What are the BC MLS Rules of Cooperation?

Direct answer

The Rules of Cooperation are the cross-board contractual standards that govern how MLS-member realtors share listing information and split commissions with buyer-side brokerages. Each BC real-estate board (Greater Vancouver REALTORS, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, BC Northern, etc.) publishes its own Rules of Cooperation; they share a common template anchored to the CREA REALTOR Code. Core obligations include: (1) timely sharing of listing data on the MLS (typically within 24 hours of listing acceptance, with limited "office exclusive" exceptions); (2) a binding offer of cooperation (compensation) to buyer-side brokerages, expressed as a percentage of the sale price, advertised in the MLS listing; (3) a duty of cooperation among listing and selling brokerages even when commissions are disputed. The 2024 NAR (US) settlement on commissions changed how buyer-side compensation is advertised in some US markets but does NOT directly bind BC brokerages — Canadian commission practices remain governed by board rules + the federal Competition Act. CREA's 2024 update to the REALTOR Code reaffirmed transparency to clients on commission. For consumers: every BC offer to purchase has a written buyer-side compensation agreement; ask your buyer's agent for the executed agreement before viewing properties.