Facebook Marketplace has become a popular platform for buying and selling new and used items locally. However, there are some restrictions on what can be sold on Facebook Marketplace. Understanding these restrictions is important for anyone looking to use Facebook Marketplace to buy or sell items.
Prohibited Items
Facebook outlines several categories of prohibited items that cannot be sold on Facebook Marketplace. Attempting to sell these items may result in your listing being removed or your account being banned.
Illegal Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia
The sale of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia is strictly prohibited on Facebook Marketplace. This includes marijuana, even in locations where recreational use is legal. Prescription drugs also cannot be sold without a valid prescription.
Alcohol and Tobacco
Alcohol and tobacco products cannot be sold on Facebook Marketplace, even to users over the legal drinking/smoking age. This includes beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape pens, etc.
Weapons
Weapons such as firearms, ammunition, knives, pepper spray, and other dangerous weapons are prohibited from sale on Facebook Marketplace. Toy weapons or props may also be prohibited in some cases.
Live Animals
The sale of live animals is not allowed on Facebook Marketplace, with the exception of seafood. Listings for pets, livestock, or wild animals will be removed.
Adult Content and Services
Listings that contain nudity, promote escort services, offer adult massages, or suggest sexual encounters are prohibited. This includes adult videos/DVDs, magazines, toys, etc.
Multi-Level Marketing Products
Products from multi-level marketing (MLM) companies like Herbalife, DoTerra, Amway, etc. cannot be sold on Facebook Marketplace. This applies even if you are an authorized distributor for the MLM.
Gift Cards and Vouchers
Unused gift cards and discount vouchers cannot be sold on Facebook Marketplace, except by authorized dealers. This includes retail gift cards, promotional giveaways, coupon codes, etc.
Prescription Medications
As mentioned above, prescription medications can only be sold on Facebook Marketplace by licensed pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription. Individual users cannot sell their unused medications.
Questionable and Dangerous Products
In addition to outright banned items, Facebook also prohibits listings for questionable, controversial, or potentially dangerous products. These items may be removed even if they are technically legal to sell.
Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia
Even if technically legal in some areas, Facebook prohibits listings for marijuana, CBD, and related paraphernalia. Listings for magic mushrooms, kratom, or other questionable substances are also not allowed.
Unregulated Health Products
Listings for unapproved drugs, pharmaceuticals, or other health products that may be unsafe are prohibited. This includes vitamins, supplements, homeopathic remedies, etc. that lack FDA approval.
Unsafe Children’s Products
Children’s toys, car seats, cribs etc. that have been deemed unsafe by regulators cannot be sold on Facebook Marketplace. Even vintage kids’ products may be prohibited if they do not meet modern safety standards.
Fake or Counterfeit Products
Counterfeit designer clothing, handbags, watches, etc. are prohibited on Facebook Marketplace. Unauthorized replicas or “knock-offs” of copyrighted products and merchandise are also not allowed.
Recalled Items
Any product, food item, toy, or vehicle that has been recalled for safety reasons cannot be sold on Facebook Marketplace. Sellers must comply with official recalls.
Restricted Services
In addition to physical products, Facebook also places restrictions on the types of services that can be offered through Marketplace listings.
Financial Services
Offering loans, credit, insurance services, investments, banking, etc. is prohibited, except by authorized providers. Cryptocurrency and NFT sales are also not allowed.
Medical Services
Medical, dental, veterinary, or health services require proper licensing and credentials. Listings offering medical advice or treatments may be removed.
Home Services
Home improvement, repair, installation, and other services offered inside a user’s residence must comply with eligibility rules. Unlicensed services may be prohibited.
Legal Services
Legal services, counseling, or advice can only be offered by licensed attorneys or accredited professionals. Listings offering paralegal services or legal forms may also be restricted.
Therapy and Counseling
Mental health, relationship, career, or other counseling services must be offered by accredited therapists or counselors. Listings lacking proper credentials will be removed.
Questionable or Controversial Services
Similar to physical products, Facebook prohibits Marketplace listings for services that may be unsafe, unethical, or objectionable.
Fortune Telling and Astrology Services
Listings offering psychic readings, tarot card reading, astrology forecasts, and related services are prohibited on Facebook Marketplace.
Essay Writing and Test-Taking Services
Any service offering to complete school assignments, take online courses, or pass exams on another user’s behalf is strictly prohibited.
Immigration Services
Assistance with visas, green cards, citizenship applications, or other immigration services may only be offered by authorized providers.
Substance Abuse Services
Listing offering substance abuse recovery services, addiction counseling, interventions, etc. are not allowed on Facebook Marketplace.
Surrogacy Services
Surrogacy services, sperm/egg donation services, or anything relating to assisted human reproduction is prohibited on Facebook Marketplace.
Limits for Service Providers
For service providers who meet eligibility requirements to offer services on Facebook Marketplace, there are additional limits in place:
- Services cannot be offered to users under 18 years old.
- Listings may not offer services more than 100 miles from the provider’s location.
- Services must be fulfilled directly between the provider and customer (no third-party fulfillment).
- Service providers are responsible for determining if additional licenses, permits, or credentials are required in their jurisdiction.
Other Prohibited Content
In addition to physical items and services, Facebook also prohibits certain intangible content and information from being sold:
Personal Information
Listings offering to sell or trade personally identifiable information, data breaches, credit card details, login credentials, etc. are prohibited.
Academic Materials
Sellers are prohibited from offering class notes, assignments, tests, presentations, or other restricted academic materials.
Government Documents
Official government documents like IDs, records, classified information, etc. cannot be sold on Facebook Marketplace.
Compromising Content
Listings that attempt to trade compromising material, embarrassing secrets, photos/videos, etc. in exchange for money will be promptly removed.
Limits on Currency and Virtual Items
While physical currency and some virtual items are permitted on Facebook Marketplace, there are strict limits in place:
- National currencies can be sold, but only face-to-face using Buy and Sell Groups.
- Gift cards and store credit must be sold at face value only.
- Trading, selling, or redeeming cryptocurrency and NFTs is prohibited.
- Virtual items from multiplayer games can be sold, but game accounts or currencies cannot.
Other Common Prohibited Items
While Facebook provides guidelines on prohibited items, here are some everyday things that are often ineligible for sale on Marketplace:
| Category | Common Prohibited Items |
|---|---|
| Electronics | Signal jammers, surveillance devices |
| Home and Garden | Fireworks, hazardous chemicals |
| Sporting Goods | Night vision goggles, police batons |
| Toys | BB guns, dangerous toys |
| Media | Bootleg movies, copyrighted materials |
| Tickets | Fake tickets, speculative tickets |
| Auto Parts | Airbag components, VIN-tagged parts |
Getting Removed Items Reinstated
If one of your Facebook Marketplace listings gets removed, you can request a review through the Help Center. However, items prohibited by Facebook’s Commerce Policies are unlikely to be reinstated upon appeal. Continually posting prohibited items may result in your account being disabled.
Conclusion
Facebook Marketplace allows users to buy and sell new and used goods locally, but prohibits illegal, dangerous, or inappropriate items. This includes drugs, weapons, alcohol, tobacco, adult content, services lacking proper credentials, virtual currencies, and many other product categories. Understanding these restrictions helps ensure your Marketplace experience follows community standards.