How to get delisted from Spamhaus (ZEN / SBL / XBL / PBL / DBL)

The most widely used blocklists. ZEN combines the IP lists (SBL, CSS, XBL, PBL); DBL lists domains.

Fix the cause first

1. XBL means a compromised machine: find and clean the malware/compromised host first.
2. DBL (domain listing): remove infected files, update your CMS and plugins, rotate all passwords, enable 2FA.

Explicitly automatic: Spamhaus states an unresolved problem re-lists the IP the next time it's seen, and DBL domains re-list automatically on re-detection.

Then request removal

1. Look up your IP or domain at check.spamhaus.org — it shows exactly which list you're on and why.
2. Follow the checker's removal flow: where self-service applies it raises the delisting ticket automatically.
3. SBL (human-curated spam operations): only the network owner controlling the IP can get it removed — if that's your hosting provider, you must go through them.
4. PBL is a policy list, not an accusation: it means your IP range shouldn't send direct mail. The right fix is usually sending through your provider's authenticated SMTP (port 587/465), not delisting. Self-remove only if the IP is genuinely a static mail server with matching forward and reverse DNS.

Cost: Free — Spamhaus states there is never a charge for removal; anyone asking you to pay for Spamhaus delisting is running a scam.

Before any delisting request — the fundamentals

• ·Find and clean the actual source: compromised accounts or machines, malware, insecure web forms, open relays or proxies (many "open relays" turn out to be infected machines).
• ·Set up SPF and DKIM on everything that sends, and publish DMARC.
• ·Give every sending IP meaningful, matching forward and reverse DNS (PTR).
• ·Make sure abuse@ and postmaster@ addresses exist, are monitored, and never bounce.
• ·Only then request delisting where the operator offers it — every major operator relists automatically (or keeps filtering) while the cause persists.

Process verified against the operator's own pages on 2026-07-12.