diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/__init__.py b/contrib/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/__init__.py
rename to contrib/__init__.py
diff --git a/contrib/hot/__init__.py b/contrib/hot/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_collectd.py b/contrib/hot/tosca_collectd.py
similarity index 82%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_collectd.py
rename to contrib/hot/tosca_collectd.py
index e4063dff..ec517d00 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_collectd.py
+++ b/contrib/hot/tosca_collectd.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaCollectd'
+
 
 class ToscaCollectd(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Collectd.'''
-    # TODO(anyone): this is a custom TOSCA type so it should be kept separate
-    # from the TOSCA base types;  need to come up with a scheme so new custom
-    # types can be added by users.
 
     toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Collectd'
 
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_elasticsearch.py b/contrib/hot/tosca_elasticsearch.py
similarity index 83%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_elasticsearch.py
rename to contrib/hot/tosca_elasticsearch.py
index 036ea53f..34d76703 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_elasticsearch.py
+++ b/contrib/hot/tosca_elasticsearch.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaElasticsearch'
+
 
 class ToscaElasticsearch(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA type tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Elasticsearch.'''
-    # TODO(anyone): this is a custom TOSCA type so it should be kept separate
-    # from the TOSCA base types;  need to come up with a scheme so new custom
-    # types can be added by users.
 
     toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Elasticsearch'
 
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_kibana.py b/contrib/hot/tosca_kibana.py
similarity index 82%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_kibana.py
rename to contrib/hot/tosca_kibana.py
index 8f0be73d..71f34026 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_kibana.py
+++ b/contrib/hot/tosca_kibana.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaKibana'
+
 
 class ToscaKibana(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Kibana.'''
-    # TODO(anyone): this is a custom TOSCA type so it should be kept separate
-    # from the TOSCA base types;  need to come up with a scheme so new custom
-    # types can be added by users.
 
     toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Kibana'
 
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_logstash.py b/contrib/hot/tosca_logstash.py
similarity index 82%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_logstash.py
rename to contrib/hot/tosca_logstash.py
index 0259cd33..39859e06 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_logstash.py
+++ b/contrib/hot/tosca_logstash.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaLogstash'
+
 
 class ToscaLogstash(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Logstash.'''
-    # TODO(anyone): this is a custom TOSCA type so it should be kept separate
-    # from the TOSCA base types;  need to come up with a scheme so new custom
-    # types can be added by users.
 
     toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Logstash'
 
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_nodejs.py b/contrib/hot/tosca_nodejs.py
similarity index 82%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_nodejs.py
rename to contrib/hot/tosca_nodejs.py
index 99fad698..2102af5a 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_nodejs.py
+++ b/contrib/hot/tosca_nodejs.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaNodejs'
+
 
 class ToscaNodejs(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Nodejs.'''
-    # TODO(anyone): this is a custom TOSCA type so it should be kept separate
-    # from the TOSCA base types;  need to come up with a scheme so new custom
-    # types can be added by users.
 
     toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Nodejs'
 
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_paypalpizzastore.py b/contrib/hot/tosca_paypalpizzastore.py
similarity index 83%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_paypalpizzastore.py
rename to contrib/hot/tosca_paypalpizzastore.py
index cd62dc47..ae3865b5 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_paypalpizzastore.py
+++ b/contrib/hot/tosca_paypalpizzastore.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaPaypalPizzaStore'
+
 
 class ToscaPaypalPizzaStore(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA type tosca.nodes.WebApplication.PayPalPizzaStore.'''
-    # TODO(anyone): this is a custom TOSCA type so it should be kept separate
-    # from the TOSCA base types;  need to come up with a scheme so new custom
-    # types can be added by users.
 
     toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.WebApplication.PayPalPizzaStore'
 
