10 CCR § 2731. Use of False or Fictitious Name.

Use of False or Fictitious Name.

(a) A licensee shall not use a fictitious name in the conduct of any activity for which a license is required under the Real Estate Law unless the licensee is the holder of a license bearing the fictitious name.

(b) The Bureau shall issue a license required under the Real Estate Law only in the legal name of the licensee or in the fictitious business name of a broker who presents evidence of having complied with the provisions of Sections 17910 and 17917 of the Code.

(c) The commissioner may refuse to issue a license bearing a fictitious name to a broker if the fictitious name:

(1) Is misleading or would constitute false advertising.

(2) Implies a partnership or corporation when a partnership or corporation does not exist in fact.

(3) Includes the name of a real estate salesperson.

(4) Constitutes a violation of the provisions of Sections 17910, 17910.5, 17913 or 17917 of the Code.

(5) Is the name formerly used by a licensee whose license has since been revoked.

(d) A license may not be issued or renewed with a fictitious business name containing the term “escrow”, or any name which implies that escrow services are provided, unless the fictitious business name includes the term, “a non-independent broker escrow” following the name. Licensees who have been or are issued a license with a fictitious business name with the term “escrow”, or any term which implies that escrow services are provided, must include the term “a non-independent broker escrow” in any advertising, signs, or electronic promotional material.

(e) Where a licensee is a natural person, the use of a nickname in place of his or her legal given name (first name) shall not constitute a fictitious name for purposes of this section, provided that where the nickname is used, the licensee also uses as a surname (last name) his or her surname as it appears on his or her real estate license, and includes his or her Bureau-issued license identification number as required by Section 10140.6 of the Code.

Official source: § 2731. Use of False or Fictitious Name..

Source snapshot retrieved: 2026-09-23T18:07:17.104Z.

6. New subsection (e) and amendment of Note filed 8-11-2011; operative 9-10-2011 (Register 2011, No. 32).

7. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (b) and (e) filed 6-30-2014 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2014, No. 27).

Applicability basis: 1 CCR § 100 provides that an agency may add to, revise or delete text published in the California Code of Regulations without complying with the rulemaking procedure specified in article 5 of the APA only if the change does not materially alter any requirement, right, responsibility, condition, prescription or other regulatory element of any California Code of Regulations provision.

Version dates (indexing metadata): Effective 2011-09-10.

Date derivation (indexing metadata): This is the current publisher text. The filing history states: "6. New subsection (e) and amendment of Note filed 8-11-2011; operative 9-10-2011 (Register 2011, No. 32)." The later entry is: "7. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (b) and (e) filed 6-30-2014 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2014, No. 27).". Under 1 CCR § 100, a change without regulatory effect cannot materially alter a regulatory element. The indexing start is therefore the last substantive operative date, 2011-09-10. No earlier version is represented.