diff --git a/vmware_nsx/common/availability_zones.py b/vmware_nsx/common/availability_zones.py
index bfb6ae1471..9aada724d3 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/common/availability_zones.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/common/availability_zones.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 
 import abc
 
+from oslo_config import cfg
+
 from neutron_lib.api.definitions import availability_zone as az_def
 from neutron_lib import exceptions as n_exc
 from neutron_lib.exceptions import availability_zone as az_exc
@@ -84,6 +86,25 @@ class ConfiguredAvailabilityZones(object):
         obj = az_class(None)
         self.availability_zones[obj.name] = obj
 
+        # validate the default az:
+        if cfg.CONF.default_availability_zones:
+            # we support only 1 default az
+            if len(cfg.CONF.default_availability_zones) > 1:
+                raise nsx_exc.NsxInvalidConfiguration(
+                    opt_name="default_availability_zones",
+                    opt_value=cfg.CONF.default_availability_zones,
+                    reason=_("The NSX plugin supports only 1 default AZ"))
+            default_az_name = cfg.CONF.default_availability_zones[0]
+            if (default_az_name not in self.availability_zones):
+                raise nsx_exc.NsxInvalidConfiguration(
+                    opt_name="default_availability_zones",
+                    opt_value=cfg.CONF.default_availability_zones,
+                    reason=_("The default AZ is not defined in the NSX "
+                             "plugin"))
+            self._default_az = self.availability_zones[default_az_name]
+        else:
+            self._default_az = self.availability_zones[DEFAULT_NAME]
+
     def get_availability_zone(self, name):
         """Return an availability zone object by its name
         """
@@ -94,7 +115,7 @@ class ConfiguredAvailabilityZones(object):
     def get_default_availability_zone(self):
         """Return the default availability zone object
         """
-        return self.availability_zones[DEFAULT_NAME]
+        return self._default_az
 
     def list_availability_zones(self):
         """Return a list of availability zones names
diff --git a/vmware_nsx/plugins/nsx_v3/plugin.py b/vmware_nsx/plugins/nsx_v3/plugin.py
index f8634243fc..61ae53c3ea 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/plugins/nsx_v3/plugin.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/plugins/nsx_v3/plugin.py
@@ -4258,6 +4258,8 @@ class NsxV3Plugin(agentschedulers_db.AZDhcpAgentSchedulerDbMixin,
             # as the hint (or default if none)
             if net_res[az_def.AZ_HINTS]:
                 az_name = net_res[az_def.AZ_HINTS][0]
+            elif cfg.CONF.default_availability_zones:
+                az_name = cfg.CONF.default_availability_zones[0]
             else:
                 az_name = nsx_az.DEFAULT_NAME
             net_res[az_def.COLLECTION_NAME] = [az_name]
diff --git a/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v/test_plugin.py b/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v/test_plugin.py
index 657de36e59..9759901900 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v/test_plugin.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v/test_plugin.py
@@ -3494,6 +3494,27 @@ class TestExclusiveRouterTestCase(L3NatTest, L3NatTestCaseBase,
         self.assertEqual([az_name],
                          returned_router['availability_zones'])
 
+    def test_create_router_with_default_az(self):
+        az_name = 'az7'
+        set_az_in_config(az_name)
+        cfg.CONF.set_override('default_availability_zones', [az_name])
+        p = directory.get_plugin()
+        p._availability_zones_data = nsx_az.NsxVAvailabilityZones()
+        p._get_edge_id_by_rtr_id = p.real_get_edge
+
+        router = {'router': {'admin_state_up': True,
+                  'name': 'e161be1d-0d0d-4046-9823-5a593d94f72c',
+                  'tenant_id': 'fake_tenant',
+                  'router_type': 'exclusive'}}
+
+        # router creation should succeed
+        returned_router = p.create_router(context.get_admin_context(),
+                                          router)
+        self.assertEqual([],
+                         returned_router['availability_zone_hints'])
+        self.assertEqual([az_name],
+                         returned_router['availability_zones'])
+
     def test_floatingip_update_to_same_port_id_twice(self):
         self.skipTest('Plugin changes floating port status')