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_rsyslog.py b/contrib/hot/tosca_rsyslog.py
similarity index 82%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_rsyslog.py
rename to contrib/hot/tosca_rsyslog.py
index 70b843b3..9604d3c9 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_rsyslog.py
+++ b/contrib/hot/tosca_rsyslog.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaRsyslog'
+
 
 class ToscaRsyslog(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Rsyslog.'''
-    # TODO(anyone): this is a custom TOSCA type so it should be kept separate
-    # from the TOSCA base types;  need to come up with a scheme so new custom
-    # types can be added by users.
 
     toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Rsyslog'
 
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_wordpress.py b/contrib/hot/tosca_wordpress.py
similarity index 82%
rename from translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_wordpress.py
rename to contrib/hot/tosca_wordpress.py
index 21409ade..c20fe6a8 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/custom_types/tosca_wordpress.py
+++ b/contrib/hot/tosca_wordpress.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaWordpress'
+
 
 class ToscaWordpress(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.WebApplication.WordPress.'''
-    # TODO(anyone): this is a custom TOSCA type so it should be kept separate
-    # from the TOSCA base types;  need to come up with a scheme so new custom
-    # types can be added by users.
 
     toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.WebApplication.WordPress'
 
diff --git a/translator/common/exception.py b/translator/common/exception.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..be861169
--- /dev/null
+++ b/translator/common/exception.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#    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.
+
+'''
+Exceptions for the TOSCA Translator package.
+'''
+
+from toscaparser.common.exception import TOSCAException
+from toscaparser.utils.gettextutils import _
+
+
+class ConfFileParseError(TOSCAException):
+    msg_fmt = _('%(message)s')
+
+
+class ConfOptionNotDefined(TOSCAException):
+    msg_fmt = _('Option %(key)s in section %(section)s '
+                'is not defined in conf file')
+
+
+class ConfSectionNotDefined(TOSCAException):
+    msg_fmt = _('Section %(section)s is not defined in conf file')
+
+
+class ToscaModImportError(TOSCAException):
+    msg_fmt = _('Unable to import module %(mod_name)s. '
+                'Check to see that it exists and has no '
+                'language definition errors.')
+
+
+class ToscaClassImportError(TOSCAException):
+    msg_fmt = _('Unable to import class %(name)s in '
+                'module %(mod_name)s. Check to see that it '
+                'exists and has no language definition errors.')
+
+
+class ToscaClassAttributeError(TOSCAException):
+    msg_fmt = _('Class attribute referenced not found. '
+                '%(message)s. Check to see that it is defined.')
diff --git a/translator/conf/__init__.py b/translator/conf/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2c61252a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/translator/conf/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#
+# 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.
+
+''' Initialize the global configuration for the translator '''
+
+import os
+
+from translator.conf.config import ConfigProvider
+
+CONF_FILENAME = 'translator.conf'
+
+
+def init_global_conf():
+    '''Initialize the configuration provider.
+
+    Allows the configuration to be shared throughout the translator code.
+    The file used is translator.conf, and is within the conf/ directory. It
+    is a standard ini format, and is prcessed using the ConfigParser module.
+
+    '''
+    conf_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+    conf_file = os.path.join(conf_path, CONF_FILENAME)
+    ConfigProvider._load_config(conf_file)
+
+
+init_global_conf()
diff --git a/translator/conf/config.py b/translator/conf/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4e8fe87c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/translator/conf/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#
+# 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.
+
+''' Provide a global configuration for the TOSCA translator'''
+
+from six.moves import configparser
+
+from toscaparser.utils.gettextutils import _
+import translator.common.exception as exception
+
+
+class ConfigProvider(object):
+    '''Global config proxy that wraps a ConfigParser object.
+
+    Allows for class based access to config values. Should only be initialized
+    once using the corresponding translator.conf file in the conf directory.
+
+    '''
+
+    # List that captures all of the conf file sections.
+    # Append any new sections to this list.
+    _sections = ['DEFAULT']
+    _translator_config = None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _load_config(cls, conf_file):
+        '''Private method only to be called once from the __init__ module'''
+
+        cls._translator_config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+        try:
+            cls._translator_config.read(conf_file)
+        except configparser.ParsingError:
+            msg = _('Unable to parse translator.conf file.'
+                    'Check to see that it exists in the conf directory.')
+            raise exception.ConfFileParseError(message=msg)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_value(cls, section, key):
+        try:
+            value = cls._translator_config.get(section, key)
+        except configparser.NoOptionError:
+            raise exception.ConfOptionNotDefined(key=key, section=section)
+        except configparser.NoSectionError:
+            raise exception.ConfSectionNotDefined(section=section)
+
+        return value
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_all_values(cls):
+        values = []
+        for section in cls._sections:
+            try:
+                values.extend(cls._translator_config.items(section=section))
+            except configparser.NoOptionError:
+                raise exception.ConfSectionNotDefined(section=section)
+
+        return values
diff --git a/translator/conf/translator.conf b/translator/conf/translator.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..62962594
--- /dev/null
+++ b/translator/conf/translator.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+[DEFAULT]
+
+# Relative path location for custom types
+custom_types_location=contrib/hot
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tests/test_tosca_elasticsearch.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tests/test_tosca_elasticsearch.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 12ae4397..00000000
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tests/test_tosca_elasticsearch.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-#    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.
-
-import mock
-from toscaparser.tests.base import TestCase
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_elasticsearch import (
-    ToscaElasticsearch
-    )
-
-
-class ToscaElasticsearchTest(TestCase):
-
-    @mock.patch('toscaparser.nodetemplate.NodeTemplate')
-    @mock.patch('translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_elasticsearch.'
-                'HotResource.__init__')
-    def test_init(self, mock_hotres_init, mock_node):
-        ToscaElasticsearch(mock_node)
-        # Make sure base class gets called
-        mock_hotres_init.assert_called_once_with(mock_node)
-        self.assertEqual(ToscaElasticsearch.toscatype,
-                         'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Elasticsearch')
-
-    @mock.patch('toscaparser.nodetemplate.NodeTemplate')
-    @mock.patch('translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_elasticsearch.'
-                'HotResource.__init__')
-    def test_handle_properties(self, mock_hotres_init, mock_node):
-        p = ToscaElasticsearch(mock_node)
-        self.assertIsNone(p.handle_properties())
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tests/test_tosca_kibana.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tests/test_tosca_kibana.py
deleted file mode 100644
index d34e6cbd..00000000
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tests/test_tosca_kibana.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-#    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.
-
-import mock
-from toscaparser.tests.base import TestCase
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_kibana import ToscaKibana
-
-
-class ToscaKibanaTest(TestCase):
-
-    @mock.patch('toscaparser.nodetemplate.NodeTemplate')
-    @mock.patch('translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_kibana.'
-                'HotResource.__init__')
-    def test_init(self, mock_hotres_init, mock_node):
-        ToscaKibana(mock_node)
-        # Make sure base class gets called
-        mock_hotres_init.assert_called_once_with(mock_node)
-        self.assertEqual(ToscaKibana.toscatype,
-                         'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Kibana')
-
-    @mock.patch('toscaparser.nodetemplate.NodeTemplate')
-    @mock.patch('translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_kibana.'
-                'HotResource.__init__')
-    def test_handle_properties(self, mock_hotres_init, mock_node):
-        p = ToscaKibana(mock_node)
-        self.assertIsNone(p.handle_properties())
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_block_storage.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_block_storage.py
index 6b14ac17..482db3eb 100644
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_block_storage.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_block_storage.py
@@ -20,10 +20,15 @@ from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
 log = logging.getLogger("tosca")
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaBlockStorage'
+
 
 class ToscaBlockStorage(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.BlockStorage.'''
 
+    toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.BlockStorage'
+
     def __init__(self, nodetemplate):
         super(ToscaBlockStorage, self).__init__(nodetemplate,
                                                 type='OS::Cinder::Volume')
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_block_storage_attachment.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_block_storage_attachment.py
index 3c8a1c47..715d5b3d 100644
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_block_storage_attachment.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_block_storage_attachment.py
@@ -14,10 +14,15 @@
 from toscaparser.functions import GetInput
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaBlockStorageAttachment'
+
 
 class ToscaBlockStorageAttachment(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA relationship AttachesTo for Compute and BlockStorage.'''
 
