New Regulation Regarding License Numbers

Within the last several months, after the California Department of Real Estate issued its latest regulation regarding the placement of DRE license numbers on certain solicitation materials.

There has been a great deal of confusion regarding whether or not the DRE# is also required on listing signs, as well as open house signs. We contacted the Department of Real Estate, located in Sacramento and asked them to provide us with the correct language in this regulation. And here is what they said…

DRE LICESNSE NUMBER MUST BE ON SOLICITATION MATERIALS

The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) has recently adopted a new regulation clarifying the law that requires DRE license numbers on business cards and all other solicitation materials intended to be the first point of contact with consumers. The licensing law came into effect on July 1, 2009. Under the new section 2773 regulation adopted by the DRE, the solicitation materials that must contain the license identification number include the following items:

• Business Cards
• Stationery
• Websites owned, controlled and/or maintained by the soliciting real estate license
• Promotional and advertising flyers, brochures, email and regular mail, leaflets, and any other marketing or promotional materials designed to solicit the creation of a professional relationship between the licensee and the consumer, or intended to induce a consumer to contact the licensee about any licensed service

DRE’s new regulations also states that the following items ARE NOT SOLICITAION MATERIALS under the license number requirement:

• Advertisements in electronic media, including radio, cinema, and television ads, and the opening section of streaming video and audio
• Printed advertising in any newspaper or periodical
• FOR SALE signs placed on or around a property intended to alert the public the property is available for purchase or lease. The regulations continues with details regarding the size of type and brokers involvement.