Buyer agency in writing by offer under Rule 58A .0104, the redrafted Form 220 and Form 2-T, Canopy and Doorify MLS rules, and NCREC continuing education and renewal. Every entry is primary-sourced and carries its last-checked date: Nov 8, 2026 (Tracker v1).
This page is the North Carolina slice of the full Tracker.
In force nowNorth Carolina rules, verified
North CarolinaIn force
NC-01 Buyer agency agreements in writing by offer; Working With Real Estate Agents at first substantial contact (Rule 58A .0104)
Compensation & buyer agreements · Applies to: NC brokers in real estate sales transactions with prospective buyers or sellers
Every agreement for brokerage services between a broker and a buyer must be express, in writing, and signed by the parties not later than the time one of the parties makes an offer to purchase, sell, rent, lease, or exchange real estate. Formation distinction (added in the second pass, CL-65): under the rule text at 21 NCAC 58A.0104(a), an agreement that binds the buyer/tenant for a period of time or restricts working with other agents must be in writing and signed from its formation — only a non-binding agreement may wait until offer time. Separately, at first substantial contact the broker must provide the "Working With Real Estate Agents" publication, put the broker's name and license number on it, review it with the buyer or seller, and determine whether the broker will act as that person's agent. Note the difference from the MLS/Realtor rule: North Carolina's state deadline is by offer, while the NAR/MLS touring rule requires a signed agreement before a tour.
Effective: In force (NCREC December 2023 eBulletin case study states the current rule position)
Source: https://bulletins.ncrec.gov/case-study-working-with-real-estate-agents-disclosure/ · https://www.oah.nc.gov/documents/rules/rrc/42095-real-estate-commission-technical-corrections/download (21 NCAC 58A.0104 rule text) · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-39, CL-65
North Carolina2026 forms
NC-02 Buyer agent compensation moves into the contract: Form 220 redrafted, Form 101 changed (2026 forms)
Compensation & buyer agreements / forms · Applies to: NC listing and buyer brokers using NC REALTORS forms 101, 201, 203 and 220
Form 220 has been redrafted from a standalone cooperative compensation agreement into an addendum to the purchase contract, reflecting that buyer agent compensation is paid by the seller, not by the listing firm; it should not be signed by the seller at the listing appointment in advance. Form 101 ¶ 7(c) was changed for the new law allowing buyer agent compensation to be addressed in the contract, leaving one standard option in the listing agreement and directing seller-approved compensation negotiated in the contract to be paid directly by the seller using Form 220. Forms 201 and 203 (exclusive and non-exclusive buyer agency) also gained FinCEN reporting language (see NAT-05 — that federal duty is currently vacated). The law behind the contract-compensation change is Session Law 2025-52 (SB 690), § 4, effective July 2, 2025 — brokers may use preprinted offer/sales contracts containing compensation provisions including earnest-money forfeiture, and the Commission was directed to amend 21 NCAC 58A.0112 (citation added in the second pass, CL-66).
Effective: Revised for 2026; summary released May 27, 2026 (in force)
Source: https://www.ncrealtors.org/question/summary-of-2026-changes-to-nc-realtors-residential-forms/ · https://www3.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2025-2026/SL2025-52.html · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-40, CL-66
North Carolina2026 revision
NC-03 Form 2-T Offer to Purchase and Contract: 2026 revision; current revision date 8/2026
Forms in force · Applies to: NC brokers using NC REALTORS / NC Bar Association standard residential forms
The due diligence fee is still due on the Effective Date, but a buyer who does not pay that day is not in breach the next day — the buyer has until the end of the next banking day to pay, and "banking day" is now defined in ¶ 22. Even after breach, the seller must give written notice on Form 355-T demanding payment within one banking day before terminating, and termination is optional. Paragraph 6(e) requires the buyer to provide information needed for FinCEN or other government reporting, and ¶ 8(c) lets the seller choose to limit only physical access if the fee is unpaid. Paragraph 14 now has a specific checkbox to add Form 220 (Buyer Agent Compensation Addendum); NC REALTORS advises a Form 220 signed by all parties with Form 2-T is part of the contract even if the checkbox was not checked. (No January 1, 2027 Form 2-T revision was announced on the primary source.)