+    toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.BlockStorageAttachment'
+
     def __init__(self, template, nodetemplates, instance_uuid, volume_id):
         super(ToscaBlockStorageAttachment,
               self).__init__(template, type='OS::Cinder::VolumeAttachment')
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_compute.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_compute.py
index bb05f032..75445779 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_compute.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_compute.py
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ import translator.common.utils
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 log = logging.getLogger('tosca')
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaCompute'
+
+
 # A design issue to be resolved is how to translate the generic TOSCA server
 # properties to OpenStack flavors and images.  At the Atlanta design summit,
 # there was discussion on using Glance to store metadata and Graffiti to
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_database.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_database.py
index 253cfcf0..26c9d4d8 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_database.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_database.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaDatabase'
+
 
 class ToscaDatabase(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.Database.'''
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_dbms.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_dbms.py
index 227f6c14..38c31bd3 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_dbms.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_dbms.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaDbms'
+
 
 class ToscaDbms(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.DBMS.'''
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_network_network.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_network_network.py
index 6cf7a562..909c1b75 100644
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_network_network.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_network_network.py
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
 from toscaparser.common.exception import InvalidPropertyValueError
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaNetwork'
+
 
 class ToscaNetwork(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.network.Network.'''
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_network_port.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_network_port.py
index e3f99e2e..f5f0b259 100644
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_network_port.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_network_port.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaNetworkPort'
+
 
 class ToscaNetworkPort(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.network.Port.'''
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_object_storage.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_object_storage.py
index 0fe2d7bb..ed283b2f 100644
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_object_storage.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_object_storage.py
@@ -14,10 +14,15 @@
 from toscaparser.elements.scalarunit import ScalarUnit_Size
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaObjectStorage'
+
 
 class ToscaObjectStorage(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.ObjectStorage.'''
 
+    toscatype = 'tosca.nodes.ObjectStorage'
+
     def __init__(self, nodetemplate):
         super(ToscaObjectStorage, self).__init__(nodetemplate,
                                                  type='OS::Swift::Container')
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_software_component.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_software_component.py
index fef3b795..044de43a 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_software_component.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_software_component.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaSoftwareComponent'
+
 
 class ToscaSoftwareComponent(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.'''
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_web_application.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_web_application.py
index 31e0314e..d0a9c5d0 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_web_application.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_web_application.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaWebApplication'
+
 
 class ToscaWebApplication(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.WebApplication.'''
diff --git a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_webserver.py b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_webserver.py
index 488d31ae..83bda802 100755
--- a/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_webserver.py
+++ b/translator/hot/tosca/tosca_webserver.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
 
+# Name used to dynamically load appropriate map class.
+TARGET_CLASS_NAME = 'ToscaWebserver'
+
 
 class ToscaWebserver(HotResource):
     '''Translate TOSCA node type tosca.nodes.WebServer.'''
diff --git a/translator/hot/translate_node_templates.py b/translator/hot/translate_node_templates.py
index 035807ba..c70d670d 100644
--- a/translator/hot/translate_node_templates.py
+++ b/translator/hot/translate_node_templates.py
@@ -11,42 +11,113 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
+import imp
 import logging
+import os
 import six
 
