Community Associations Institute

Logo of the Community Associations Institute.

The Community Associations Institute (CAI) is an influential trade association and special interest group, dominated by lawyers and property managers,^[1] that petitions for legislative beneficence for its members.^[2]

It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia and has nearly 60 chapters in the United States.

Since CAI was founded in 1973, the people that build and service common interest developments (CIDs) have been a significant force in interest group politics in many states. According to Evan McKenzie, these people have been able to shape legislative and judicial policy making, prevent meaningful regulation of CID activity, and keep the discourse on such matters largely private.^[3]

In the absence of meaningful legislative regulation or oversight, the idea of residential private government took the shape advocated originally by developers through the Urban Land Institute and the Federal Housing Administration, and later by lawyers and property managers through CAI.^[4]

"One result," Professor McKenzie argues, "is the institutionalization of a heavy–handed managerial focus in CID governance."^[5]

CAI is responsible for the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM) program that was established in 1995.

CAI has played a vital role in manager licensing laws in states around the country. Notably, Illinois developed a licensing law which was enacted in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ McKenzie, Evan. Privatopia: Homeowner Associations and the Rise of Residential Private Governments. Yale University Press. pp. 27. ISBN 0-300-06638-4. 
2. ^ McKenzie, Privatopia, 119.
3. ^ Privatopia, 26.
4. ^ Privatopia, 121.
5. ^ Privatopia, 27.

External links

• Official website
• NBC-CAM official website