What is the difference between a community center and a neighborhood center?

Community centers are larger (100,000 to 350,000 SF vs. 30,000 to 100,000 SF), serve a broader trade area, and are anchored by larger retailers like discount department stores. Community centers typically have higher total CAM budgets but similar per-SF rates.

How do controllable expense caps work in a community center lease?

Controllable expense caps limit annual increases on expenses the landlord can influence (management fees, landscaping, janitorial). Non-controllable items (taxes, insurance, utilities) are excluded from the cap and passed through at actual cost.

Can CAMAudit verify controllable cap compliance?

Yes. CAMAudit compares year-over-year controllable expense growth against your lease cap, flags reclassification of controllable items as non-controllable, and checks for promotional costs that lack lease authorization. Upload your documents for a full audit.

Community Shopping Center

Last updated: April 2026

By Angel Campa, Founder

Community centers have more common area than neighborhood centers, and controllable expense caps are your best defense against year-over-year creep. Verify the cap is actually being enforced.

What Is a Community Shopping Center?

A community shopping center ranges from 100,000 to 350,000 square feet and is anchored by a discount department store, supermarket, or large drugstore. These centers serve a broader trade area than neighborhood centers and include a wider mix of tenants. CAM charges cover shared parking, landscaping, signage, and the greater common area footprint.

Typical Lease

Triple Net (NNN)

Avg CAM/SF

$5.00 to $9.00

Mgmt Fee %

4% to 6%

How CAM Works in a Community Shopping Center

Community center CAM functions similarly to grocery-anchored centers, with anchor tenants contributing at negotiated rates and inline tenants absorbing remaining costs. The larger size means more common area to maintain, including larger parking lots, multiple access roads, and more extensive landscaping.

Common Tenants

Discount department storesGrocery storesHome goods retailersFast casual restaurantsFitness centers

Expense Categories Unique to This Property Type

•Multi-entrance access road maintenance
•Large-scale parking field lighting
•Outparcel and pad site common area allocations
•Shared delivery and service corridors
•Community event and promotional activity costs

Common Overcharges to Watch

⚠Pad site tenants excluded from CAM denominator but included in expenses

When pad tenants do not participate in center CAM, their square footage is removed from the denominator, but the common areas serving those pads (access roads, lighting, landscaping) are still maintained at center expense, inflating costs for participating tenants.

⚠Controllable expense caps exceeded without notification

Leases with controllable expense caps should limit year-over-year increases on controllable items. Landlords may exceed these caps by reclassifying controllable expenses as non-controllable (taxes, insurance, utilities).

⚠Promotional and event costs without lease authorization

Community centers may host seasonal events and promotions. If the lease does not authorize recovery of event costs as operating expenses, these charges should not appear on the CAM reconciliation.

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Key Data

$7.10/SF
Average community shopping center CAM charges are estimated at $7.10 per square foot for inline tenants [industry estimate]
Source: ICSC / CoStar Group (2024)

Explore Other Property Types

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Explore Related Resources

Lease ClauseAudit Rights Clause Lease ClauseCAM Exclusion Clause Property TypeRegional Mall Property TypePower Center GlossaryCapital Expenditure GlossaryCAM Charges

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Related Resources

Detection RuleExcluded Service Charges Detection RuleManagement Fee Overcharge Detection RulePro-Rata Share Error ResourcesCAM Audit by Lease Type ResourcesLease Clauses Guide ToolsFree CAM Audit Tools

Frequently asked questions

This page provides general educational information. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the most current law in your state. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.