 from toscaparser.functions import GetAttribute
 from toscaparser.functions import GetInput
 from toscaparser.functions import GetProperty
 from toscaparser.relationship_template import RelationshipTemplate
+from translator.common.exception import ToscaClassAttributeError
+from translator.common.exception import ToscaClassImportError
+from translator.common.exception import ToscaModImportError
+from translator.conf.config import ConfigProvider as translatorConfig
 from translator.hot.syntax.hot_resource import HotResource
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_collectd import ToscaCollectd
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_elasticsearch import (
-    ToscaElasticsearch
-    )
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_kibana import ToscaKibana
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_logstash import ToscaLogstash
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_nodejs import ToscaNodejs
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_paypalpizzastore import (
-    ToscaPaypalPizzaStore
-    )
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_rsyslog import ToscaRsyslog
-from translator.hot.tosca.custom_types.tosca_wordpress import ToscaWordpress
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_block_storage import ToscaBlockStorage
 from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_block_storage_attachment import (
     ToscaBlockStorageAttachment
     )
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_compute import ToscaCompute
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_database import ToscaDatabase
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_dbms import ToscaDbms
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_network_network import ToscaNetwork
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_network_port import ToscaNetworkPort
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_object_storage import ToscaObjectStorage
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_software_component import (
-    ToscaSoftwareComponent
-    )
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_web_application import ToscaWebApplication
-from translator.hot.tosca.tosca_webserver import ToscaWebserver
 
+###########################
+# Module utility Functions
+# for dynamic class loading
+###########################
+
+
+def _generate_type_map():
+    '''Generate TOSCA translation types map.
+
+    Load user defined classes from location path specified in conf file.
+    Base classes are located within the tosca directory.
+
+    '''
+
+    # Base types directory
+    BASE_PATH = 'translator/hot/tosca'
+
+    # Custom types directory defined in conf file
+    custom_path = translatorConfig.get_value('DEFAULT',
+                                             'custom_types_location')
+
+    # First need to load the parent module, for example 'contrib.hot',
+    # for all of the dynamically loaded classes.
+    _load_custom_mod(custom_path)
+    classes = []
+    _load_classes((BASE_PATH, custom_path), classes)
+    try:
+        types_map = {clazz.toscatype: clazz for clazz in classes}
+    except AttributeError as e:
+        raise ToscaClassAttributeError(message=e.message)
+
+    return types_map
+
+
+def _load_custom_mod(custom_path):
+    '''Dynamically load the parent module for all the custom types.'''
+
+    try:
+        fp, filename, desc = imp.find_module(custom_path)
+        imp.load_module(custom_path.replace('/', '.'),
+                        fp, filename, desc)
+    except ImportError:
+        raise ToscaModImportError(mod_name=custom_path)
+    finally:
+        if fp:
+            fp.close()
+
+
+def _load_classes(locations, classes):
+    '''Dynamically load all the classes from the given locations.'''
+
+    for cls_path in locations:
+        # Grab all the tosca type module files in the given path
+        mod_files = [f for f in os.listdir(cls_path) if f.endswith('.py')
+                     and not f.startswith('__init__')
+                     and f.startswith('tosca_')]
+
+        # For each module, pick out the target translation class
+        for f in mod_files:
+            # NOTE: For some reason the existing code does not use the map to
+            # instantiate ToscaBlockStorageAttachment. Don't add it to the map
+            # here until the dependent code is fixed to use the map.
+            if f == 'tosca_block_storage_attachment.py':
+                continue
+
+            mod_name = cls_path + '/' + f.strip('.py')
+            try:
+                fp, filename, desc = imp.find_module(mod_name)
+                mod = imp.load_module(mod_name.replace('/', '.'),
+                                      fp, filename, desc)
+                target_name = getattr(mod, 'TARGET_CLASS_NAME')
+                clazz = getattr(mod, target_name)
+                classes.append(clazz)
+            except ImportError:
+                raise ToscaModImportError(mod_name=mod_name)
+            except AttributeError:
+                if target_name:
+                    raise ToscaClassImportError(name=target_name,
+                                                mod_name=mod_name)
+                else:
+                    # TARGET_CLASS_NAME is not defined in module.
+                    # Re-raise the exception
+                    raise
+            finally:
+                fp.close()
+
+##################
+# Module constants
+##################
 
 SECTIONS = (TYPE, PROPERTIES, REQUIREMENTS, INTERFACES, LIFECYCLE, INPUT) = \
            ('type', 'properties', 'requirements',
@@ -64,28 +135,6 @@ REQUIRES = (CONTAINER, DEPENDENCY, DATABASE_ENDPOINT, CONNECTION, HOST) = \
 INTERFACES_STATE = (CREATE, START, CONFIGURE, START, DELETE) = \
                    ('create', 'stop', 'configure', 'start', 'delete')
 
