The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors today approved updates to Standard of Practice 10-5 and Professional Standards Policy Statement 29 — both key components of Article 10 of the Code of Ethics. These long-anticipated changes, debated since 2023, aim to bring more clarity and consistency to how REALTORS® are held accountable when it comes to discrimination and harassment.
As I reported in my May 26th article, concerns had been growing over whether SOP 10-5 infringed on members’ personal free speech — especially in cases where comments or beliefs expressed outside the workplace led to disciplinary action. The revised policy now limits enforcement to conduct that occurs within a member’s professional role and aligns the definition of “harassment” with the NAR Member Code of Conduct. This should help reduce ambiguity and risk for both members and associations tasked with enforcement.
NAR President Kevin Sears stated that these amendments better align with ethical standards used by other large trade groups and strengthen the association’s commitment to fair housing. From a professional standpoint, it’s a move that balances ethical responsibility with clearer boundaries — something the industry has been asking for.
Newly Revised SOP 10-5 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics
