Self Storage Association

The Self Storage Association is the trade association for the self storage industry in the United States, formed in 1975 as a not-for-profit tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(6). It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is formally affiliated with 40 state associations, and is affiliated with 9 international organizations representing another 12,000 facilities worldwide.

SSA is the registered lobbying entity representing the industry before the US Congress and federal departments and agencies, and is active before state legislative and regulatory bodies. Over the past decade it reports spending more than $4 million influencing over 60 relevant laws, including specialty licenses for offering tenant insurance, authorization of reasonable late fees, rules on abandoned records and vehicles, and opposition to sales tax on storage rents.

Core competencies are industry data collection and publication, advocacy and lobbying, conventions, trade shows and seminars, member communications including SSA Magazine, and executive education and employee training. Programs include the National Spring Conference, the National Fall Conference, an Executive Ski Workshop, a Valuation & Acquisition course, Certified Self Storage Manager (CSSM) certification, a Facility Manager Aptitude e-Test, the Self Storage Legal Network, and a legal resource center. State affiliates run their own regional conferences and trade shows.

The association is governed by an elected board of 12 directors plus four ex-officio seats, and has a staff of 16. The SSA Foundation, created in 2006 under Section 501(c)(3), runs a college scholarship program for member employees and their families with awards from $2,500 to $10,000, sponsors education sessions at the national conferences, maintains the industry code of ethics, and administers the Self Storage Hall of Fame, established in 2005.