Community associations are subject to state laws that control how associations are established, governed and managed. This state-based regulatory system has proven successful because it is predicated on the principle of local control over land-use and real estate decisions. CAI supports effective state regulation that ensures community association housing is developed, maintained, governed, and managed with sound public policy objectives and standards that protect homeowners, volunteer board members, management and the community association as a whole.

All states have laws governing condominiums or community associations. Many of these laws are modeled after the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (UCIOA) or previous versions of the uniform act. UICOA was drafted by The Uniform Law Commission. The Uniform Law Commission provides states with non-partisan, well-conceived, and well-drafted legislation that brings clarity and stability to critical areas of state law.

As a general rule, CAI believes law and regulation to promote healthy, vibrant communities is best crafted and enacted by state govern ments and not by or through legislative or regulatory procedures at the federal level. In general, federal and state policymakers share this view.

Nearly 40,000 members dedicated to building better communities, CAI develops and provides information, education, and resources to association board members, community managers and other professionals who support community associations. CAI's mission is to inspire professionalism, effective leadership and responsible citizenship—ideals reflected in homeowners associations and condominium communities that are preferred places to call home.