow the rules will be blocked for the duration of the listing agreement.  

Zillow described how all qualified listings, as defined by new rules, would continue to appear, even if a prior issue existed for an agent. 

What Kind Of Battle Is Being Played Out In Courts Of Law And Public Opinions?  

The real estate industry saw this trend. On June 23, Compass filed a complaint against Zillow, alleging that the website was “abusing its monopoly power” by shutting off agents and homeowners who market their houses elsewhere. 

Even Compass requested that the court temporarily restrain Zillow from implementing the ban on listing until the entire case is resolved.  

They also surveyed 1,000 householders, which revealed:  

• 90% believe owners should have the permission to “pre-market” their own house  

• 81% of respondents said they’d be interested in pre-marketing if marketing themselves.  

• 59% prefer agents who offer pre-marketing.  

• 76% think a “desperate” seller slashes prices.  

• 77% would be concerned if their Zillow-listed home didn’t appear on Zillow.  

• 69% admitted they would choose an agent who can promise a Zillow listing.  

Executives of the industry have also commented. eXp CEO Glen Sanford also voiced concern regarding private marketplaces, saying those systems “stifle innovation.”  

He praised the MLS system for guaranteeing everyone equitable access, so both large and small shops have a chance to compete on a level playing field. 

What’s Waiting In The Future?  

The Compass-Zillow case is likely to linger for some time, but other listing bans are approaching.  

Redfin’s ban, which also mirrors Zillow’s policy, is slated for September 2025. All MLS systems are required to implement the National Association of Realtors’ delayed listings add-on by September 30.  

That will allow sellers a bit of latitude before their listings are released to the general public. StreetEasy, Zillow’s New York City-focused sister site, is also implementing a modified version of this policy, which restricts agent access to a select few of its tools.