• by Laurie Sullivan , Yesterday

Apple quietly posted its official guidelines and policy terms for businesses looking to buy ad placements inside Apple Maps, but as of Wednesday the service had yet to officially launch.

In a newly published Apple Advertising Services policy on July 14, 2026, the iPhone maker outlined rules for advertising in Apple Maps.

While a long list of prohibitions exists, one unexpected service landed on the list.

Apple will prohibit the broad category of home-services businesses such as plumbing, electrical, locksmith, HVAC, pest control, roofing and general contracting services, among others.

In contrast to local-services ads from companies like Google or Yelp, Apple said it will limit Maps Ads to places with a physical address.

Others typical categories include alcohol, dating, contests and sweepstakes, gambling, religion, bail bonds, cryptocurrency ATMs, and medical services.

The list of policies helps explain the categories that have been approved and not approved when advertising content with Apple’s advertising services. The company encourages each advertiser and its agency to consult with legal counsel.

“When advertising within Apple’s video, display, and maps advertising inventory, you must comply with all the following policies relating to advertising,” the company wrote in the post. “If you violate any of these policies, you may not be eligible to use Apple’s advertising services.”

Apple announced in March that it would launch an advertising platform for Maps that allows agencies and brands to run campaigns in the company’s Maps app initially in the U.S. and Canada.

The advertising platform offers marketers with experience running ads several custom options, such as targeting by location or time and day.

The platform also will provide advertisers with less experience a roadmap to begin reaching consumers under varied pricing models.

The ads will serve in Maps during key search experiences when users look for a business that has a physical location.

At the time of the announcement, Apple said advertisers or their agency partners would not be required to sign a long-term commitment. Advertisers can start or stop running ads at any time.