Not sure what to write in your rules? These community guidelines examples show you what to include: a purpose, expected and prohibited behavior, and how you enforce and report problems. Start short, be specific, and keep them current.
This guide is part of the wider topic of online community management, so read it alongside the other guides on running a community.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Minimum building blocks in a set of guidelines (Circle) | Five: mission, expected behaviors, prohibited behaviors, moderation policies, reporting |
| Areas most effective guidelines cover (Bettermode) | Eight |
| Brand communities in Bettermode’s examples | 7, checked October 13, 2026 |
| Webflow’s opening rules | Three one-line rules before a longer code of conduct |
| Atlassian’s definition of necroposting | Replying to a thread six months old or more |
Sources: Circle’s guide to community guideline examples and Bettermode’s guide to community guidelines. Community pages and guides get updated, so check the sources before you rely on these figures.
Guidelines, rules and standards: what is the difference?
Circle describes community guidelines as a clear set of shared expectations that shape how members behave, communicate and contribute within your space. In practice, a good set of guidelines mixes three layers, as Circle’s 2025 guide explains.
- Guidelines are the big-picture expectations, such as “Give more than you take. Ask thoughtful questions and support others when you can.”
- Rules are specific, enforceable dos and don’ts, such as “No self-promotion outside the #introductions or #resources spaces.”
- Standards are the core values behind both, such as “We’re here to build a culture of trust, kindness, and accountability.”
Bettermode makes a point about timing: guidelines do most of their work before anything goes wrong. New members read them to learn what kind of place they have joined. When a moderator later removes a post, the written guidelines make the call look fair rather than personal.
The five building blocks every set of guidelines needs
Whether yours are long or brief, Circle says they need five building blocks at a minimum. Each one comes with sample wording you can adapt.
- Mission statement. Remind people why the community exists. One or two lines are enough to help members understand what they are joining.
- Expected behaviors. Show what good participation looks like, for example “Share experiences, not just advice. Listen first. Celebrate wins, and offer feedback with generosity.”
- Prohibited behaviors. Say what is not allowed, for example “No hate speech, harassment, trolling, or passive-aggressive replies.”
- Moderation policies. Explain how you respond, for example “We’ll give a heads-up the first time. Continued violations may result in post removal or removal from the community entirely.”
- Reporting mechanisms. Tell members how to speak up, for example “To report an issue, DM myself directly or use the ‘Report’ button on any post or comment.”
Notice that the prohibited behaviors are blunt, while the expected behaviors are concrete. A vague line like “be nice” gives members and moderators very little to act on.
Community guidelines examples from real communities
Bettermode lists examples from 7 brand communities and names the move worth copying from each. Its page was last updated October 13, 2026, and these three examples stand out.
- Webflow, per Bettermode, opens with three one-line rules, then expands into a longer code of conduct. One rule, “Flag, don’t fight,” tells members to report bad behavior rather than engage with it.
- Yoto Space defines the words others leave vague. Promotion means affiliate links or referral codes, and campaigning means posting repeatedly to push a cause.
- Atlassian, per Bettermode, makes its rules specific. Necroposting means replying to a thread six months old or more.
A DEV Community post from May 7, 2022 adds a few more patterns worth borrowing.
- Twitter, as that post described it, started with a simple purpose statement before listing limits on users.
- Buffer listed its community values as Positivity, Courage & Respect, and Thoughtful Language.
- Bumble presented its community guidelines right as users sign up, so people see a short version before they join.
- Lyft added a section for people unwilling to comply, telling them the rules may not be for them and that non-compliance leads to a ban.
Extra sections worth adding: privacy, promotion and AI
The five basics cover most situations, but Bettermode says the most effective guidelines cover eight areas. Beyond purpose, expected behavior and enforcement, three areas cause the most trouble.
- Privacy. Ban posting personal information. In communities where members share screenshots, ask them to blur customer records, account IDs and API keys.
- Self-promotion. Decide where members can share their own work and whether affiliate links are allowed. Atlassian’s partner rule is a good model: partners answer the question asked and may link to their partner page, not to their own site.
- AI-generated content. HubSpot asks members to disclose when a post was written with AI help and to check it for accuracy. Atlassian lets members use AI for language and formatting but expects the substance to be their own.
For harassment, hate speech and illegal content, Bettermode recommends a zero tolerance stance. List what gets someone removed without a warning, such as threats, targeted personal information and illegal content.
A simple template you can adapt
GroupApp publishes a community rules template with a placeholder for your community name. It works as a starting skeleton, and each rule is a short heading with one or two sentences of explanation.
- Be respectful: no personal attacks, harassment, hate speech or bullying.
- Stay on topic: off-topic posts may be removed.
- No spam: self-promotion and irrelevant links are not allowed unless specifically stated, so ask the admins first.
- Privacy is important: do not share private information about others without express permission.
- No illegal content: sharing or promoting it is prohibited.
- Report, don’t respond: report violations instead of replying, and the admins will handle it.
- Admins have the final word: admins can remove posts, comments and members who do not follow the guidelines.
Treat it as a draft rather than a finished product. If you have not yet settled what your community is for, read how to build an online community first, because the purpose line shapes every rule that follows.
How to present, enforce and update your guidelines
Circle’s advice is to solve real problems: create guidelines that address real (not theoretical) problems, and don’t just copy someone else’s. Use these steps as a working order.
- List the awkward posts and off-topic habits that have already happened in your space.
- Write a one- or two-line purpose, then the expected and prohibited behaviors.
- Show a short version at sign-up, the way Bumble does, with a link to the full text.
- Write down the consequences and the reporting route, so a removal matches what the page said would happen.
- Invite discussion, and tell members when you make major updates.
The GroupApp template notes that guidelines are subject to change and that members will be notified of major updates. The DEV post adds a gentle-first approach: there are many ways to resolve an issue, such as steering the conversation or messaging the person, before drastic action like a ban. For the daily work of applying the rules, see how to moderate an online community.
Frequently asked questions
How long should community guidelines be?
Show answer
There is no fixed length. In Bettermode’s examples, FlutterFlow’s guidelines fit on one screen, while HubSpot’s run to several sections. Cover the essentials clearly and keep each rule specific.
Which sections are essential?
Show answer
Circle names five minimum building blocks: a mission statement, expected behaviors, prohibited behaviors, moderation policies and reporting mechanisms. Add privacy, promotion and AI rules if your community needs them.
Can I copy another community’s guidelines?
Show answer
Use them for inspiration, not as a copy. Circle points out that no two communities are alike, so your guidelines should reflect the culture you want to build.
What should happen when someone breaks a rule?
Show answer
Write the consequences down in advance. Bettermode says members accept a removal far more readily when it matches what the page said would happen, and Circle’s sample wording offers a heads-up before removal.
