diff --git a/registrasion/migrations/0006_category_required.py b/registrasion/migrations/0006_category_required.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..46cc6a51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/registrasion/migrations/0006_category_required.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('registrasion', '0005_auto_20160323_2141'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='category',
+            name='required',
+            field=models.BooleanField(default=False),
+            preserve_default=False,
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/registrasion/models.py b/registrasion/models.py
index 55d7ee4a..a1101fd9 100644
--- a/registrasion/models.py
+++ b/registrasion/models.py
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ class Category(models.Model):
     name = models.CharField(max_length=65, verbose_name=_("Name"))
     description = models.CharField(max_length=255,
                                    verbose_name=_("Description"))
+    required = models.BooleanField(blank=True)
     order = models.PositiveIntegerField(verbose_name=("Display order"))
     render_type = models.IntegerField(choices=CATEGORY_RENDER_TYPES,
                                       verbose_name=_("Render type"))
diff --git a/registrasion/views.py b/registrasion/views.py
index da32364e..6288f4b2 100644
--- a/registrasion/views.py
+++ b/registrasion/views.py
@@ -114,12 +114,30 @@ def product_category(request, category_id):
         elif cat_form.is_valid():
             try:
                 handle_valid_cat_form(cat_form, current_cart)
+            except ValidationError as ve:
+                pass
+
+            # If category is required, the user must have at least one
+            # in an active+valid cart
+
+            if category.required:
+                carts = rego.Cart.reserved_carts()
+                carts = carts.filter(user=request.user)
+                items = rego.ProductItem.objects.filter(
+                    product__category=category,
+                    cart=carts,
+                )
+                if len(items) == 0:
+                    cat_form.add_error(
+                        None,
+                        "You must have at least one item from this category",
+                    )
+
+            if not cat_form.errors:
                 if category_id > attendee.highest_complete_category:
                     attendee.highest_complete_category = category_id
                     attendee.save()
                 return redirect("dashboard")
-            except ValidationError as ve:
-                pass
 
     else:
         # Create initial data for each of products in category