Short answer: inside Stellar MLS, you disclose virtual staging in two places. Each staged photo gets "Virtually staged" in its description field, and your public remarks start with "One or more photo(s) was virtually staged." Outside the MLS, there's no single Florida template. But NAR's Code of Ethics requires a "true picture" in all advertising, and NAR's guidance is to label staged images clearly and pair them with an unaltered photo. In practice, put a visible "Virtually staged" label on or beside every staged image you post, and show the original too.
Plain-English summary, not legal advice. ListingAce isn't affiliated with Stellar MLS or NAR.
Inside the MLS: what Stellar requires
Stellar MLS Article 04.04 (last updated Sep 27, 2026):
- Type "Virtually staged" in the photo description field of each staged photo, and check the virtually staged field.
- The public remarks must begin with: "One or more photo(s) was virtually staged."
- No staging on pre-construction or under-construction listings. No staged exteriors (except unattached furniture or décor). No changes to permanent fixtures. No removing defects. No added views. No furniture scaled to make a room look bigger.
One catch: Stellar doesn't want the label written on the MLS photo. Article 04.05(D) bans "text, or graphics of any kind" on MLS photos, and 04.04 bans "words on any property photograph." So the MLS set stays clean, and the label lives in the description field and remarks.
Outside the MLS: why you still need a label
The MLS fields don't follow your photos to Instagram, a flyer or your website. Three sources set the expectation:
- NAR Code of Ethics. Article 12 requires REALTORS® to present a "true picture" in their advertising. Article 2 bars "exaggerating, misrepresenting or concealing pertinent facts." (NAR, "When Does Enhancing Listing Photos Go Too Far?", Aug 17, 2026)
- Industry direction. The same NAR article reports that California now requires agents to disclose digitally altered images and provide access to the original, and that NorthstarMLS told subscribers altered and virtually staged images must be clearly identified ("in the photo caption or directly on the altered photo") and accompanied by an unaltered image. Florida has no equivalent statute today, but the direction is clear.
- Florida Realtors' advice. Florida Realtors recommends pairing every virtually staged photo with the original (Florida Realtors, "3 Things to Know About Virtual Staging").
Add Florida's advertising rule: no ad may be "false, deceptive or misleading," and every ad must carry the brokerage's licensed name (61J2-10.025). An unlabeled staged photo on Instagram is the easiest way to create a misleading impression.
How to label staged photos, channel by channel
| Where | What to do | Example wording |
|---|---|---|
| MLS (Stellar) | Clean photo, no text. "Virtually staged" in the photo description field + checkbox. Remarks start with the required sentence. | Remarks: "One or more photo(s) was virtually staged. ..." |
| Instagram / Facebook feed | A small "Virtually staged" label on the image itself, plus a line in the caption. Put the unstaged original in the same carousel. | Caption: "📸 Photos 2 & 3 virtually staged; originals in slides 4 & 5." |
| Reels / Stories | A "Virtually staged" label on screen whenever a staged frame shows. | On-screen: "Virtually staged" |
| Flyer | A label on or under each staged image, plus a footnote. | "Images marked * are virtually staged. Furniture is not included." |
| Your website / property page | A caption under each staged image, with the original next to it or one click away. | "Virtually staged. View original." |
| Email to buyer agents | One line near the photos. | "Some photos are virtually staged; originals are in MLS." |
Also add your brokerage name to every one of these that counts as an ad.
Five mistakes to avoid
- Burning "Virtually staged" onto the MLS upload. In Stellar, words on photos aren't allowed. Use the description field.
- Posting only the staged version on social. Include the original.
- Staging over defects. Covering a damaged floor with a rug is the "removing negative elements" problem that 04.04(D) bans, wherever you post it.
- Furniture that makes the room look bigger. It's banned in the MLS (04.04(F)) and misleading everywhere else.
- Forgetting the disclosure on reposts. If a teammate or the seller reshares a staged image, the label should travel with it. That's one more reason to label the social version itself.
Common questions
Do I need to write "Virtually staged" on photos I upload to Stellar MLS?
No. Stellar bans words and graphics on MLS photos. Put "Virtually staged" in each staged photo's description field, check the box, and start the remarks with "One or more photo(s) was virtually staged."
Is there a Florida law that requires labeling staged photos on social media?
We didn't find a Florida statute specific to virtual staging as of Oct 19, 2026. Florida's advertising rule bans misleading ads, and NAR's Code requires a true picture in all advertising. Labeling plus showing the original is the safe practice.
Do I have to include the unstaged original in the MLS?
Stellar Article 04.04 doesn't require it. Florida Realtors and NAR guidance recommend pairing staged photos with originals, and it's a good idea in your own marketing.
Can I virtually stage a patio or lanai?
Stellar allows only unattached furniture or décor in exterior photos. No other exterior staging.
Every ListingAce kit ships two photo sets: a clean set for the MLS with paste-ready "Virtually staged" descriptions and remarks, and a labeled set for social, flyers and your website, with the originals included. A person reviews every image before it goes out. Listing Essentials is $49 (staging and cleanup, up to 5 photos; extra staged photos $5 each), and the Launch Kit is $89 with video, flyer and social graphics. Get a free sample kit →
Related
- Stellar MLS virtual staging rules, explained
- Virtual staging in Tampa Bay (primary CTA)
- Pricing
- Which listing photos to virtually stage
- Florida listing flyer and social post rules
Sources checked Oct 19, 2026: Stellar MLS Article 04.04 (updated Sep 27, 2026) and Article 04.05 (Rules PDF updated Oct 15, 2026); NAR (Aug 17, 2026); Florida Realtors (May 2025); Fla. Admin. Code R. 61J2-10.025.