Clark County REALTORS^® helps consumers and members with disputes

Clark County Association of REALTORS®’ Professional Standards Committee is charged with upholding the highest principles of the association and ensuring that members adhere to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. In order to facilitate a more efficient and streamlined process to handle certain ethics violations, CCAR introduced a new Ethics Citation Program in January, 2023.

• Clark County Association of REALTORS® (CCAR) follow the REALTOR® Code of Ethics which outlines standards of professional practice.
• If a dispute arises with a REALTOR® pertaining to provisions of the Code, complaints may be filed for review by a panel of CCAR REALTOR®  members which specialize in ethical standards.
• The complaints, which can be filed anonymously, can come from REALTORS® or REALTORS®’ clients.
• CLICK HERE to download the full CCAR Citation Policy

Please Note: The citation complaint cannot cite violations based on Articles or Standards of Practice other than those spelled out in this policy.

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Citation Program Flow Chart

View Citation Program Flow Chart

A REALTOR® or a member of the public may file a complaint against a REALTOR®.
The Ethics Citation Program can provide both Realtors and the public, time-saving alternatives to an ethics hearing.

If the respondent agrees with the Ethics Citation Program, they can pay the
predetermined fine associated with the Article cited in the complaint and satisfy the terms of the citation.

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Ethics Citation Program

The CCAR Ethics Citation Program is limited to specific violations of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. Other ethics complaints which fall outside of the articles listed below should be handled through the regular complaint process.

Please read the sections of the Code below and make sure your submission meets one of the criteria.  If you have questions, you may call the CCAR Professional Standards Administrator at 360-695-5980 or email moc.srotlaercc@racc

• Article 3A. Failure to disclose existence of dual or variable rate commission. (SOP 3-4)
• Article 3B. Failure to disclose existence of accepted offers, including offers with unresolved contingencies, to cooperating brokers. (SOP 3-6)
• Article 4. Failure to disclose REALTORS® ownership or other interest in writing to the purchaser or their representative.
• Article 5. Providing professional services without disclosing REALTOR®’S interest in property.
• Article 6. Accepting any commission, rebate, or profit on expenditures without client’s knowledge or consent.
• Article 12A. Failure to present a true picture in real estate communications and advertising.
• Article 12B. Failure to disclose status as real estate professional in advertising and other representations.
• Article 12C. Failure to provide all terms governing availability of a “free” product or services in an advertisement or other representation. (SOP 12-1)
• Article 12D. Failure to disclose compensation or benefit from a third party when REALTOR® represents their services as “free” or without cost. (SOP 12-2)
• Article 12E. Advertising property for sell/lease without authority of owner or listing broker. (SOP 12-4)
• Article 12F. Failure to disclose name of firm in advertisement of real estate services or listed property in any medium. (SOP 12-5)
• Article 12G. Failure to disclose status as both owner/landlord and REALTOR® or licensee when advertising property in which REALTOR® has ownership interest. (SOP 12-6)
• Article 12H. Falsely claiming to have “Sold” the property. (SOP 12-7)
• Article 12I. Failure to take corrective action when it becomes apparent that information on a REALTOR®’s website is no longer current or accurate. (SOP 12-8)
• Article 12J. Failure to disclose firm name and state of licensure on REALTOR® firm website. (SOP 12-9)
• Article 12K. Misleading consumers through deceptive framing, manipulating content, deceptively diverting internet traffic, or presenting other’s content without attribution or permission. (SOP 12-10)
• Article 12L. Registering or using of deceptive URL or domain name
• Article 12M. Representing that the REALTOR® has a designation, certification, or other credential they are not entitled to use
• Article 14. Failure to cooperate in a professional standard proceeding or investigation in circumstances when cooperation has been demanded by the association and the association has advised REALTOR® that failure to cooperate could result in an allegation of a violation of Article 14.
• Article 16. Placement of “For Sale/Lease” sign on property without permission of seller/landlord. (SOP 16-19)

Sanctions under the Citation Program are as follows:

1st Offense: Fine of $300.00* to be paid within thirty (30) days of citation date, and completion of the NAR online Triennial Ethics Training course within sixty (60) days of the citation date.
2nd Offense: Fine of $900.00* to be paid within thirty (30) days of citation date.
3rd Offense: Fine of $2,700.00* to be paid within thirty (30) days of citation date.

*The fine will be same whether one article has been cited or several Articles (under the citation program) have been cited on the complaint (i.e., there will be no increase in fine because more than one Article has been cited).

**The fines for the citations may not exceed the maximum fine allowed by NAR for violations of the Code of Ethics.
Corrections to violation(s) must be furnished to Clark County Association of REALTORS® within 30 days of receipt of citation.

Anonymously filing a complaint?

You are required to supply your name and contact information when filing a complaint to the CCAR Professional Standards Administrator and other designated staff. Should you request to file anonymously, your information will be redacted during the review process. Anonymous complaint submissions reviewed by the Ethics Citation Panel will be unable to share the outcome of the complaint with the filer. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required. Please note that all information entered onto this form (other than complainant name and contact info if you chose to file anonymously) along with any attachments will be shared with the respondent, if a citation is issued.

I understand that I am submitting information that is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and that this complaint is filed within 180 days after the alleged offense and facts relating to it could have been known or after the conclusion of the transaction or event, whichever is later.

IMPORTANT:

Prior to filing an ethics citation complaint, you may want to contact the broker or designated managing broker, or file a Request for an Ombudsman to try and resolve the issue.

When submitting a complaint please be as precise as possible.  Include all pertinent information and dates so the Ethics Citation Panel has a clear understanding of the complaint.