Provincial Compliance Checklist for Agents
An overview of what RECO, BCFSA, RECA and OACIQ expect of Canadian real estate agents, plus the federal rules, with links to each regulator.
An overview of what the provincial regulators expect, with a link to each one. It is a starting point, not a substitute for the regulator’s own rules.
Why Provincial Compliance Matters
Operating as a real estate professional in Canada means navigating a complex landscape of provincial regulations. Each province has its own regulatory body with specific requirements for advertising, client communications, data handling, and transaction management. Non-compliance can result in fines, license suspension, or worse.
The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) oversees real estate professionals in Canada's most populous province.
Key Requirements:
- Advertising Standards: All ads must include your brokerage name and be truthful and not misleading
- Client Disclosure: Working relationships must be disclosed in writing before showing properties
- FINTRAC: Federal anti-money-laundering rules on client identification and record keeping apply to real estate transactions
- Data Privacy: Must comply with PIPEDA for personal information handling
- Continuing Education: Maintain your registration through ongoing education requirements
The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) regulates real estate in BC, with strict rules around disclosure and client protection.
- Disclosure of Representation: Disclose who you represent, using BCFSA’s disclosure form, before providing trading services
- Contract Deposits: Strict rules for handling deposit funds
- Disclosure of Interest: Must disclose any personal interest in properties
- Marketing Standards: Cannot make misleading statements about property values or features
- Digital Signatures: Electronic signatures must meet specific standards
The Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) sets standards for ethical practice and professional conduct in Alberta.
- Service Agreements: Written service agreements required before providing brokerage services
- Advertising Rules: Must include brokerage name in all advertising
- Record Retention: Keep transaction records for the period RECA’s rules set
- Trust Accounting: Strict rules for handling client funds
- Mandatory Education: Annual continuing education requirements
The Organisme d'autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ) regulates real estate brokerage in Quebec, where French-language rules also apply.
- French: Contracts and commercial communications must be available in French
- Mandatory Forms: Must use OACIQ-approved forms for all transactions
- Disclosure Obligations: Extensive disclosure requirements for conflicts of interest
- Professional Liability Insurance: Specific coverage requirements
- Charter of the French Language: Compliance with Bill 96 for commercial communications
Federal Requirements (All Provinces)
In addition to provincial regulations, all Canadian real estate professionals must comply with:
- PIPEDA: Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
- FINTRAC: Financial Transaction Reporting for money laundering prevention
- CASL: Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation for electronic communications
- CREA Rules: If using MLS® data through CREA DDF®
Compliance Checklist
Use this checklist to ensure you're meeting all regulatory requirements:
- ☐ All marketing materials include brokerage name and contact info
- ☐ Client disclosure forms provided before property viewings
- ☐ Written service agreements in place
- ☐ PIPEDA consent obtained for all client data collection
- ☐ Email marketing includes proper unsubscribe mechanisms (CASL)
- ☐ Transaction records stored securely with proper retention
- ☐ FINTRAC reporting procedures in place
- ☐ Continuing education requirements up to date
- ☐ Professional liability insurance current
- ☐ Quebec-specific: French documents available
What Realtor Desk does, and what it does not
Realtor Desk is a CRM. It records the date and source of a contact’s consent, lets you set French or English per contact, and keeps its database in Canada. It does not provide regulator forms, electronic signatures, document storage for transaction records, trust accounting or FINTRAC reporting, and it does not make you compliant with any of the rules above.
Check the source
Rules change, and this page is a summary. Read the requirements at the regulator: RECO, BCFSA, RECA, OACIQ and FINTRAC. This is general information, not legal advice.
See the CRM on your own contacts
A consent record on every contact, French per contact, and a database in Canada.