Description Of Business (Details)	Dec. 31, 2011
Description Of Business [Abstract]
Number of multifamily properties comprising of apartment homes	206
Total number of apartment homes in multifamily communities	69,794
Number of multifamily properties under development	10
Total number of apartment homes in multifamily properties upon completion of development	2,797

The number of units in the real estate properties under development the company owned interests in or fully owned as of the balance sheet date which will be added upon completion of development.

No definition available.

Name:	cpt_TotalNumberOfApartmentHomesInMultifamilyPropertiesUponCompletionOfDevelopment
Namespace Prefix:	cpt_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant