AI tools make it easy to stage an empty unit, swap dated flooring, or turn a brown yard green in seconds. Starting January 1, 2027, California landlords who do that in a rental ad have to say so. AB 2025, signed in September 2026, extends the state's existing disclosure rules for sale listings to rental listings.
What Counts as a "Digitally Altered" Image
AB 2025 covers rental ads and other promotional material that include images:
- Changed with photo-editing software, or
- Generated entirely by artificial intelligence
Covered changes include adding, removing, or changing furniture, appliances, flooring, paint, or landscaping.
Not covered: routine adjustments to lighting, color, cropping, or exposure, as long as they don't change how the property is represented. Brightening a dark photo is fine. Painting the walls a new color in Photoshop is not.
What the Disclosure Must Look Like
If an image in your rental ad is digitally altered:
- Add a disclosure that is reasonably conspicuous and appears on or next to the altered image.
- Show the original. If you altered a real photo, the ad must also include the unaltered version or a link, URL, or QR code to a publicly accessible page where the original is clearly identified.
- Say where the original is. If you use a link, URL, or QR code, the disclosure must state that the unaltered photo is available there.
Fully AI-generated images still need the disclosure. The "show the original" requirement applies when you started from a real photo.
Real Estate Licensees Face Extra Risk
If you hold a California real estate license, or a licensed agent handles your listings, a violation of AB 2025 also counts as a violation of the Real Estate Law. That can put the license itself at risk, not just the listing.
Practical Setup for Small Landlords
- Keep every original photo in a folder labeled by property and date
- Use a simple label on edited images, such as "Virtually staged — see original photos"
- Put the originals on a public page or shared album and link it in the ad
- Don't use edits to hide defects. California already prohibits misleading advertising, and AB 2025 doesn't change that
- Remember that your move-in photos (required under AB 2801) should always be unedited
Bottom Line for Landlords
- Starting January 1, 2027, digitally altered or AI-generated images in California rental ads need a disclosure on or next to the image
- If you edited a real photo, include the original or a link/QR code to it
- Lighting, color, crop, and exposure tweaks are fine if they don't change how the unit is represented
- For licensees, a violation is also a licensing-law violation
FAQ
Is virtual staging allowed in California rental listings?
Yes. Starting January 1, 2027, AB 2025 requires a conspicuous disclosure on or next to the staged image, plus the original photo or a link or QR code to it.
Do I need to disclose brightening or cropping a rental photo?
No. Routine changes to lighting, color, cropping, or exposure are excluded as long as they don't change how the property is represented.
Does AB 2025 apply to fully AI-generated images?
Yes. Images generated entirely by artificial intelligence are covered and need a disclosure.
Keep your original photos organized
LeaseConnectPro stores property photos alongside your leases and documents, so the unedited originals are always easy to find.
Download Free →This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed California attorney for guidance specific to your property.