Overview
- The policy, which took effect July 14, 2026, sets the rules for upcoming Apple Maps ads and says the feature will arrive “this summer” in the U.S. and Canada without a specific launch date.
- Apple forbids a broad home‑services category — including plumbing, electrical, locksmith, HVAC, pest control, roofing, and general contracting — from advertising in Maps.
- The rules also ban bail bond services and cryptocurrency ATMs while saying medical‑service ads will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis.
- Apple plans to show only a single sponsored listing per Maps search, mark promoted pins with a blue halo and an “Ad” label, and keep ad interaction and location activity on the user’s device rather than collecting or sharing it.
- By limiting eligible advertisers and keeping tight content controls, Apple is positioning Maps as a curated, storefront‑focused product that departs from Google’s broader local‑ads model and reduces the need for complex verification systems.