Effective: 2026 revision (summary released May 27, 2026); the version now in the forms library carries revision date 8/2026
Source: https://www.ncrealtors.org/question/summary-of-2026-changes-to-nc-realtors-residential-forms/ · https://www.ncrealtors.org/question/is-form-220-part-of-the-contract-if-the-checkbox-in-paragraph-14-of-form-2-t-is-not-checked/ · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-41
North CarolinaIn force
NC-04 Canopy MLS listing submission, Clear Cooperation, Firm Exclusive
MLS policy · Applies to: Canopy MLS Member Participants and Subscribers (NC and SC listings)
Listings under an Exclusive Right to Sell or Exclusive Agency agreement (residential, multi-unit of four units or less, or land) must be submitted within a grace period of one business day from the Effective Date / NC Marketing Date. Under Clear Cooperation, within one business day of marketing a property to the public the listing broker must submit it to the MLS; a Firm Exclusive listing whose seller refuses MLS dissemination must be registered within two business days and may not be publicly marketed. Since September 8, 2025, private one-to-one agent-to-agent communication about a listing does not trigger Clear Cooperation, but multi-brokerage communication does.
Effective: Core rules in force; one-to-one communication update implemented September 8, 2025
Source: https://support.canopymls.com/kb/article/719-when-is-a-listing-required-to-be-submitted-to-canopy-mls/ · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-42
North CarolinaMay 26, 2026
NC-05 Doorify MLS (Triangle MLS) Rules & Regulations, revised May 26, 2026
MLS policy · Applies to: Doorify MLS Participants, Triangle area
Listings of single-family homes, vacant lots and acreage, and multi-family residential buildings must be entered into Doorify MLS within one calendar day after the later of the effective date or the marketing date of the listing contract. Clear Cooperation is also one calendar day from public marketing (yard signs, public websites, email blasts, multi-brokerage sharing all count). No field, photo, or attachment on a listing may include an offer of compensation to cooperating brokers or a seller concession conditioned on retaining or paying another brokerage.
Effective: Revised May 26, 2026 (in force)
Source: https://support.doorifymls.com/hc/en-us/articles/32402136977427-Rules-Regulations (official support site; the Rules document is headed "Triangle MLS, Inc. dba Doorify MLS") · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-43
North CarolinaLicense year 2026–27
NC-06 Continuing education: 8 hours per year (Update + elective; GENUP / BICUP)
Licensing & CE · Applies to: All NC brokers wanting active license status
Every broker must complete 8 hours of continuing education each license year under Rule 58A .1702: a 4-hour Update course plus one Commission-approved elective. Provisional brokers and brokers who are not BIC / BIC-eligible take the General Update (GENUP); Brokers-in-Charge and BIC-eligible brokers must take the Broker-in-Charge Update (BICUP) instead — a BIC-eligible broker who takes GENUP instead keeps an active license but loses BIC / BIC-eligible status.
Effective: Current license year — Update course may be completed July 1, 2026 – June 10, 2027
Source: https://bulletins.ncrec.gov/articles/page/5/ · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-44
North CarolinaFee from Apr 1, 2026
NC-07 License renewal by June 30; fee now $50
Licensing & CE · Applies to: All NC broker licensees (and Qualifying Brokers renewing firm licenses)
All NC broker licenses must be renewed annually by June 30 or the license expires (Rule 58A .0503). The renewal fee is now $50, up $5; the original broker license application fee also rose, to $105 (Rule 58A .0302), on the same date. Continuing education is due earlier, by June 10, and is a separate deadline from the June 30 renewal deadline.
Effective: Renewal fee $50 effective April 1, 2026 (first increase since 2014); renewal window May 15 – June 30 each year
Source: https://bulletins.ncrec.gov/2026/04/ · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-45
North CarolinaSep 30, 2025
NC-08 Doorify MLS "Limited Distribution" listings (delayed marketing exempt)
MLS policy · Applies to: Doorify MLS Participants and Subscribers, Triangle area
Doorify's implementation of NAR's Delayed Marketing-Exempt Listing (NAT-08) is called "Limited Distribution" — not "Limited Exposure," the name used in secondary coverage. During the limited-distribution period the listing is visible in the MLS to all Participants, Subscribers and their clients, but is withheld from IDX and syndication; days on market still count. The option sits in § 1.4 (Multiple Listing Options for Sellers), § 1.4.2 Limited Distribution Listings of Doorify's rules. Doorify's Coming Soon status runs a maximum of 30 days. Added in the second pass from Doorify's own support site.
Effective: Launched September 30, 2025 (in force); rules at § 1.4 of the Rules & Regulations (rev. May 26, 2026)
Source: https://support.doorifymls.com/hc/en-us/articles/32402136977427-Rules-Regulations · Doorify MLS support article on Limited Distribution (support.doorifymls.com) · Last checked: Nov 8, 2026 · Change log: CL-68 ---
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