Guides · updated 2026-09-06

How to Remove Your IP or Domain from Spamhaus

When mail suddenly stops arriving, a Spamhaus listing is the usual suspect. Receiving servers reject or spam-folder anything coming from a listed IP or domain. This walks through finding the cause and getting delisted for good, instead of bouncing straight back onto the list.

The Spamhaus zones, explained

• SBL — IP addresses observed sending spam.
• CSS — an SBL subset for snowshoe/low-reputation senders.
• XBL — infected machines, open proxies, and bots.
• PBL — ranges that should not send mail directly (dynamic/end-user IPs).
• DBL — domains with bad reputation (phishing, spam, malware).
• ZEN — the aggregate zone combining SBL+XBL+PBL for IPs.

Step 1 — Find exactly where you are listed

The fix depends entirely on the zone and return code, so start there. Drop your IP or domain into the free blacklist checker. It names the zone (SBL/XBL/PBL/DBL) and what triggered it, which tells you which of the fixes below you actually need.

Step 2 — Fix the root cause first

• XBL — the host is likely infected or running an open proxy/relay. Scan for malware, close any open relay, and rotate credentials.
• SBL/CSS — actual spam was sent (often a compromised account or hijacked form). Find and stop the source, then clean your sending lists.
• PBL — you are sending directly from a range not meant for it. Send through a proper relay/SMTP provider, or use the self-service PBL removal if it is a legitimate mail server.

Skip this step and you are wasting your time. Delist a host that is still spamming and Spamhaus will relist it within hours.

Step 3 — Request delisting

Go through the official Spamhaus lookup and removal flow. PBL usually allows self-removal; SBL and XBL want a form confirming you have actually fixed the problem. Resist the urge to fire off repeat "just in case" requests. It only pushes you further back in the review queue.

Step 4 — Stay off the list

Once you are clean, put continuous monitoring on your IPs and domains. You want to hear about a relisting in minutes, not from an angry customer three days later. Deliveradar rechecks your addresses on a schedule and pings you over email and Telegram the moment something changes — start monitoring free.

Related: how to check if your IP is blacklisted · why your emails go to spam.