Two Types of Compliance Notices: Compliance Warnings & Fine Notices

SWMLS is a data-driven organization.

Accurate listing data is the foundation of sound real estate transactions, reliable market analyses, and fair appraisals. Compliance is how SWMLS safeguards that integrity — and when a potential violation is identified, your response within the grace period shown on the notice – typically 48 hours – is necessary to avoid a fine.

Each compliance notice gives you all the information you need to correct the issue and the time it must be completed in.

There are two types of compliance notices:
Compliance Warnings and Fine Notices.

Once you incur a fourth fine for minor violations or a third fine for a major violation, you and the Designated Broker for your office must attend a SWMLS Tribunal.

The Governing rules are Sections 6, 7, and 9.1, SWMLS Rules and Regulations (Approved February 2026). For more information, please visit gaar.com/swmls/swmls-rules.

The Anatomy of a Compliance Warning

(see Exhibit A)

  1. The date the notice was issued
  2. The number of potential violations the notice contains,
  3. The recipients (this is automatically sent to the email address on file for the listing broker and the Designated Broker for the Listing Office),
  4. The notice type: Compliance Warning, Notice of 1st Fine, etc.,
  5. A request to reply to compliance@swmls.com
  6. A link to a short video that explains our compliance philosophy and next steps.,
  7. The MLS # and address the notice pertains to,
  8. The violation Reference #,
  9. The Violation Name,
  10. The Violation Description,
  11. How to Fix the Violation,
  12. The Grace Period in which the Violation must be corrected to avoid a Fine,
  13. The SWMLS Rule Section # (Citation Number)
  14. A Warning that your listing is not in compliance and asks that you either fix the reported issue or email the correct information with permission to allow SWMLS to correct the listing to compliance@swmls.com
  15. A notification that if the issue is not corrected, a fine will be assessed to the Designated Broker of your office and that cancelling or withdrawing the listing does not alleviate your responsibility to correct the reported issues.
  16. Information on Opting In to our Text Alert Service
  17. A link to the SWMLS Rules and Regulations
  18. A reminder that we appreciate your cooperation in ensuring data integrity remains accurate
  19.  Our contact information

Your first — and least costly — opportunity to resolve an issue is during the grace period shown on your Compliance Warning.

The Anatomy of a Compliance Fine Notice

(see Exhibit B)

  1. The date the notice was issued
  2. The number of potential violations the notice contains,
  3. The recipients (this is automatically sent to the email address on file for the listing broker and the Designated Broker for the Listing Office),
  4. The notice type: Compliance Warning, Notice of 1st Fine, etc.,
  5. A request to reply to compliance@swmls.com
  6. Notification that a fine was imposed on the Designated Broker of your office for failure to correct the violation within the grace period.
  7. A reminder that the listing must be corrected within 48 hours to avoid additional fines and to contact SWMLS for assistance or additional information.
  8. Instructions on resolving the fine: 
    a. Pay the fine
    b. Attend the SWMLS Rules Refresher class (if applicable). You must ask for and receive approval to attend the class within 10 days of receiving the Fine and complete the class within 30 days. Please note that opting to take the SWMLS Rules Refresher class waives your right to a hearing.
    c. Request a Hearing
  9. The MLS # and address the notice pertains to,
  10. The violation Reference #,
  11. The Violation Name,
  12. The Violation Description,
  13. How To Fix the Violation,
  14. The Grace Period in which the Violation must be corrected to avoid a Fine,
  15. The SWMLS Rule Section #
  16. A Warning that:
    a. your listing is not in compliance, and you have received a fine,
    b. that, to avoid additional fines, you must either fix the reported issue or email compliance@swmls.com with the correct information and permission to allow SWMLS to correct the listing, and
    c. that cancelling or withdrawing the listing does not alleviate your responsibility to correct the reported issues.
  17. Information on Opting In to our Text Alert Service
  18. A reminder that we appreciate your cooperation in ensuring data integrity remains accurate
  19. Our contact information

You have 48 hours from the fine notice date to correct the violation. The fine may double if it remains unresolved.

Opt In to Notifications - Setting Yourself Up For Success

SWMLS recommends that you opt in to our text notification system by sending an email to compliance@swmls.com with the subject line “Opt In” and include the phone number you want to receive your text notifications and add listingdatachecker@cotality.com to your contacts or safe senders list so compliance notices are not considered spam by your email provider.

Paying a Fine

Fines are assessed to the Designated Broker of your office, therefore your GAAR Member Portal will not reflect that there is a balance due. You can make payment arrangements with your Designated Broker or call GAAR Member Services at 505-842-1433 to submit payment over the phone.

Requesting a Hearing

If you wish to dispute a fine, you may request a hearing before the SWMLS Compliance Committee within 10 calendar days of the fine notice. Download the Request for Hearing Form at gaar.com/membership/forms and return it to compliance@swmls.com. The Compliance Team will schedule a hearing date and provide a list of potential panel members for your review.

If you wish to appeal the hearing panel's decision to the SWMLS Board of Directors, that appeal must be submitted in writing within 20 days of the panel's decision with a $250 fee.

The Compliance Tribunal

Those who incur three or more fines for major violations, or four or more fines for minor violations, in a calendar year are required to attend a Compliance Tribunal — a formal hearing before a panel of Compliance Committee members. The Listing Broker and the Listing Office’s Designated Broker must attend. If the Designated Broker is not the supervising Qualifying Broker, SWMLS encourages the supervising Qualifying Broker to also attend. The tribunal may issue a warning or levy a fine as outlined in Section 7 of the SWMLS Rules and Regulations.

Upon notice of Tribunal scheduling, a non-refundable $250 Tribunal Preparation Fee is assessed upfront. This fee covers administrative costs associated with preparing Tribunal materials and is separate from any fines or sanctions the Tribunal may impose. Non-payment of the Tribunal Preparation fee does not postpone your Tribunal and may result in suspension of MLS access.

Questions about a notice or violation? SWMLS staff are here to help — reach out before a deadline passes: compliance@swmls.com or 505-843-8833.

Understanding SWMLS Compliance Notices (rev. April 2026)