REFERRAL-ONLY
MEANS REFERRAL-ONLY.
Know where referral status ends — and where another access path begins.
The Limited Function Referral Office waiver is designed for licensees whose real estate activity is strictly limited to referrals. It does not provide limited brokerage privileges or MLS access. If your office needs administrative MLS support instead, CCOR offers a compliant, dedicated access path for eligible unlicensed assistants.
LFRO IN THREE POINTS
Core operational guardrails every broker and office manager should know when structuring referral licensees and administrative staff.
REFERRALS
The only real estate activity authorized under the waiver. Licensees may send client referrals and receive referral fees through their supervising broker.
NO MLS ACCESS
NAR's LFRO policy specifically establishes that LFRO licensees are ineligible for MLS subscriptions, credentials, or system access.
SEPARATE ENTITY
The waiver structure requires licensees to be held through a separate legal referral entity, isolated from the REALTOR® firm's brokerage practice.
CAN THEY DO THAT?
Choose a common office activity below to see how authorization differs across LFRO, Unlicensed Assistant, and Active Licensee roles.
Refer a client to another licensee
Authorized. The core activity permitted under the LFRO waiver is placing referrals with licensed brokerages.
Unlicensed assistants cannot solicit clients or earn referral fees requiring a real estate license.
Active licensees can refer clients and receive referral compensation through their supervising broker.
Summary based on published NAR LFRO guidelines, CCOR MLS rules, and Florida DBPR regulatory guidance.
WHAT AN LFRO LICENSEE DOES NOT DO
Under NAR's Limited Function Referral Office policy, the exemption requires that licensees not engage "to any degree" in real estate brokerage activities other than making referrals.
"WHAT ABOUT JUST ONE FAMILY TRANSACTION?"
NAR specifically addresses this common broker question: The LFRO waiver does not permit a licensee to list a property for a family member or friend as an exception. To list or sell any property, the licensee must be placed with an active REALTOR® brokerage firm and hold proper MLS subscriber access.
READ THE FULL NAR POLICYNO MLS ACCESS DOESN'T MEAN BORROW SOMEONE ELSE'S LOGIN.
Every person accessing CCOR's MLS must use the unique credentials assigned to their own authorized account. Sharing credentials violates Article 3 of the CCOR MLS Rules.
Assessed automatically against the credential holder upon verified credential sharing.
Mandatory account suspension applied on the first confirmed credential sharing offense.
Doubled financial fine paired with an extended 60-day MLS service suspension.
NEED HELP RUNNING THE OFFICE?
If the person's real role is administrative support rather than referral activity, CCOR provides an authorized, compliant access path for eligible unlicensed assistants.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WITHOUT CROSSING THE LICENSING LINE
The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) and DBPR provide official guidance defining permissible administrative duties for support staff under broker supervision.
- Fill out and submit listing agreements and status changes to the MLS under direct broker supervision.
- Provide objective, written property information strictly from materials prepared and approved by the broker.
- Place approved listing signs, lockboxes, and marketing flyers at listed properties.
- Assemble closing files, track required disclosures, and coordinate document delivery to title and lending entities.
- Follow up on loan commitments, appraisal schedules, and title status under broker oversight.
- Schedule appointments for appraisers, home inspectors, pest inspectors, and closing agents.
- Coordinate open house dates, prepare printed packets, and staff registration tables (without discussing terms or showing property independently).
- Draft promotional materials, advertisements, and social media announcements for mandatory broker review and approval.
- Answer phones, take clerical messages, and route client inquiries to the appropriate licensed professional.
- Retrieve public property records, tax cards, zoning maps, and municipal documents.
- Order title searches, survey reports, and lien searches requested by the supervising broker.
THREE ROLES. THREE DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
Compare license status, MLS permissions, and authorized activities across all three categories to ensure your office operates with the right access.
| Operational Role Feature | LFRO Licensee | Unlicensed Assistant | Active Licensee / MLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Client referrals only | Clerical & administrative support | Full real estate brokerage practice |
| Active Real Estate License | Yes (in separate referral entity) | NO (Must be unlicensed) | Yes (Active with REALTOR® firm) |
| MLS / Matrix Access | NO ACCESS (NAR policy) | Authorized Administrative Login | Full MLS Subscriber Access |
| Listing Input & Status Edits | Not authorized | Authorized (under broker direction) | Authorized (full authority) |
| Showings & Open Houses | Not authorized | Staff registration desk only | Authorized |
| Contract Negotiation | Not authorized | Not authorized | Authorized |
| Provide Real Estate Advice | Not authorized | Not authorized | Authorized |
| Property Management | Not authorized | Clerical tracking only | Authorized |
| Own Credentials Required | N/A (No MLS access) | YES (Unique administrative account) | YES (Unique subscriber account) |
LFRO Licensee
- Purpose: Referral-only activity
- License: Held in separate entity
- MLS Access: None (Ineligible)
- Brokerage Privileges: None
Unlicensed Assistant
- Purpose: Administrative office support
- License: Must NOT hold active license
- MLS Access: Own administrative account ($120/yr)
- Brokerage Privileges: Clerical only
Active Licensee / MLS
- Purpose: Licensed real estate practice
- License: Active with REALTOR® firm
- MLS Access: Full Matrix subscriber
- Brokerage Privileges: Full licensed authority
WHAT DOES THIS PERSON ACTUALLY NEED TO DO?
Select the operational statement that reflects the person's true day-to-day responsibilities in your office:
LFRO May Be the Appropriate Structure
Review NAR's LFRO requirements and confirm that the licensee will hold their license through a separate referral entity and perform strictly referral activities without MLS access.
VIEW LFRO POLICY ↗FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Direct, practical answers to common broker and office manager questions regarding LFRO policies, credentials, and assistant accounts.
RIGHT ROLE.
RIGHT ACCESS.
Set each account up around what the person actually does — referrals, administrative support, or licensed brokerage activity. CCOR is here to help your office configure compliant access seamlessly.
POLICY & REGULATORY GUIDANCE REFERENCES
Disclaimer: This page is intended as a general educational resource summarizing association/MLS policy and published Florida regulatory guidance. It is not legal advice. Brokers should consult the applicable source documents and appropriate legal counsel when legal interpretation is required.