diff --git a/invenio_communities/config.py b/invenio_communities/config.py
index 5d26c537f..f48a3aef6 100644
--- a/invenio_communities/config.py
+++ b/invenio_communities/config.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 #
 # This file is part of Invenio.
 # Copyright (C) 2016-2024 CERN.
-# Copyright (C) 2023 Graz University of Technology.
-# Copyright (C) 2023 KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
+# Copyright (C) 2023      Graz University of Technology.
+# Copyright (C) 2023-2024 KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
 #
 # Invenio is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 # under the terms of the MIT License; see LICENSE file for more details.
@@ -334,3 +334,6 @@
 
 COMMUNITIES_DEFAULT_RECORD_SUBMISSION_POLICY = RecordSubmissionPolicyEnum.OPEN
 """Default value of record submission policy community access setting."""
+
+COMMUNITIES_CREATOR_ROLE = "community-creator"
+"""Depends on 'RDM_COMMUNITY_REQUIRED_TO_PUBLISH' set to True."""
diff --git a/invenio_communities/generators.py b/invenio_communities/generators.py
index 6d5cb9031..b362a0c39 100644
--- a/invenio_communities/generators.py
+++ b/invenio_communities/generators.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2021 Graz University of Technology.
 # Copyright (C) 2021 TU Wien.
 # Copyright (C) 2022 Northwestern University.
+# Copyright (C) 2024 KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
 #
 # Invenio is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 # under the terms of the MIT License; see LICENSE file for more details.
@@ -16,7 +17,8 @@
 from functools import partial, reduce
 from itertools import chain
 
-from flask_principal import UserNeed
+from flask import current_app
+from flask_principal import RoleNeed, UserNeed
 from invenio_access.permissions import any_user, authenticated_user, system_process
 from invenio_records.dictutils import dict_lookup
 from invenio_records_permissions.generators import Generator
@@ -342,6 +344,17 @@ def roles(self, **kwargs):
         return [r.name for r in current_roles.can("manage")]
 
 
+class CommunityCreator(Generator):
+    """Allows users with the "trusted-user" role."""
+
+    def needs(self, **kwargs):
+        """Enabling Needs."""
+        role_name = current_app.config.get(
+            "COMMUNITIES_CREATOR_ROLE", "community-creator"
+        )
+        return [RoleNeed(role_name)]
+
+
 class CommunityManagersForRole(CommunityRoles):
     """Roles representing all managers of a community for a role update."""
 
diff --git a/invenio_communities/permissions.py b/invenio_communities/permissions.py
index cd6eb27fc..e74f8d9aa 100644
--- a/invenio_communities/permissions.py
+++ b/invenio_communities/permissions.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2021 Graz University of Technology.
 # Copyright (C) 2021 TU Wien.
 # Copyright (C) 2022 Northwestern University.
+# Copyright (C) 2024 KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
 #
 # Invenio is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
 # under the terms of the MIT License; see LICENSE file for more details.
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@
 from .generators import (
     AllowedMemberTypes,
     AuthenticatedButNotCommunityMembers,
+    CommunityCreator,
     CommunityCurators,
     CommunityManagers,
     CommunityManagersForRole,
@@ -45,7 +47,15 @@ class CommunityPermissionPolicy(BasePermissionPolicy):
     """Permissions for Community CRUD operations."""
 
     # Community
-    can_create = [AuthenticatedUser(), SystemProcess()]
+    _can_create = [AuthenticatedUser(), SystemProcess()]
+
+    can_create = [
+        IfConfig(
+            "RDM_COMMUNITY_REQUIRED_TO_PUBLISH",
+            then_=[CommunityCreator(), Administration(), SystemProcess()],
+            else_=_can_create,
+        )
+    ]
 
     can_read = [
         IfRestricted("visibility", then_=[CommunityMembers()], else_=[AnyUser()]),
diff --git a/tests/communities/test_permissions.py b/tests/communities/test_permissions.py
index 63f789859..0baddace7 100644
--- a/tests/communities/test_permissions.py
+++ b/tests/communities/test_permissions.py
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 #
 # Copyright (C) 2024 Northwestern University.
+# Copyright (C) 2024 KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
 #
 # Invenio-RDM-Records is free software; you can redistribute it
 # and/or modify it under the terms of the MIT License; see LICENSE file for
 # more details.
 
 """Test permissions."""
+from flask_principal import Identity, RoleNeed
+from invenio_access.permissions import system_identity
 
 from invenio_communities.permissions import CommunityPermissionPolicy
 
@@ -61,3 +64,54 @@ def test_can_request_membership(
     )
 
     app.config["COMMUNITIES_ALLOW_MEMBERSHIP_REQUESTS"] = allow_membership_requests_orig
+
+
+def test_can_create(app, anon_identity, any_user, superuser_identity):
+    policy = CommunityPermissionPolicy
+
+    # Save the original configuration value
+    original_config = app.config.get("RDM_COMMUNITY_REQUIRED_TO_PUBLISH", False)
+
+    authenticated_identity = any_user.identity
+
+    # Create an identity for a user with the 'community-creator' role
+    # Copy the provides from authenticated_identity to ensure 'authenticated_user' is included
+    community_creator_identity = Identity(any_user.id)
+    community_creator_identity.provides.update(authenticated_identity.provides)
+    community_creator_identity.provides.add(RoleNeed("community-creator"))
+
+    # RDM_COMMUNITY_REQUIRED_TO_PUBLISH is True
+    app.config["RDM_COMMUNITY_REQUIRED_TO_PUBLISH"] = True
+
+    # Anonymous user cannot create communities
+    assert not policy(action="create").allows(anon_identity)
+
+    # Authenticated user without 'community-creator' role cannot create
+    assert not policy(action="create").allows(authenticated_identity)
+
+    # Authenticated user with 'community-creator' role can create
+    assert policy(action="create").allows(community_creator_identity)
+
+    # Superuser (admin) can create communities
+    assert policy(action="create").allows(superuser_identity)
+
+    # System process can create communities
+    assert policy(action="create").allows(system_identity)
+
+    # RDM_COMMUNITY_REQUIRED_TO_PUBLISH is False
+    app.config["RDM_COMMUNITY_REQUIRED_TO_PUBLISH"] = False
+
+    # Anonymous user cannot create communities
+    assert not policy(action="create").allows(anon_identity)
+
+    # Authenticated user without 'community-creator' role can create
+    assert policy(action="create").allows(authenticated_identity)
+
+    # Authenticated user with 'community-creator' role can create
+    assert policy(action="create").allows(community_creator_identity)
+
+    # Superuser (admin) can create communities
+    assert policy(action="create").allows(superuser_identity)
+
+    # System process can create communities
+    assert policy(action="create").allows(system_identity)