CAI’s Gold Star Community ® program, presented by The Davey Tree Expert Company, recognizes those communities that work hard to develop and maintain standards, encourage community participation, maintain fiscal stability and positively impact the quality of life for residents.

Homeowners and managers alike believe this program is an excellent way to evaluate policies and procedures, and assure that their community operates within basic industry standards. For more information, download the Gold Star Brochure.

Watch this short video for more information on how to become a Gold Star Community ®.

Gold Star Community® Standards & Scoring Guide

Gold Star Community® applications are judged and scored by the Gold Star Review Panel. The application seeks to determine if your community is in compliance with a host of best practices and standards which set the community apart. Not every community should apply for the Gold Star Community® Award. The Gold Star Community® Standards & Scoring Guide will help you determine if your community should apply, or if there are corrective actions that need to be undertaken by the community prior to applying for the Gold Star Community® award.

What Gold Star Means to Your Community Association

• The Gold Star Community® achievement by your community underscores the fact that your community is managed utilizing the best practices in community association management
• The Gold Star Community® achievement by a community promotes the fact that your community is financially healthy with adequate reserves for future needs
• The Gold Star Community® achievement means your community has taken the necessary steps to protect and improve the quality of life and value of property in the community
• The Gold Star Community® achievement by your community enhances the marketability of your community to potential homebuyers by recognizing sound management and community involvement

Once approved, you'll receive a Gold Star Community® certificate and a sign for your community, as well as a brochure you can share with prospective buyers in your community that explains why your association is a Gold Star Community®. To nominate your community for Gold Star status, download an application and submit it during one of the following nomination periods:

January 1 - March 1
August 1 - October 1

Click here for the Gold Star Application for communities that are CAI Members (individual elected board members have an active CAI membership)

Click here for the Gold Star Application for communities that are not CAI members (individual elected board members do not have an active CAI membership)

Click here for the Gold Star Renewal Application. Only communities that have an active Gold Star Community® award should complete the renewal application.

Qualifying communities will receive the award and be recognized at the Annual Conference & Expo in the Spring or the Annual Meeting & Holiday Party in December of each year.

Gold Star Communities