Licensing, brokerage affiliation and the law in every state.

A principal broker licensed in another state may co-broker with an Alabama qualifying broker under a written co-brokerage agreement filed with the Commission within 10 days. The Alabama broker supervises showings and negotiations, holds earnest money and appears in all advertising. Since October 1, 2025, co-brokerage is capped at three transactions and $50 million per calendar year.

Act 2025-380 added the annual caps.

A broker validly licensed in another state may accept a fee or share of a commission from an Alaska broker for assisting that broker in licensed activity. The Alaska broker keeps the out-of-state licensee's written payment request and license copy for three years. Acting independently in Alaska requires an Alaska license.

An Arizona broker may cooperate with a broker lawfully operating in another state under a written cooperation agreement signed before any licensed activity, with all negotiations conducted through the Arizona broker. The out-of-state broker may not list, advertise or sign Arizona property, or sell or lease to an Arizona resident under the agreement.

An Arkansas broker may pay a referral fee to an out-of-state broker who only refers a client and performs no real estate activity in Arkansas. Listing, showing, negotiating or any other brokerage activity in Arkansas requires an Arkansas license.

Links go to the Commission's copy of the law; the official online code is hosted by a commercial publisher. The referral fee allowance rests on Commission guidance.

A California broker may pay a commission or referral fee to a broker licensed in another state, but the out-of-state broker may not act as a broker within California. California has no cooperation, temporary practice or reciprocity path.

A Colorado brokerage may pay a referral fee or commission share to a broker licensed in another state who referred the client and resides and keeps an office outside Colorado. Advertising, negotiating, contracting and closing on Colorado property must be performed by a Colorado licensee.

Statute link goes to the Division's copy of the license law; the official online code is hosted by a commercial publisher.

On commercial transactions, an out-of-state broker may perform licensed acts in cooperation with a Connecticut broker under a written agreement, but may not accompany a buyer at the property and must name the Connecticut broker in advertising. On residential transactions, an out-of-state licensee may only receive a referral fee.

An out-of-state licensee may represent a buyer or tenant on Delaware property that is not predominantly 1 to 4 family residential, after affiliating with a Delaware licensee under a written agreement. Listing property and all other activity requires a Delaware license. Referral fees to out-of-state brokers are permitted.

A Florida broker may pay a referral fee or share a commission with a broker licensed in another state. Operating as a broker for Florida property without an active Florida license is a felony, so the out-of-state broker's role is limited to referral and fee sharing.

A broker licensed in another state may conduct brokerage in Georgia without a Georgia license under a written agreement with a Georgia broker, who is responsible for the out-of-state broker's acts. Listings must be in the Georgia broker's name, advertising must identify the Georgia broker, and the Georgia broker holds trust funds unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

Georgia publishes its official code only through a commercial publisher. The link goes to the Commission's license law page, which links to the code.

A Hawaii broker may pay a commission to a broker licensed in another state only if that broker conducts none of the negotiations in Hawaii. Any brokerage activity in Hawaii requires a Hawaii license, and Hawaii has no license reciprocity with any state.

An out-of-state broker may work an Idaho commercial transaction after obtaining a transaction-based cooperative license with a consenting Idaho broker, who stays in charge of the transaction and handles all entrusted funds. Otherwise an Idaho broker may share compensation with a broker licensed in another state.

An Illinois licensee may cooperate with and pay compensation to a broker licensed in the state where that broker is domiciled. Acting as a broker in Illinois still requires an Illinois license, so in-state brokerage acts are performed by the Illinois licensee.

For commercial property, an out-of-state broker may perform licensed acts in cooperation with an Indiana broker under a written agreement, after filing an irrevocable consent with the Commission, naming the Indiana broker in advertising and depositing funds and records with the Indiana broker. For other property, an out-of-state broker is limited to referrals.

An Iowa broker may pay compensation to, or receive it from, a broker licensed in that broker's resident state. The nonresident broker may not list, show, negotiate or perform any other broker function in Iowa without an Iowa license.

Iowa renumbered these rules from agency 193E to agency 481 in 2026.

A broker licensed in another state may list or sell Kansas commercial real estate under a broker cooperation agreement with a Kansas supervising broker, filed with the Commission within five business days, with escrow held in Kansas and all showings and negotiations shared with the Kansas broker. The path does not cover residential or agricultural property.

An out-of-state principal broker may broker Kentucky commercial real estate under a written cooperation agreement with a Kentucky broker, acting under that broker's direct supervision, co-listing any Kentucky listing and filing a notice of affiliation. For other property, a Kentucky broker may only pay a referral fee to an out-of-state broker.

A Louisiana broker may cooperate with a broker licensed in another state under the Louisiana broker's direct supervision, with a written agreement filed with the Commission for each transaction before the property is advertised, shown or contracted. Advertising names both brokers and all fees pass through the Louisiana broker.

Rule links open the official Louisiana Administrative Code file (Word format).

A Maine agency may share compensation with a nonresident licensee only when the nonresident's services are performed outside Maine. Any brokerage performed in Maine requires a Maine license.

For commercial real estate, a nonresident broker may act in Maryland through a Maryland broker under a written agreement after receiving a temporary license from the Commission, with trust money held by the Maryland broker. Fee division with out-of-state licensees requires that their state allow the same with Maryland licensees.

Both paths depend on reciprocity with the broker's home state.

A Massachusetts broker may divide a fee with a broker properly licensed in another state, but no one may act as a broker in Massachusetts without a Massachusetts license.

A Michigan broker may pay a commission to a broker licensed by another state, but only if that broker does not conduct the negotiation in Michigan. Brokerage activity in Michigan requires a Michigan license.

A Minnesota licensee may split a commission or pay a referral fee to a person similarly licensed in another jurisdiction. Anyone acting as a broker in Minnesota must hold a Minnesota license.

A broker licensed in another state may cooperate with a Mississippi broker under a separate written agreement for each transaction, filed with the Commission within 10 days. The Mississippi broker holds the listing, supervises showings and negotiations, holds earnest money and appears in all advertising.

Statute link goes to the Commission's copy of the law; the official online code is hosted by a commercial publisher.

For commercial real estate, a Missouri broker may engage an out-of-state broker who signs a brokerage agreement with the Missouri broker, consents to Missouri jurisdiction and appoints the Commission as agent for service of process. Missouri licensees may also share compensation with out-of-state brokers.

A Montana broker may pay a commission to a broker licensed in another state only if that broker conducts no service in Montana for which the commission is paid. Brokerage activity in Montana requires a Montana license.

A Nebraska licensee may pay a referral fee to a nonresident licensed in his or her home jurisdiction, but no other compensation to anyone not licensed in Nebraska. Any brokerage activity in Nebraska requires a Nebraska license.

2025 LB 187 limited the payment to a referral fee.

A broker licensed in another state may work with a Nevada broker only after obtaining a cooperative certificate for a single transaction, and only to represent a buyer who is not a Nevada resident, with the Nevada broker in charge and handling all money. A Nevada broker may also pay a commission to a broker licensed in another state.

For commercial real estate, an out-of-state broker may perform licensed acts under a written cooperative brokerage agreement with a New Hampshire broker on the Commission's form, with showings, negotiations and advertising under that broker's supervision. For 1 to 4 family residential transactions, the out-of-state broker may only share compensation.

A New Jersey broker may pay a referral fee or referral commission to a broker licensed in another jurisdiction where that broker keeps a bona fide office. Listing, negotiating, soliciting and all other brokerage activity in New Jersey requires a New Jersey license.

New Jersey's official statutes database has no section links. Open it and search 45:15-3.1.

A broker licensed in another state may act on New Mexico commercial real estate after signing a transaction-specific written agreement with a New Mexico qualifying broker, conducting all contact and marketing through that broker and submitting to New Mexico jurisdiction. For other property, an out-of-state broker may only give or receive referral fees under a written referral agreement.

The § 61-29-16.1 link is the enacted 2014 bill; the official code site has no section links.

A New York broker may share a commission with a person regularly engaged in the brokerage business in another state. The out-of-state broker may not act as a broker in New York, even temporarily, without a New York license.

A North Carolina broker may split a commission with, or pay a referral fee to, a broker licensed in another state who performs no brokerage services while physically in North Carolina. To work in person on a commercial transaction, an out-of-state licensee needs a limited nonresident commercial license and a written cooperation agreement with a resident broker.

A North Dakota broker may share a commission with a broker licensed in another state only if that broker carries on none of the negotiations in North Dakota, whether in person or electronically. In practice the out-of-state broker's role is limited to referral.

