Location categories validation rules for precision, distinctness, country restrictions, and attribute compatibility

Category

CategoriesListMustNotIncludeNulls

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that a list does not include null

CategoriesMustBeDistinct

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that each category is distinct			Link

CategoriesMustBePresent

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that categories are present

CategoriesMustBeValid

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that category is valid			Link

CategoryMustNotBeDeprecated

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that category is not deprecated

CategoriesMustNotBeEmpty

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that categories is not an empty string

CategoriesMustNotBeEmptyArray

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that categories is not an empty array

CountOfItemsInCategoriesListExceedsThreshold

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that the count of items in categories does not exceed twenty (20)

ListShouldExcludeRedundantCategory

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that a top level category is excluded when already included as period delimited value in another category			Link

PrimaryCategoryRequiresReview

Preconditions
Brand type is "regular" or "umbrella"

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that the primary category exactly matches any brand category

Example Validation Report

{
  "code": "VALIDATION__PrimaryCategoryRequiresReview",
  "severity": "WARNING",
  "message": "'{{value}}' requires review",
  "context": {
    "value": "dining.dessert_shop.ice_cream_shop.gelato_shop"
  },
  "details": {
    "createdDate": "2026-10-01T21:00:59.865Z",
    "submitted": [
      {
        "field": "$.locationDetails.categories[0]",
        "value": "dining.dessert_shop.ice_cream_shop.gelato_shop"
      }
    ],
    "compared": [],
    "expected": []
  }
}

Change Detection

TopLevelCategoryChanged

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that each top level category in the latest submittal matches a top level category in the previous submittal			Link

TopLevelCategoryUnmatched

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that a top level category in the previous submittal is matched in the latest submittal			Link

Cross-feature

UnexpectedCategoryForLocationAttribute

Preconditions
locationAttributes is present

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that a listed locationAttributes value is only accompanied by values in a categories list that are expected

Example Validation Report

{
  "code": "VALIDATION__UnexpectedCategoryForLocationAttribute",
  "severity": "VIOLATION",
  "message": "Location attribute '{{name}}' is accompanied by unexpected location category",
  "context": {
    "name": "accolades.golf_digest.100_greatest_courses_in_admin_area_type"
  },
  "details": {
    "createdDate": "2026-02-10T11:36:02.00Z",
    "submitted": [
      {
        "field": "$.locationDetails.locationAttributes[0]",
        "value": {
          "name": "accolades.golf_digest.100_greatest_courses_in_admin_area_type",
          "value": "true"
        }
      },
      {
        "field": "$.locationDetails.categories[0]",
        "value": "commercial_sector.wholesaler.industrial_supplier"
      },
      {
        "field": "$.locationDetails.categories[1]",
        "value": "commercial_sector.wholesaler.industrial_supplier.industrial_equipment_supplier.forklift_service"
      }
    ],
    "compared": [],
    "expected": []
  }
}

InvalidCategoryForCountry

Preconditions
structuredAddress is present

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that category is valid for use with the corresponding country identified by countryCode

Category	Code
shopping.food_mart.convenience_store.spatkauf	DE
dining.cafe.cannabis_cafe	IL, NL
civil_service.government_office.government_department.law_enforcement_agency.police_department.police_box	JP, SG

InvalidCategoryForDerivedCountry

Preconditions
displayPoint is present
structuredAddress is not present

Definition	Severity	API	Sample	Mode
Validate that category is valid for use with the corresponding country derived from the displayPoint