-# dict to look up HOT translation class,
-# TODO(replace with function to scan the classes in translator.hot.tosca)
-TOSCA_TO_HOT_TYPE = {'tosca.nodes.Compute': ToscaCompute,
-                     'tosca.nodes.WebServer': ToscaWebserver,
-                     'tosca.nodes.DBMS': ToscaDbms,
-                     'tosca.nodes.Database': ToscaDatabase,
-                     'tosca.nodes.WebApplication': ToscaWebApplication,
-                     'tosca.nodes.WebApplication.WordPress': ToscaWordpress,
-                     'tosca.nodes.BlockStorage': ToscaBlockStorage,
-                     'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent': ToscaSoftwareComponent,
-                     'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Nodejs': ToscaNodejs,
-                     'tosca.nodes.network.Network': ToscaNetwork,
-                     'tosca.nodes.network.Port': ToscaNetworkPort,
-                     'tosca.nodes.ObjectStorage': ToscaObjectStorage,
-                     'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Collectd': ToscaCollectd,
-                     'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Rsyslog': ToscaRsyslog,
-                     'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Kibana': ToscaKibana,
-                     'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Logstash': ToscaLogstash,
-                     'tosca.nodes.SoftwareComponent.Elasticsearch':
-                     ToscaElasticsearch,
-                     'tosca.nodes.WebApplication.PayPalPizzaStore':
-                     ToscaPaypalPizzaStore}
 
 TOSCA_TO_HOT_REQUIRES = {'container': 'server', 'host': 'server',
                          'dependency': 'depends_on', "connects": 'depends_on'}
@@ -93,6 +142,8 @@ TOSCA_TO_HOT_REQUIRES = {'container': 'server', 'host': 'server',
 TOSCA_TO_HOT_PROPERTIES = {'properties': 'input'}
 log = logging.getLogger('heat-translator')
 
+TOSCA_TO_HOT_TYPE = _generate_type_map()
+
 
 class TranslateNodeTemplates(object):
     '''Translate TOSCA NodeTemplates to Heat Resources.'''
diff --git a/translator/tests/test_conf.py b/translator/tests/test_conf.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6506c272
--- /dev/null
+++ b/translator/tests/test_conf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#    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.
+
+import mock
+import os
+
+from translator.conf.config import ConfigProvider as translatorConfig
+from translator.tests.base import TestCase
+
+
+def reload_config(func):
+    '''Decorator to reload config.
+
+    Set to default values defined in translator.conf file
+
+    '''
+
+    def reload(*args):
+        func(*args)
+        path = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)) + '/../conf/'
+        conf_file = os.path.join(path, 'translator.conf')
+        translatorConfig._load_config(conf_file)
+
+    return reload
+
+
+class ConfTest(TestCase):
+
+    @reload_config
+    @mock.patch('six.moves.configparser.ConfigParser')
+    def test_load_config(self, mock_config_parser):
+        translatorConfig._translator_config.read = mock.MagicMock()
+        translatorConfig._load_config('fake_file.conf')
+        self.assertTrue(translatorConfig._translator_config.read.called)
+
+    def test_get_value(self):
+        ret_value = mock.MagicMock(return_value='hot')
+        translatorConfig._translator_config.get = ret_value
+        value = translatorConfig.get_value('DEFAULT', 'language')
+        self.assertTrue(translatorConfig._translator_config.get.called)
+        self.assertEqual(value, 'hot')
+
+    def test_get_all_values(self):
+        ret_value = mock.MagicMock(return_value=['hot'])
+        translatorConfig._translator_config.items = ret_value
+        values = translatorConfig.get_all_values()
+        self.assertTrue(translatorConfig._translator_config.items.called)
+        self.assertEqual(values[0], 'hot')