For commercial real estate, an out-of-state broker may perform licensed acts in cooperation with an Ohio broker under a written agreement, with a certificate of good standing, consent to Ohio jurisdiction, the Ohio broker named in advertising, and escrow and records kept with the Ohio broker. For 1 to 4 residential units, only a referral fee is allowed.

An out-of-state broker may enter a cooperative brokerage agreement with an Oklahoma broker without an Oklahoma license, but each broker may conduct real estate activity only in the state where that broker is licensed. Performing licensed activity in Oklahoma requires an Oklahoma nonresident license.

Statute link is the full Title 59 PDF; § 858-306 is near page 720.

An Oregon principal broker may pay a finder's fee or share compensation on a cooperative sale with a broker licensed in another state that permits cooperation with Oregon brokers, if the out-of-state broker conducts no professional real estate activity in Oregon. Any such activity in Oregon requires an Oregon license.

The chapter page has no section links; scroll to the section cited.

Pennsylvania has no path for an out-of-state broker to perform brokerage in the Commonwealth by cooperating with a Pennsylvania broker; any brokerage activity requires a Pennsylvania license. A Pennsylvania broker may pay a referral fee to a broker licensed in another state who performs no licensed services in Pennsylvania.

No statute or rule expressly addresses out-of-state cooperation.

A Rhode Island broker may pay a commission to a broker licensed in another state, provided the out-of-state broker conducts none of the negotiations in Rhode Island. Brokerage activity in Rhode Island requires a Rhode Island license.

A South Carolina licensee may pay a referral fee, on a cooperative basis, to a brokerage of another state that conducts no brokerage service in South Carolina for the compensation paid. Any brokerage activity in South Carolina requires a South Carolina license.

The chapter page has no section links; scroll to the section cited.

A South Dakota broker may share a commission with a broker licensed in another state only if that broker carries on none of the negotiations in South Dakota, in person or electronically. Licensed activity in South Dakota requires a South Dakota license.

A Tennessee broker may pay a commission to a broker licensed in another state only if that broker conducts none of the negotiations in Tennessee. An out-of-state licensee may not partner with a Tennessee licensee to perform acts that require a Tennessee license.

Tennessee publishes its official code only through a commercial publisher. Links go to the Commission's laws page, which links to the code.

A Texas broker may cooperate with and share commissions with a broker licensed in another state, provided the out-of-state broker conducts none of the negotiations in Texas. Only Texas license holders may negotiate in Texas or show property, and brokerage on Texas property conducted remotely counts as acting in Texas.

A Utah licensee may share compensation with a principal broker of another jurisdiction, but any licensed activity involving Utah real estate requires a Utah license.

A Vermont brokerage may pay or receive a referral fee, under a written referral agreement, with a firm licensed in another jurisdiction. A licensee from another jurisdiction may observe, but not perform, brokerage services in Vermont.

A licensee in good standing in another state may, without a Virginia license, assist an out-of-state buyer or tenant with Virginia commercial real estate and be compensated by a Virginia broker. All other licensed activity, including listing Virginia property, requires a Virginia license; referral fees to out-of-state licensees are permitted.

For commercial real estate, an out-of-state licensee may perform licensed acts in cooperation with a Washington designated broker under a written agreement, consenting to Washington jurisdiction, naming the Washington firm in advertising and depositing records with it. For 1 to 4 unit residential property, the out-of-state licensee may only receive shared compensation such as a referral fee.

A West Virginia license is required before practicing brokerage in West Virginia, even for a person licensed in another state who is affiliated with a West Virginia broker. The law does not expressly address referral fees to out-of-state brokers.

Confirm referral arrangements with the Commission before relying on one.

An out-of-state broker may act in Wisconsin under a written cooperative agreement with a Wisconsin firm, after filing an irrevocable consent to service, either on one specific Wisconsin listing or, for commercial transactions, representing a buyer or tenant. The out-of-state broker may not list or promote Wisconsin property.

A Wyoming responsible broker may pay compensation to a broker licensed in another state only if that broker conducts no real estate activity in Wyoming for which it is paid. Any real estate activity in Wyoming requires a Wyoming license.

Link is the full Title 33 PDF; Chapter 28 is within it.