ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS

  • Membership Status: Entrants must be current CBIA members in good standing.
  • SMC Membership:
    Marketing Categories (30-43): Company must maintain an active CBIA Sales & Marketing Council (SMC) membership
    Sales Categories (44-48): Individual entrant must hold an active SMC membership
  • SMC dues: $100 per individual/year
  • Entry Form: The 2026 Entry Registration Form must be completed and submitted by the stated deadlines
  • Project Location: All entries must be located within Collier or Lee Counties (no exceptions)
  • Eligibility Period: Projects must be completed between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026 (excluding Category 48)
  • Eligibility Restrictions: Previous-year winners may not re-enter the same category, except for Categories 19 and 44-48
  • Licensing: Entrants must hold all required state and/or county licenses applicable to each category entered
  • Entry Limit: Maximum of 35 entries per member company
  • Submission: All entries must be submitted electronically through the CBIA-designated platform

KEY DATES & DEADLINES:

  • Registration Period: April 10 – May 29, 2026
  • Early Registration: April 10 – May 22, 2026 (payment required)
  • Late Registration: Deadline May 29, 2026 (payment required)
  • Bulk Pricing: Applies to Early Registration only (April 10 – May 22, 2026)
  • Final Submission Deadline: All entry materials must be uploaded by midnight, June 26, 2026
  • Workshop:
    May 14, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 AM | CBIA Office
    Reservation required: [email protected]
    Covers submission process and a behind-the-scenes look at the entry portal
  • Sand Dollar Awards Gala: Saturday, September 19, 2026 | The Ritz-Carlton, Naples (Beach Resort)
  • Sponsorship Opportunities Due: August 3, 2026
  • Virtual Judging: June 27–31, 2026
  • Entries not completed by this deadline will be disqualified and are non-refundable

FEES & POLICIES:

  • Early Registration Fee: $250 per entry (due by May 22, 2026)
  • Bulk Pricing (Early Registration Only | April 10 – May 22, 2026):
    11–15 entries: $2,750
    16–20 entries: $4,000
    21–25 entries: $5,250
    26–35 entries: $6,500 (maximum)
  • Late Registration Fee: $350 per entry (due by May 29, 2026)
  • Refunds: No refunds or exchanges after June 26, 2026
  • Disqualified Entries: Non-refundable; entries should be carefully reviewed prior to submission

CATEGORIES INFORMATION:

  • There are 48 categories available, including:
  • Product Design Awards: 1-15 | Interior Design Awards: 16-21|Remodeling Awards: 22-24 Commercial Awards: 25-29 | Marketing Awards: 30-43 | Sales Awards: 44-48
  • Once you receive your login information, you can see all additional questions and requirements for each entry. You must review each category for specific or additional requirements.
  • Review the Judging criteria to see if you meet the entry of requirement.
  • Review your home/project style to see if you meet the entry requirement.
  • Review the subcategory to see if you meet the entry requirement.
  • Review the pricing category, if applicable.
  • You can only enter categories for which you hold the required county or state license.

JUDGING INFORMATION

  • Virtual judging: Will take place July 27–31, 2026, and will be conducted entirely online with all materials submitted digitally for review.
  • Incomplete entries: Are not judged, and no refunds will be provided.
  • Judge Panel: Each entry is evaluated on its own merit by qualified, impartial judges from outside the Collier and Lee County region.
  • Scoring Criteria: Entries are evaluated using a 1–5 point scoring system and must achieve a minimum of 75% of total possible points to qualify for an award. All scores remain confidential.
  • Judging Policy: Judges’ decisions are final. They reserve the right to disqualify any entry that fails to provide required materials or does not meet the established judging criteria.

LOGIN & SUBMISSION INFORMATION

  • Login information: Login credentials will be provided by CBIA staff upon receipt of your Entry Registration Form.
  • Getting started: Visit 2026.SandDollarAward.com and access your dashboard.
  • Dashboard: The dashboard displays all categories (1–48). Select the appropriate category by clicking the blue section. Use the “+” icon to expand and view available categories.
  • YOUR Award Entries: Submitted entries will appear at the bottom of the dashboard. Depending on your screen resolution, you may need to scroll down to view them.
  • Photo Requirements: Photos must be a minimum of 1920 x 1080 pixels at 96 dpi.
    Size: Files must be JPEG or JPG format only, with a maximum size of 5MB per image.
    The total number of required photos: varies by category—refer to individual category guidelines.
    Photo upload: Upload 1–2 photos at a time and save frequently. Do not upload all photos at once, as this may prevent your entry from saving and result in lost information.
  • Branding requirements:
    Categories 1-29:     All materials, including photos, tours, and videos, must be unbranded.
    Categories 30-48: Branded materials are permitted, including photos, tours, and videos.
  • Floor Plan/Blueprints/Community Map: Required where applicable. Submit as one combined document
    (8.5″ x 11″) in JPEG, JPG, or PDF format, with a maximum file size of 5MB.
  • Marketing Statements: A marketing statement is required for each entry (unless otherwise specified). It should address the judging criteria, target market, project objectives, any unique constraints or opportunities, and highlight the entry’s distinctive features. Do not include your company name, except in categories 30–48.
  • Total Entries Submission: Must match your Entry Registration Form. If you need to add or remove an entry, contact the CBIA staff at [email protected].
  • Additional Entry Requirements: Each category includes specific required questions, as applicable, such as project name, square footage (under air and total), pricing, costs, scope of work, and other relevant project details.
  • SAVE THIS ENTRY: (green button) to store your progress until you are ready to submit.
  • Final Submission: Selecting “Yes, I am ready to submit this entry” will finalize your submission to CBIA staff, and no further edits can be made.
  • Publishing Rights and Liability: By entering the Sand Dollar Awards, entrants grant CBIA the right to publish and reproduce winning entries across CBIA, FHBA, and NAHB platforms, as well as in trade and consumer media. Winning entries will be featured on SandDollarAward.com. Entrants are responsible for securing all photography and media rights; CBIA assumes no liability.

FORMS

Entry Registration Form – Click here to obtain the form
Note: Entries will not be considered fully submitted and released for judging until the invoice is paid.

Marketing Awards Categories 30-43: Marketing Award entries require that the submitting company have a current CBIA Sales & Marketing Council membership.

Sales Awards Categories 44-48: Sales Award entries require the individual entering to have a current CBIA Sales & Marketing Council membership.

Click here  for the SMC Application 

Send Registration/Payment & SMC Form to: [email protected]

Note: All registrations accepted on or before May 22, 2026 (early registration) or May 29, 2026 (late registration) – No Exceptions.

Publishing Rights of Materials
All entries become the property of the Collier Building Industry Association, and their return is not guaranteed. CBIA may publish and/or reproduce entries in any CBIA, FHBA, or NAHB publications and/or products and grant permission for entries to be published or reproduced in any trade or consumer publication. All winners will be published on the www.SandDollarAward.com website.