diff --git a/synapse/config/groups.py b/synapse/config/groups.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7683a37534
--- /dev/null
+++ b/synapse/config/groups.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright 2017 New Vector Ltd
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from synapse.util.module_loader import load_module
+
+from ._base import Config
+
+from distutils.util import strtobool
+
+
+class GroupsConfig(Config):
+    def read_config(self, config):
+        self.enable_group_creation = config.get("enable_group_creation", False)
+        self.group_creation_prefix = config.get("group_creation_prefix", "")
+
+    def default_config(self, **kwargs):
+        return """\
+        # Whether to allow non server admins to create groups on this server
+        enable_group_creation: false
+
+        # If enabled, non server admins can only create groups with local parts
+        # starting with this prefix
+        # group_creation_prefix: "unofficial/"
+        """